Blink reflex measurement of effects of trichloroethylene exposure on the trigeminal nerve.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure is known to have specific toxic effects on cranial nerves, the trigeminal nerve (V) in particular. The electrophysiological measurement of the blink reflex (BR) can quantify changes in the Vth and VIIth cranial nernve reflex arc. Prior study looked at the their drinking water. This study evaluated the use of the electrophysiologic blink reflex as an indicator of neurotoxic effects of TCE in occupationally exposed workers. The BR was tested in individual cases with documented histories of exposure to known chemical neurotoxins including TCE (n = 18). When compared with the nonexposed laboratory control values (n = 30), the subjects with a significant history TCE exposure demonstrated the most prolonged latencies (≥ 3.0 SD above the nonexposed group mean) in the R1 component of the blink reflex measurement. The electrophysiological study of te blink reflex has application in assesing TCE exposure and in documenting the neurotoxic effects of that exposure on trigeminal nerve functions in humans.