Long-term exposure to jet fuel. II. A cross-sectional epidemiologic investigation on occupationally exposed industrial workers with special reference to the nervous system.

Abstract

Thirty jet fuel exposed workers selected according to exposure criteria and 30 nonexposed controls from a jet motor factory were examined, with special reference to the nervous system, by occupational hygiene physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and neurophysiologists. The controls and the exposed subjects were matched with respect to age, employment duration and education. Among the exposed subjects the mean exposure duration was 17 yr, and 300 mg/m3 was calculated as a rough time-weighted average exposure level. The investigation revealed significant differences between the exposed and nonexposed groups for incidence and prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, psychological tests with the load on attention and sensorimotor speed and electroencephalograms. When the control group was selected, it was ensured that the 2 groups were essentially equivalent except for exposure to jet fuel. The differences found between the groups are probably related to exposure to jet fuel.