Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on the Neurobehavioral Functions of Painters in Chennai, Tamilnadu: A Cross Sectional Study

Lavanya sekhar; Ashwin Kumar N; Vidhya  Venugopal; Santhanam R; Priscilla  Johnson

doi:10.55489/njcm.141020233308

Authors

Lavanya sekhar Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, SRIHER (DU), Porur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9714-2416
Ashwin Kumar N Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, SRIHER (DU), Porur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Vidhya Venugopal WHO Collaborating Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quali-ty, SRIHER (DU), Porur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8720-1969
Santhanam R Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, BIHER, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Priscilla Johnson Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, SRIHER (DU), Porur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9611-6555

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.141020233308

Keywords:

Volatile organic compounds, solvents, occupational exposure, painters, motor coordination, reaction time, psychomotor speed

Abstract

Background: Paints are a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among painters. Limited information is available on neurobehavioral effect of long-term exposure to VOCs among painters working in unorganised industrial sectors such as construction site. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the neurobehavioral impact of long-term exposure to VOCs among construction painters.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among male painters in Chennai. VOC exposure index was calculated using questionnaire as well as personal exposure monitors. Neurobehavioral tests including hand dexterity, auditory (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were used to assess motor coordination, fine motor activity, focused attention, and psychomotor speed.

Results: Prevalence of prolonged ART and VRT in painters was 69% and 73%, respectively and 65% exhibited reduced hand dexterity. Hand dexterity had mild negative correlation (r = -0.3, p = 0.01) with VOC exposure index and work experience (r = -0.3, p = 0.02), whereas VRT had mild positive correlation (r = 0.3, p = 0.01) with VOC exposure index. Independent t-test showed a significant decrease in motor coordination with higher VOC exposure index (≤ 18.5*10³ ppm-hrs = 60.1 ±10.1, >18.5*10³ ppm-hrs = 53.3 ±12.3, p=0.03) and increase in work experience (≤ 10 years = 58.8 ±11.6, >10years = 52.5 ±11.5, p=0.05).

Conclusion: Neurobehavioral functions gradually decline with VOC exposure in painters working in unorganized sectors indicating a need to create awareness among the public and workers in unorganized sectors about the organic solvent-induced neurobehavioral changes.

References

US EPA O. US EPA. 2014 [cited 2021 Feb 19]. Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality

Kim YM, Harrad S, Harrison RM. Concentrations and sources of VOCs in urban domestic and public microenvironments. Environ Sci Technol. 2001 Mar 15;35(6):997-1004.Doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/es000192y PMid:11347947

Kyle L.Alford, Naresh Kumar. Pulmonary Health Effects of Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds-A Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 2;18:1578. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041578 PMid:33562372 PMCid:PMC7914726

Bleecker ML, Bolla KI, Agnew J, Schwartz BS, Ford DP. Dose-related subclinical neurobehavioral effects of chronic exposure to low levels of organic solvents. Am J Ind Med. 1991;19(6):715-28. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700190605 PMid:1652894

Ogbodo JO, Arazu AV, Iguh TC, Onwodi NJ, Ezike TC. Volatile organic compounds: A proinflammatory activator in autoimmune dis-eases. Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 29;13:928379. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.928379 PMid:35967306 PMCid:PMC9373925

Lolin Y. Chronic neurological toxicity associated with exposure to volatile substances. Hum Toxicol. 1989 Jul;8(4):293-300. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/096032718900800407 PMid:2550357

Wang F, Li C, Liu W, Jin Y. Potential mechanisms of neurobehavioral disturbances in mice caused by sub-chronic exposure to low-dose VOCs. Inhal Toxicol. 2014 Mar 1;26(4):250-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3109/08958378.2014.882447 PMid:24568580

Gostner JM, Zeisler J, Alam MT, Gruber P, Fuchs D, Becker K, et al. Cellular reactions to long-term volatile organic compound (VOC) exposures. Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 1;6:37842. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep37842 PMid:27905399 PMCid:PMC5131358

Ruijten MW, Hooisma J, Brons JT, Habets CE, Emmen HH, Muijser H. Neurobehavioral effects of long-term exposure to xylene and mixed organic solvents in shipyard spray painters. Neurotoxicology. 1994;15(3):613-20.

Saha A, Tripathi SR. A Study on Neurobehavioral Performance of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Solvent in Synthetic Resin Manufacturing. Toxicol Int. 2018 Jun 4;21(3):264-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-6580.155346 PMid:25948964 PMCid:PMC4413408

Cherry N, Hutchins H, Pace T, Waldron HA. Neurobehavioural effects of repeated occupational exposure to toluene and paint sol-vents. Br J Ind Med. 1985 May;42(5):291-300. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.42.5.291 PMid:3872680 PMCid:PMC1007475

Wang SW, Qian H, Weisel C, Nwankwo C, Fiedler N. Development of Solvent Exposure Index for Construction Painters. J Occup Envi-ron Hyg. 2011 Jun;8(6):375-86. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2011.583488 PMid:21660830 PMCid:PMC4019228

Grice KO, Vogel KA, Le V, Mitchell A, Muniz S, Vollmer MA. Adult norms for a commercially available Nine Hole Peg Test for finger dexterity. Am J Occup Ther. 2003;57(5):570-3. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.57.5.570 PMid:14527120

Kosinski B, Cummings J. The Scientific Method: An Introduction Using Reaction Time. 1999;20:63-84.

Bowen SE, Batis JC, Paez-Martinez N, Cruz SL. The last decade of solvent research in animal models of abuse: mechanistic and behav-ioral studies. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2006;28(6):636-47. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2006.09.005 PMid:17064879

Elofsson SA, Gamberale F, Hindmarsh T, Iregren A, Isaksson A, Johnsson I, et al. Exposure to organic solvents. A cross-sectional epi-demiologic investigation on occupationally exposed care and industrial spray painters with special reference to the nervous sys-tem. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1980 Dec; 6(4):239-73. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2609 PMid:6972090

Jovanović J, Jovanović M. [Neurotoxic effects of organic solvents among workers in paint and lacquer manufacturing industry]. Med Pregl. 2004 Feb;57(1-2):22-5. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2298/MPNS0402022J PMid:15327185

Seppäläinen AM, Husman KAJ, Maartenson C. Neurophysiological effects of long-term exposure to a mixture of organic solvents. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1978;304-14. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.2695 PMid:734391

Per Gregersen MD, Bent Stigsby MD. Reaction time of industrial workers exposed to organic solvents: Relationship to degree of ex-posure and psychological performance. Am J Ind Med. 1981; 2(4):313-21. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700020403 PMid:7345931

Hassan AAEH, Elnagar SAEM, El Tayeb IM, Bolbol SAEH. Health hazards of solvents exposure among workers in paint industry. 2013;

Valciukas JA, Lilis R, Singer RM, Glickman L, Nicholson WJ. Neurobehavioral changes among shipyard painters exposed to solvents. Arch Environ Health Int J. 1985;40(1):47-52. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1985.10545888 PMid:3994417

Wani RT. Socioeconomic status scales-modified Kuppuswamy and Udai Pareekh's scale updated for 2019. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2019 Jun;8(6):1846-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_288_19 PMid:31334143 PMCid:PMC6618222