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Review
. 2022 Oct;95(8):1661-1677.
doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01870-8. Epub 2022 May 6.

Neuropsychological symptoms in workers handling cargo from shipping containers and export logs

Ruth Hinz  1 , Andrea 't Mannetje  2 , Bill Glass  2 , Dave McLean  2 , Jeroen Douwes  2
Affiliations
Review

Neuropsychological symptoms in workers handling cargo from shipping containers and export logs

Ruth Hinz et al. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: Acute poisonings of workers handling shipping containers by fumigants and other harmful chemicals off-gassed from cargo have been reported but (sub)-chronic neuropsychological effects have not been well studied.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed, using standardised questionnaires, current (past 3-months) neuropsychological symptoms in 274 container handlers, 38 retail workers, 35 fumigators, and 18 log workers, all potentially exposed to fumigants and off-gassed chemicals, and a reference group of 206 construction workers. Prevalence odds ratios (OR), adjusted for age, ethnicity, smoking, alcohol consumption, education, personality traits and BMI, were calculated to assess associations with the total number of symptoms (≥ 3, ≥ 5 or ≥ 10) and specific symptom domains (neurological, psychosomatic, mood, memory/concentration, fatigue, and sleep).

Results: Compared to the reference group, exposed workers were more likely to report ≥ 10 symptoms, statistically significant only for retail workers (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.9-24.3) who also reported more fatigue (OR 10.7, 95% CI 2.7-42.7). Container handlers with the highest exposure-duration were more likely to report ≥ 10 symptoms, both when compared with reference workers (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.4-11.7) and with container handlers with shorter exposure duration (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.7-32.8). The duration of container handling was particularly associated with symptoms in the memory/concentration domain, again both when compared to reference workers (OR 8.8, 95% CI 2.5-31.4) and workers with the lowest exposure-duration (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.5-30.3).

Conclusion: Container handlers may have an increased risk of neuropsychological symptoms, especially in the memory/concentration domain. Retail workers may also be at risk, but this requires confirmation in a larger study.

Keywords: Fumigation/fumigant; Neuropsychological symptoms; Occupational groups; Shipping containers; Volatile organic compounds; Workplace exposure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest relating to the material presented in this article. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are solely those of the authors.

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