Solvent mixtures in neurocognitive symptoms: a cumulative risk approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/b195f419Keywords:
solvent mixtures; occupational neurotoxicity; cumulative risk; structural equation modeling; health surveillance.Abstract
Occupational exposure to solvent mixtures represents a significant concern in occupational health due to their neurotoxic potential and the limited explanatory capacity of traditional single-substance assessment approaches in identifying early functional impairment. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between combined solvent exposure and neurocognitive symptoms using a cumulative risk framework. An observational analytical design was conducted based on secondary data derived from governmental reports and national and international agencies, integrating environmental exposure metrics and occupational health surveillance records. A composite cumulative risk index was constructed, and advanced statistical techniques were applied, including structural equation modeling, LASSO penalized regression, and confirmatory factor analysis to validate the neurocognitive construct. The findings revealed statistically significant differences between exposed and non-exposed populations in processing speed, sustained attention, and reaction time, along with a higher frequency of symptoms consistent with neurotoxic effects in contexts of combined exposure. Multivariate modeling confirmed that cumulative solvent load consistently explains variability in neurocognitive performance, supporting the relevance of an integrated framework for occupational risk assessment and preventive management in complex exposure environments.
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