Kilburn K H, Warshaw R H
University of Southern California School of Medicine, Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Los Angeles, USA.
Toxicol Ind Health. 1995 Mar-Apr;11(2):185-97. doi: 10.1177/074823379501100206.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) above 50 parts per million (ppm) causes unconsciousness and death. Lower doses of H2S and related gases have been regarded as innocuous, but the effects of prolonged exposure have not been studied. This study was designed to determine whether people exposed to sulfide gases as a result of working at or living downwind from the processing of "sour" crude oil demonstrate persistent neurobehavioral dysfunction. Thirteen former workers and 22 neighbors of a refinery complained of headaches, nausea, vomiting, depression, personality changes, nosebleeds, and breathing difficulties. Their neurobehavioral functions and a profile of mood states (POMS) were compared to 32 controls, matched for age and educational level. The exposed subjects' mean values were statistically significantly abnormal compared to controls for two-choice reaction time, balance (as speed of sway), color discrimination, digit symbol, trail-making A and B, and immediate recall of a story. Their POMS scores were much higher than those of controls. Visual recall was significantly impaired in neighbors, but not in exworkers. It was concluded that neurophysiological abnormalities were associated with exposure to reduced sulfur gases, including H2S from crude oil desulfurization.
百万分之五十以上的硫化氢（H₂S）会导致昏迷和死亡。较低剂量的H₂S及相关气体曾被视为无害，但长期接触的影响尚未得到研究。本研究旨在确定在“含硫”原油加工地工作或居住在下风向的人，接触硫化物气体后是否会出现持续的神经行为功能障碍。13名炼油厂前工人和22名炼油厂附近居民抱怨有头痛、恶心、呕吐、抑郁、性格改变、鼻出血和呼吸困难等症状。将他们的神经行为功能和情绪状态剖面图（POMS）与32名年龄和教育水平相匹配的对照组进行比较。与对照组相比，暴露组在二选一反应时间、平衡能力（如摇摆速度）、颜色辨别、数字符号、连线测验A和B以及故事即时回忆方面的平均值在统计学上显著异常。他们的POMS得分远高于对照组。邻居组的视觉回忆能力明显受损，但前工人组未受损。研究得出结论，神经生理异常与接触包括原油脱硫产生的H₂S在内的还原态硫气体有关。
