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Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in individuals exposed to long‐term low concentrations of toluene
Author(s) -
Vrca Andelko,
Karačić Višnja,
Božičevič Dubravko,
Božikov Veljko,
Malinar Marta
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199607)30:1<62::aid-ajim10>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - hippuric acid , medicine , brainstem , toluene , audiology , occupational exposure , toxicity , auditory brainstem response , urine , anesthesia , physiology , hearing loss , chemistry , organic chemistry , medical emergency
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were examined in 49 workers employed in a printing press, who were occupationally exposed to low concentrations of toluene for an average of 20.3 years, and in 59 subjects in a control group. In the group of exposed workers, a significant decrease was found in all wave amplitudes examined, a significant prolongation of PI wave latency, and an increased interval of interpeak latencies (P3–P5), indicating that the extramedullary and high medullary part of the auditory pathway are biologically most frequently affected by chronic exposure to low concentrations of toluene. The level of exposure to toluene in both groups was evaluated by defining the concentration of toluene in peripheral blood and the concentration of hippuric acid and ortho‐cresol in urine. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.