Yokoyama Kazuhito
Department of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Neurotoxicology. 2007 Mar;28(2):364-73. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2006.04.006. Epub 2006 May 2.
Attention has been paid to neurobehavioral effects of occupational and environmental exposures to chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals and organic solvents. The area of research that includes neurobehavioral methods and effects in occupational and environmental health has been called "Occupational and Environmental Neurology and Behavioral Medicine." The methods, by which early changes in neurological, cognitive and behavioral function can be assessed, include neurobehavioral test battery, neurophysiological methods, questionnaires and structured interview, biochemical markers and imaging techniques. The author presents his observations of neurobehavioral and neurophysiological effects in Tokyo subway sarin poisoning cases as well as in pesticide users (tobacco farmers) in Malaysia in relation to Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS). In sarin cases, a variety effects were observed 6-8 months after exposure, suggesting delayed neurological effects. Studies on pesticide users revealed that organophosphorus and dithiocarbamate affected peripheral nerve conduction and postural balance; subjective symptoms related to GTS were also observed, indicating the effects of nicotine absorbed from wet tobacco leaves. In addition, non-neurological effects of pesticides and other chemicals are presented, in relation to genetic polymorphism and oxidative stress.
人们已经关注到职业和环境接触农药、重金属及有机溶剂等化学物质对神经行为的影响。包括职业与环境卫生领域中神经行为方法及影响的研究领域被称为“职业与环境神经学和行为医学”。可用于评估神经、认知和行为功能早期变化的方法包括神经行为测试组合、神经生理学方法、问卷调查和结构化访谈、生化标志物及成像技术。作者介绍了他对东京地铁沙林中毒事件以及马来西亚农药使用者（烟农）与绿烟草病（GTS）相关的神经行为和神经生理学影响的观察结果。在沙林中毒事件中，接触后6至8个月观察到多种影响，提示存在延迟性神经影响。对农药使用者的研究表明，有机磷和二硫代氨基甲酸盐会影响周围神经传导和姿势平衡；还观察到与GTS相关的主观症状，表明从湿烟叶中吸收的尼古丁产生了影响。此外，还介绍了农药和其他化学物质与基因多态性及氧化应激相关的非神经学影响。
