Quantitative Neurobehavioral Testing in Humans for Assessing Potential Effects of Occupational Exposure

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Abstract
Neurobehavioral tests have proven useful as noninvasive indicators of subtle neurotoxic damage. We have developed a computer-administered neurobehavioral testing system for application in a wide variety of situations for evaluating the neurotoxic effects of toxic substances in humans. Performance on these tests has been reported to be impaired by controlled laboratory exposure to known neurotoxic substances. In addition, epidemiological studies have been conducted that show poorer performance on these tests associated with subacute and chronic exposure to neurotoxicants encountered in the workplace. A number of laboratories are currently using this system. Additional work on the most appropriate methods of data analysis is necessary, but a data base collected with a standard instrument will facilitate such efforts. An argument for behavioral surveillance as a part of routine medical monitoring in industry is presented.