Neurobehavioral impairment and symptoms associated with aluminum remelting. 1998

K H Kilburn
Environmental Sciences Laboratory, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.

The author's objective was to assess whether aluminum reclamation (recycling) exposure in a plant in the southeastern United States was associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment and symptoms. The author made cross-sectional comparisons of 41 workers to 32 local and 66 regional referents to assess whether aluminum recycling was associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment and symptoms. Methods included neurophysiological, psychological, and pulmonary-function tests; a Profile of Mood States (POMS); and questionnaires. The exposed subjects had slower simple and choice reaction times than referents (i.e., 77 milliseconds [ms] versus 137 ms, respectively [p < .0001]); balance in the exposed subjects, measured as sway speed (with eyes closed), was .32 cm/s faster than for referents (p < .005); and color discrimination was less acute in exposed subjects (p < .0001). In the exposed versus referent subjects, Culture Fair scores were lower by a factor of 8.3 (p < .0001), Trail Making A was 10 s longer (p < .001), Trail Making B was 50 s longer (p < .0001), peg placement required an additional 9 s (p < .008), and POMS scores were fourfold higher (p < .0001). These described differences were not explained by age, bias, or confounding factors. Workers had more neurobehavioral, rheumatic, and respiratory symptoms than did referents. The author attributed the differences between the two groups to chemical exposures from aluminum remelting, including aluminum, manganese, vinyl chloride monomer, and other chemicals. Workplace air could not be sampled, but because a problem was identified, levels of these, as well as other chemicals, should be measured in future studies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008669 Metallurgy The science, art, or technology dealing with processes involved in the separation of metals from their ores, the technique of making or compounding the alloys, the techniques of working or heat-treating metals, and the mining of metals. It includes industrial metallurgy as well as metallurgical techniques employed in the preparation and working of metals used in dentistry, with special reference to orthodontic and prosthodontic appliances. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p494) Heavy Industries,Industries, Heavy,Heavy Industry,Industry, Heavy
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009460 Neurologic Examination Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system. Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D009483 Neuropsychological Tests Tests designed to assess neurological function associated with certain behaviors. They are used in diagnosing brain dysfunction or damage and central nervous system disorders or injury. Aphasia Tests,Cognitive Test,Cognitive Testing,Cognitive Tests,Memory for Designs Test,Neuropsychological Testing,AX-CPT,Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome,CANTAB,Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery,Clock Test,Cognitive Function Scanner,Continuous Performance Task,Controlled Oral Word Association Test,Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System,Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment,Hooper Visual Organization Test,NEPSY,Neuropsychologic Tests,Neuropsychological Test,Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test,Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure,Symbol Digit Modalities Test,Test of Everyday Attention,Test, Neuropsychological,Tests, Neuropsychological,Tower of London Test,Neuropsychologic Test,Test, Cognitive,Testing, Cognitive,Testing, Neuropsychological,Tests, Cognitive
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D003247 Conservation of Natural Resources The protection, preservation, restoration, and rational use of all resources in the total environment. Carrying Capacity,Deforestation,Desertification,Environmental Protection,Natural Resources Conservation,Protection, Environmental,Capacities, Carrying,Capacity, Carrying,Carrying Capacities,Conservation, Natural Resources
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House

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