Olfactory Function in Workers Exposed to Styrene in the Reinforced-Plastics Industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cowart B ; Dalton P ; Dilks D ; Emmett, Edward A. ; Gould M ; Lees PSJ ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B. ; Cowart B ; Dalton P ; Dilks D ; Emmett, Edward A. ; Gould M ; Lees PSJ ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B.
• Description:
  Background: Impairment of olfactory function in humans has been associated with occupational exposure to volatile chemicals. To investigate whether exposure to styrene was associated with olfactory impairment, olfactory function was examined in workers with a minimum of 4 years exposure to styrene in the reinforced-plastics industry (current mean exposure: 26 ppm, range: 10-60 ppm; historic mean dose: 156 ppm-years, range: 13.8-328 ppm-years) and in a group of age- and gender-matched, unexposed controls. Methods: Olfactory function was assessed using a standardized battery that included tests of threshold sensitivity for phenylethyl alcohol (PEA), odor identification ability, and retronasal odor perception. Odor detection thresholds for styrene were also obtained as a measure of specific adaptation to the work environment. Results: No differences were observed between exposed workers and controls on tests of olfactory function. Elevation of styrene odor detection thresholds among exposed workers indicated exposure-induced adaptation. Conclusions: The present study found no evidence among a cross-section of reinforcedplastics industry workers that current or historical exposure to styrene was associated with impairment of olfactory function. Taken together with anatomical differences between rodent and human airways and the lack of evidence for styrene metabolism in human nasal tissue, the results strongly suggest that at these concentrations, styrene is not an olfactory toxicant in humans. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Nose Occupational Health Plastics Safety Sense Organs Styrene
• Keywords:
  Adaptation Author Keywords: Olfactory Function Chemical-industry-workers Chemical-reactions Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Nasal-disorders Nasal Effects Occupational Exposure Olfactory-disorders Plastic-products Plastics-industry Styrene Styrenes

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-11
• Volume:
  44
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037242
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2003 Jul; 44(1):1-11
• CAS Registry Number:
  Styrene (CAS RN 100-42-5) ; Styrene (CAS RN 100-42-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Performing Organization:
  Johns Hopkins University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3ddd7ca5f397e7c6b5237498ffb655fe4f33492208536bf6bfe25c8bce77e958e2d4459f7c32ff9598bf9a6b11f25a6c16d10a393b9eb4a3168610d64e4ea4be
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188363/cdc_188363_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 117.63 KB ]