Conversely Exposure–related Effects between Atmospheric m–Xylene Concentrations and Human Body Sense of Balance

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Abstract
Effects of fixed and fluctuating concentrations of m-xylene in air were studied on human psychophysiological functions. Nine healthy male volunteers were exposed to m-xylene 4 hrs a day, 3 hrs in the morning and 1 hr in the afternoon, with a 40 min. break in between. The subjects were sedentary or exercised at 100 W for 10 min at the beginning of each session in the chamber. The m-xylene concentrations in the air were fixed (8.2 .mu.mol/l; 870 mg/m3) or fluctuated with peaks (5.2-16.4 .mu.mol/l; 550-1740 mg/m3) but the TWA (8 hrs) concentration of m-xylene was always 4.1 .mu.mol/l (435 mg/m3). The two control days, with and without exercise, were similar to the exposure days, but without exposure. Reaction times were measured with a device in which subjects responded to visual and auditory stimuli. Body sway was measured with the subjects'' eyes open and closed with a strain gauge transducer platform. changes in reaction times did not correlate with m-xylene concentrations in the air. Changes of average and maximal body sway were, however, consistently negatively correlated with the intensity of the atmospheric exposure to m-xylene at the beginning of each session in the chamber. Physical exercise combined with exposure to m-xylene improved rather than impaired body sway.

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