PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - B G Svensson
AU  - G Nise
AU  - E M Erfurth
AU  - H Olsson
TI  - Neuroendocrine effects in printing workers exposed to toluene.
AID  - 10.1136/oem.49.6.402
DP  - 1992 Jun 01
TA  - British Journal of Industrial Medicine
PG  - 402--408
VI  - 49
IP  - 6
4099  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/49/6/402.short
4100  - http://oem.bmj.com/content/49/6/402.full
SO  - Br J Ind Med1992 Jun 01; 49
AB  - The effect of exposure to toluene on plasma concentrations of testosterone, prolactin, luteinising (LH) and follicle stimulating (FSH) hormones was investigated in 47 rotogravure printers (time weighted average air toluene below 80 ppm; blood toluene concentration post-shift 0.19-7.99 mumol/l) and compared with a reference group. Increasing exposure concentrations of toluene (concentrations less than 5 to greater than 45 ppm) were significantly associated with decreasing plasma concentrations of LH (tau = -0.21, p = 0.003) and testosterone (tau = -0.25, p = 0.02). No correlation was found between cumulative exposure (ppm x years) and plasma hormone concentrations. The associations with exposure were present even when nine printers with heavy alcohol consumption were excluded. The study indicates an effect of low toluene exposure on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, with a secondary decrease in testosterone secretion.