Objective To explore the influence of working at coke oven on the neurobehavioral change of the workers and its influencing factors.
Methods Altogether 198 coke oven workers were selected as exposure groups(including 23 workers at oven bottom, 85 at oven side and 90 at oven top), and 145 workers of this plant never worked at coke oven such as water treatment workers were selected as control group. Levels of B(a)P in the working environment and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene of the workers were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. Personal information was collected by questionnaire. Profiles of mood state and neurobehavioral of the objectives were tested and studied using“neurobehavioral core test battery”(NCTB)recommended by WHO.
Results The B(a)P concentrations of the working environment of oven top group, oven side group, oven bottom group and control group were(0.21& #177;0.02),(0.05& #177;0.005),(0.02& #177;0.01)and(0.01& #177;0.00)μg/m3 respectively. The urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration of the workers were(10.47& #177;3.72),(3.80& #177;2.45),(1.86& #177;2.19)and(1.62& #177;1.91)μmol/molCr respectively. Scores of 15 mood and neurobehavioral indicators including tension-anxiety(POMST), anger-hostility(POMSA), vigor-activity(POMSV), confusion-bewilderment(POMSC), average simple reaction time(SRT), fastest simple reaction time (SRTF), slowest simple reaction time(SRTS), forward digital span(DSPF), backward digital span(DSPB), digital span(DSP), Santa Ana with non-habitual hand(SANN), digit symbol test(DSY), Benton visual retention(BVR), correct pursuit aiming (PAC)and pursuit aiming(PA) in the oven top group were significantly different from control group(P<0.05). Scores of 8 indicators(POMSA, POMSV, DSPF, DSPB, DSP, DSY, PAC and PA)in the oven side group were significantly different from control group(P<0.05). Score of the SRT in oven bottom group was significantly different from control group(P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were negatively correlated with 8 neurobehavioral scores(POMST, POMSC, SRT, DSPF, DSPB, DSP, DSY and PA), but positively correlated with POMSV. The scores of the neurobehavioral test in coke oven workers were related with age, length of service, smoking, alcohol, education and night shift.
Conclusion Coke oven workers' working environment could lead to their neurobehavioral changes, which was related with the level of environmental exposure. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, age, length of service, smoking, alcohol, education and night shift were the main factors for the neurobehavioral changes of coke oven workers.
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