Abstract

Saito, K. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 352-358. Electroencephalographic studies on petrol intoxication: comparison between nonleaded and leaded white petrol. The effect of nonleaded and leaded petrol on the brains of rats was studied electroencephalographically. Bipolar electrodes were implanted on the brain surface between the frontal and occipital lobes of the left hemisphere. The rats were divided into two groups and were given by intraperitoneal injection 1 ml of either nonleaded white petrol (WP) or leaded petrol (LP) containing 1 000 ppm of tetraethyl lead per 100 g body weight. The electrocorticogram was observed for 10 days and the lead content of the brain, liver, and kidney was estimated.

The rats injected with leaded petrol showed excessive tension and excitement by the sixth or seventh day, and their body weight had diminished significantly by 10 days. One to three days after both LP and WP injection, the δ, θ, and α waves decreased significantly but the electrocorticogram from six or seven days after LP injection showed marked α and θ waves. The lead content in organs of the LP group was far greater than in those of the WP group and a correlation between the electrocorticogram and lead content was recognized.