The study analyzed the exposure factors that may lead to neuropsychological symptoms among 92 workers who were exposed to\nxylene and toluene and 100 workers who were not exposed to the solvents. The airborne concentration of xylene and toluene was\nevaluated with personal passive badges. The levels of methyl hippuric acid and hippuric acid in urine were assessed, and interviews\nwere performed to observe the neuropsychological symptoms that may result from exposure to the solvents. The result showed\nthat the average concentration for the exposed group of xylene in the paint company working environment was 2.7 (SD = 2.4) ppm\nand the average concentration of toluene was 9.5 (SD = 10.4) ppm. The average level of methyl hippuric acid in urine was 78 (SD =\n74.7)mg/g creatinine. Factors that affected the neuropsychological symptoms included the following. (1) The impact of age: the\nrisk (adjusted odds ratio) for getting psychosomatic symptoms in persons over 40 and exposed to xylene was 9.5 and the aOR of\nthose exposed to toluene was 8.3. (2) The impact of not providing personal protective equipment was found to be sleep disturbance;\nit was found that the aOR of those exposed to xylene was 3.9, and the aOR of those exposed to toluene was 4.4. In summary,\nperiodic examination of workers by occupational physician is needed for detection of early neuropsychological effects, especially\npsychosomatic symptoms, and sleep disturbances.
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