The state of the central and peripheral conductive structures of workers producing polyvinylchloride in dependence on the toxic dose load

Introduction. Hygienic studies in the production of polyvinyl chloride showed vinyl chloride to be the main adverse factor affecting workers. Many years of clinical investigations of employees of “East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research” proved the formation of the initial manifestations of chronic intoxication with vinyl chloride with the damage to the nervous system in a few years from the beginning of production in contact with the toxicant, the marked dependence of the risk of violations of workers health from exposure value toxic load (EVTL). Currently, the study of changes in neurological indices depending on the level of the toxic exposure load is very relevant. Based on the mentioned above, the aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of the state of the central and peripheral conductive structures in the intermediate workers of the production of vinyl chloride taking into account the toxic exposure of the load.

Material and methods. A group of stair workers contacting with vinyl chloride was examined. There were observed 42 males of the mean age of 49.2±4.4 years, the average duration of the exposure to vinyl chloride was 18.1±5.6 years. Examined cases were distributed into two groups: 1 group included 31 workers with a moderate extent of EVTL, 2 group consisted of 11 persons with extremely high EVTL. The control group included 30 male employees, matched for the age without exposure to occupational harmful impacts. The concentration of vinyl chloride was determined in the blood samples of the observed patients, somatosensory evoked potentials were registered and stimulation electroneuromyography was performed according to the conventional method.

Results. The study showed changes in individuals with a higher EVTL value. Changes in the functional state of neurons in the brain stem were revealed. At the periphery level, there were more noted more pronounced alterations in the functional state of the motor and the sensory axons of the cubital and tibial nerve. The established relationship between the EVTL value in exposed workers, and the pronouncement of the studied indices characterizing the state of the central the periphery, conductive structures, allows speaking about the dependence of the lattters on conditions existing in the production of polyvinyl chloride.