In order to evaluate the health effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents in workers of automobile manufacturing and car repairing factories, we investigate the component analysis of organic solvents, the concentration of organic
solvents in
air, biological monitoring, and the neurobehavioral tests of workers.
The component analysis of organic solvents was conducted in 2 automobile manufacturing factories (A and C factory) and a car repairing factory (B factory). The concentration of organic solvents in air was measured in painting departments of A and
C
factories. The biological monitoring was conducted on 191 male workers exposed to organic solvents and 211 controls of A and B factory. The neurobehavioral tests were examined on 105 workers among the subjects studied biological monitoring and 76
male
controls.
@ES The results were as follows:
@EN 1. Eighteen and 9 solvents were identified in paints and thinners of automobile manufacturing factory (A factory). The organic solvents more than 30% in mean assay were m+p-xylene, o-xylene and ethanol in paints, and isobutyl alcohol and
m+p-xylene
in thinners at A factory.
2. Twenty and 9 solvents were identified in paints and thinners of car repairing factory (B factory). The organic solvents more than 30% in mean assay were m+p-xylene, o-xylene and ethyl acetate in paints and toluene, m+p-xylene and ethyl benzene
in
thinners at B factory.
3. In automobile manufacturing factory (C factory), 21 solvents were identified and the organic solvents more than 30% in mean assay were toluene, n-propyl benzene and methanol in mixture with paint and thinner.
4. Organic solvents such as isopropyl acetone, isopropyl pentanone, n-propyl benzne, 1, 3-dihydroxy propane and 1-ethyl-2-methyl benzene, not registered in the TLVs of ACGIH were detected in paints and thinners.
5. Mean hippuric acid was significantly higher in solvent exposed group than in control group. Mean m+p-methyl hippuric acid was significantly higher in workers of A factory than in those of B factory and mean o-methyl hippuric acid of workers in
A
factory was significantly higher than that in B factory and control group.
6. m+p-Methyl hippuric acid was significantly related to m+p-xylene.
7. Benton visual perception among neurobehavioral tests was influenced by exposure to organic solvents.
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