Effect of organic solvents in the course of professional exposure on the E rosette test and skin reactions against distreptase and tuberculin.

The study comprised 106 workers having professional contact with organic solvents containing benzene, toluene, and xylene during 1 to 122 months. The reduction of the total lymphocyte and the T lymphocyte count (T cells forming both "early" and "late" rosettes with sheep erythrocytes) corresponding to the prolongation of the exposure time to the solvents (the negative correlation) was observed. These alterations are not associated with disturbances of delayed skin hypersensitivity against tuberculin and distreptase. The E rosette test may serve as a practical test for monitoring the biological effects of exposure to organic solvents.