Peripheral markersofneurochemical function among workers exposed tostyrene

Across sectional studyofbiological markersof neurochemical function inperipheral blood cells, andself reported nervoussystemsymptoms,was conductedamong 60 workers exposed tostyrene inthreereinforced plastics plants and18reference workersnotexposed to styrene orothersolvents. Concentrations of styrene intheairattheplants rangedfrom 0-20ug/ml. Theprevalences ofheadache,dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, irritability, memoryloss, andfeeling "drunk" at work increased withincreasing blood styreneconcentration. No effect on sigma receptor binding wasseen.A slight positive correlation wasfoundforuptake ofserotonin, whichhasbeenusedasan exposure related effect indicator inprevious studies ofworkers exposedto solvents. The MAO-B activity decreased withincreasing bloodstyrene concentration; themean (SE)MAO-B values for thefourgroupswere34-2(3-0), 28-1(53),20-1 (4-8), and 16-9(7-7)pmol/10' cells/min. The MAO-B activity alsocorrelated negatively withthenumberofreported nervoussystem symptoms,whereasnoassociations wereseen betweenprevalence ofsymptomsandeither