Behavioral Measures of Neurotoxicity (1990) / Chapter Skim
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Neurobehavioral Toxicity Testing in China
Neurobehavioral Toxicity Testing in China
Pages 287-311
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From page 287... ...
. The overall prevalence of occupational poisoning induced by these five chemicals reached 1.3 percent among a total population of 987,934 examined (Table 1)
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Growing numbers of Chinese researchers are showing interest in exploring the use of neurobehavioral tests and recognizing that a proper test battery may serve as one of the most useful tools in the early detection of adverse effects on the nervous system. They realize that (Weiss, 1983)
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This was the first systematic use of a neurobehavioral test battery for occupational epidemiology in the region. A battery of psychological tests involving mood states, intellectual activity, visual perception, short-term memory, and performance speed was administered to 98 male workers exposed to CS2; all were from a viscose rayon factory in Shanghai.
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. three groups according to the level of exposure during the past 15 years: i.e., group I, a mean exposure level of CS2 above 10 mg/m3, the present maximum allowable concentration of CS2 adopted in China; group II, approximately 10 mg/m3; and group III, below 10 mg/m3.
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Our research focused on clarification of the effects of low-level lead exposure on neurobehavioral function: 24 workers exposed to lead from a small battery plant and 24 controls from a food product manufacturer were investigated by using an expanded neurobehavioral test battery comprised of nine test items reflecting mood state, intelligence, memory, perception, vigilance, and psychomotor performance. The exposed group had an occupational exposure to lead for periods varying from 3 to 8 years at levels in air ranging from 0.06 to 0.34 mg/m3, time weighted average (TWA)
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(n = 28) P Value Digit span 45.59 ~ 9.57 53.78 + 8.45 <0.01 Digit symbol 42.59 ~ 5.97 56.35 ~ 8.35 <0.01 Aiming II 47.37 i 7.76 52.26 + 11.40 >0.05 Block design 43.15 + 8.65 55.87 + 7.18 <0.01 Mental arithmetic 46.81 + 10.93 52.73 :t 8.61 <0.01 Simple reaction time 44.83 + 12.34 54.43 + 4.34 <0.01 Choice reaction time 44.04 + 9.79 55.11 + 7.77 <0.01 Flicker fusion frequency 46.58 + 2.20 52.93 + 13.01 <0.01 Mood states 44.99 ~ 8.80 56.10 + 6.75 <0.01 Total scores 403.96 :: 35.02 489.46 + 14.14 <0.01 SOURCE: Sheng et al.
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Results of neurobehavioral toxicity testing could provide warnings and the basic evidence for action to remove these risk factors that threaten the life quality of human beings at an early age. Simulated Video Display Terminal (VDT)
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. TABLE 6 Psychobehavioral Tests Used in Video Display Terminal Study Function Test Memory Intelligence Perceptual ability Attention Cognition Psychomotor performance Speed Dexterity Visual spatial ability Mood Digit span Mental arithmetic Digit symbol Figure cancelation Simple and choice reaction time Finger tapping Block design Feeling tone checklist SOURCE: Liang et al.
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Based on the results of neurobehavioral testing and other findings from medical examinations, we would tentatively recommend that occupational exposure to static magnetic fields at workplaces should
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To improve the situation, in 1983 the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB)
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Digit Span (Baker et al.
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Four-Choice Series Reaction Time (Thorpe et al., 1985) A series of three-digit figures are displayed separately at a rate of once per second.
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TABLE 8 WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery Test Functional Domain Tested Profile of mood states Simple reaction time Digit span Santa Ana dexterity Digit symbol Benton visual retention (recognition form) Aiming (Pursuit Aiming II)
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301 ._ o ._ In Cal o o o ._ o do ·7 a; In o cr.
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Strong evidence existed to show that age played a more important role than sex in affecting the test scores of Digit Span, Santa Ana Manual Dexterity, Digit Symbol, and Benton Visual Recognition tests, a tendency for test scores to increase with increasing age again being apparent in both male and female groups. By comparison, sex differences did not show a major impact.
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Developing and Validating Test Methods There exist a variety of test methods derived from WAIS, WMS, WISC, and others in the repertoire of traditional psychology. Problems related to these diverse test methods include insufficient standardization of techniques, in both test administration and scoring, careless study design, and improper data analysis.
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A pilot study in workers exposed to lead or organotin and workers with higher mental demands during work has shown the device's remarkable advantages in terms of steadiness, accuracy, and facilitating field study (Fang and Liang, 1987~. Integration of subjective measuring instruments with relatively objective assessments might provide a better neurobehavioral test battery for use by most of the Chinese researchers in the near future.
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Interpreting Results Obtained from Neurobehavioral Tests Neurobehavioral tests are used mainly as adjuncts to the conventional tools of medical surveillance in working populations.
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These critical issues continue to be debated and, thus, constitute barriers to the wide use of neurobehavioral tests. Comments and Recommendations Training and Education As mentioned above, neurobehavioral toxicology is still in its infant stage.
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, were increased fivefold in the daily output. These two reports suggest that behavior markers may provide objective indicators supporting the findings of neurobehavioral tests.
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Expected Directions in the Development of Behavioral Tests of Neurotoxicity A two-tract system involving both manual tests and computeradministered procedures is expected to be the top choice and future direction in the development of neurobehavioral toxicity tests in our region. In comparing the Finland Test Battery, the WHO/NIOSH NCTB, and the proposed computerized system, we believe that there are advantages and disadvantages intrinsic to both manual and computerized systems, as well as to the two manual test batteries we have used (Table 11~.
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1979. Behavioral test battery for toxicopsychological studies used at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki.
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1986. Field Evaluation of WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery A Solicitation Proposal.
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