Effects of Occupational Exposure to Chemicals on Neurobehavioral Functioning

Approximately 50,000 chemicals and 2 million mixtures are currently in use in the United States and more than 1,000 additional chemicals are developed each year (EPA, 1976). Large populations are unwittingly exposed to these agents when they either utilize commerical solvents or the agents are inadvertently released into the environment. Workers involved in chemical production or use frequently are exposed to much higher concentrations than those found in the environment (Landrigan, Kreiss, Xinteras, Feldman, and Heath, 1980). It is estimated that as many as 20 million workers are exposed to chemicals that have the potential to affect the nervous system (Tilson and Mitchell, 1984).