A cross-sectional observation of effect of exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) on workers' health.

This study was aimed at clarifying the effect of exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) on workers' health. Fifteen male NMP-exposed workers and 15 referent male workers were recruited for this study. Exposure concentrations were assessed by determining NMP in the breathing zones and urinary NMP. Clinical examinations, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities in the dominant arm, and neurobehavioral tests were carried out. The subjects were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires for subjective symptoms and psychological assessment. The mean NMP exposure concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 0.26 ppm, and urinary NMP levels at the end of each workday ranged from 0.17 to 0.22 mg/l, throughout the work week. In terms of clinical data, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, neurobehavioral tests, and subjective symptom assessments, there were no differences and no dose-dependent changes in either the means or the prevalence of abnormal findings between NMP-exposed and referent workers.