Standardized tests or test batteries for neurotoxic effects are needed for premarket testing of chemicals (and related regulatory needs) and for the development of a neurotoxicity data base. Three widely known human test batteries based on past research findings and developed to screen for a broad range of neurotoxic effects are currently in use. One was developed by Finland's Institute of Occupational Health, one was recently recommended by the World Health Organization, and one was recently developed as a computer-implemented battery by US researchers. Each of these batteries assesses many frequently occurring neurotoxic effects, but each is limited by the lack of tests for some motor and sensory functions and affective responses that often occur following chemical exposures. Problems with field or worksite assessments using these test batteries involve age, education, socioeconomic, and job differences between exposed and comparison groups, and the lack of normative data on these batteries. To address some of these problems, the human neurobehavioral test batteries are currently undergoing reliability or validity assessments on a national and international scale. This will provide an assessment of their utility and accelerate development of a data base of neurotoxic effects of chemicals.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTAL INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS (ACGIH) (1980, 1981, 1982). Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values, Fourth Edition, 1980 (and supplemental documentation for 1981 and 1982), ACGIH Publications Office, Cincinnati, OH (6500 Glenway; Bldg. D-5; 45211).
2.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTAL INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS (ACGIH) (1982). Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents in the Workroom Environment with Intended Changes for 1982.ACGIH Publications Office, Cincinnati, OH (6500 Glenway; Bldg. D-5; 45211).
3.
AngerW.K. (1984). Neurobehavioral testing of chemicals: Impact on recommended standards.Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol.6: 147–153.
4.
AngerW.K. (1985). Neurobehavioral Tests Used in NIOSH-supported worksite studies, 1973–1983.Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol.7: 359–368.
5.
AngerW.K. (1986). Workplace Exposures. In: Neurobehavioral Toxicology (AnnauZ., ed.), pp. 331–347. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
6.
AngerW.K., and JohnsonB.L. (1985). Chemicals affecting behavior. In: Neurotoxicity of Industrial and Commercial Chemicals (O'DonoghueJ.L., ed.), pp. 51–148. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
7.
BakerE.L., LetzR.E., FidlerA.T., ShalatS., PlantamuraD., and LyndonM. (1985). A computer-based neurobehavioral evaluation system for occupational and environmental epidemiology: Methodology and validation studies.Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol.7: 369–377.
8.
BuckW.B., HopperD.L., CunninghamW.L., and KarasG.G. (1977). Current experimental considerations and future perspectives in behavioral toxicology. In: Behavioral Toxicology: An Emerging Discipline (ZenickH., ReiterL., eds.), pp. 2.1–2.10. US EPA Pub. No. EPA-600/9-77-042, 1977, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
9.
Buelke-SamJ. (1980). Standardization is not an ugly word.Neurobehav. Toxicol.2: 289–290.
10.
Buelke-SamJ., KimmelC.A., AdamsJ. (1985). Design considerations in screening for behavioral teratogens: Results of the collaborative behavioral teratology study.Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol.7: 537–789.
11.
CarrollJ.B. (1980). Individual difference relations in psychometric and experimental cognitive tasks. L.L. Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory Report No. 163, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
12.
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) (1983). Leading Work-Related Diseases and Injuries—United States.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report32(2): 24–6, 32.
13.
CENTERS FOR DISEASECONTROL(CDC) (1986). Leading Work-Related Diseases and Injuries—United States.Neurotoxic Disorders. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report35(8): 113–116, 121–123.
14.
ClaytonG.D., and ClaytonF.E. (1981/82). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (3rd Revised edition). John Wiley and Sons, New York.
15.
DamstraT. (1978). Environmental chemicals and nervous system dysfunction.Yale J. Biol. Med.51: 457–468.
16.
DewsP. (1975). An overview of behavioral toxicology. In: Behavioral Toxicology(WeissB., LatiesV., eds.), pp. 439–445. Plenum Press, New York.
17.
DickR.B., and JohnsonB.L. (1986). Human Experimental Studies. In: Neurobehavioral Toxicology (AnnauZ., ed.), pp. 348–387. John's Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
18.
FleischmanE.A., and QuaintanceM.K. (1984). Taxonomies of Human Performance.Academic Press, New York.
19.
GellerI., StebbinsW.C., and WaynerM.J. (eds.) (1979). Test methods for definition of effects of toxic substances on behavior and neuromotor functions. Neurobehav.Toxicol.1(Suppl. 1): 1–225.
20.
GosselinR.E., HodgeH.C., SmithR.P., and GleasonM.N. (1976). Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, edition 4, section 2. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
21.
GullionC.M., and EckermanD.A. (1986). Field Testing. In: Neurobehavioral Toxicology (AnnauZ., ed.), pp. 288–330. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
22.
HanninenH., and LindstromK. (1979). Behavioral Test Battery for Toxicopsychological Studies Used at the Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki.Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki.
23.
JohnsonB.L., and AngerW.K. (1983). Behavioral toxicology. In: Environmental and Occupational Medicine (RomW. N., ed.), pp. 329–350. Little, Brown and Co., Boston.
24.
JohnsonB.L. (ed.) (1987). Prevention of Neurotoxic Illness in Working Populations.John Wiley and Sons, New York.
25.
LatiesV.G. (1973). On the use of reference substances in behavioral toxicology. In: Adverse Effects of Environmental Chemicals and Psychotropic Drugs (HorvathM., ed.), pp. 83–88. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., New York.
26.
LazerevN.V., and LevinaE.N. (1976). Harmful Substances in Industry.Leningrad: Khimiya Press (translated by Literature Research, Annandale, VA) (Available from NIOSH Library, 4676 Columbia Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH 45226).
27.
LetzR., and BakerE.L. (1986). Computer-administered neurobehavioral testing in occupational health.Seminars in Occup. Med.1: 197–203.
28.
MorganB.B., and RepkoJ. (1974). Methodological problems in behavioral toxicology research. In: Behavioral Toxicology (XintarasC., JohnsonB.L., DeGrootI., eds.), pp. 478–479. US DHEW (NIOSH) Pub. No. 74–126, Washington, DC.
29.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH). (1977). National Occupational Hazard Survey, 1972–1974. USDHEW (NIOSH) Pub. No. 73–114, NIOSH Publications Office, 5555 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213.
30.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH). (1983). Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, 1981–2. USDHHS Pub. No. 83–107, NIOSH Publications Office, 5555 Ridge Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213.
31.
NortonS. (1975, revised 1980). Toxicology of the central nervous system. In: Toxicology (CasarettL.J., DoullJ., eds.), pp. 179–205. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York.
32.
OttoD., and EckermanD. (eds.) (1985). Workshop on Neurotoxicity Testing in Human Populations. Neurobehav.Toxicol. Teratol.7: 283–418.
33.
ReiterL.W. (1980). Neurotoxicology, meet the real world.Neurobehav. Toxicol.2: 73.
34.
RuffinJ.B. (1963). Functional testing for behavioral toxicity: A missing dimension in experimental environmental toxicology.J. Occup. Med.5: 117–121.
35.
SpencerP.S., and SchuamburgH.H. (eds.) (1980). Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology.Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
36.
WeissB. (1978). The behavioral toxicology of metals.Fed. Proc.37: 22–27.
37.
WeissB., and LatiesV.G. (1983). Assays for behavioral toxicity: A strategy for the Environmental Protection Agency.Neurobehav. Toxicol.1: 213–215.
