Effects of Trichloroethylene on the Human Vestibulo-Oculomotor System

Abstract

Ten healthy volunteers were subjected to a vestibulo-oculomotor test battery before, during and 1 hour after trichloroethylene exposure. The concentration of trichloroethylene in in-spiratory air was 32–78 ppm (176429 mg/m³). The concentration of trichloroethylene in venous blood was followed throughout the experiment. The mean pulmonary uptake was estimated. Each test person was also subjected to a control experiment, breathing air free of trichloroethylene. A decreased ability to visually suppress the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex during sinusoidal stimulation was noticed during trichloroethylene exposure. One hour after exposure the test subjects showed a decreased maximum velocity of the voluntary saccade and a decreased ability to follow a sinusoidally moving target.