Evaluation of Mood Effects Due to Chronic Exposure to Solvents in a Tire Factory

Background: Exposure to solvents is a common event in industrial factories, and has numerous acute and chronic neuro-behavioral effects on workers.

Objective: In this study, we tried to evaluate the effects of long time exposure to solvents on the mood alteration of workers in a tire factory.

Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional study, we selected 90 men who were exposed to solvents in a tire factory and compared their behavior-mood test (POMS) with 70 people in a control group who had no exposure to solvents. This questionnaire consisted of 64 words that described the individual\'s emotions. Each person selected one of the five levels for stating emotions (from 0 = never to 4 = very much). A positive score from 0 to 4 belonged to each item, and the total score was the sum of all scores. First, demographic information was collected in a questionnaire. Then, we used another questionnaire with 16 questions for detecting neuro-behavioral disorders due to continuous exposure to solvents in both groups.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups based on age and educational level (P > 0.05). The mean of employment duration in the exposed group was significantly longer than the control group (P < 0.05). The results of comparing the two groups in six mood levels showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: According to our results, the Q16 questionnaire is recommended as a screening tool in periodic examinations of workers exposed to solvents. Questionnaire evaluations are used to help determine whether long-term overexposure to solvents has affected the central nervous system (brain).