Assessing the neurotoxicity effects of occupational exposures has become increasingly sophisticated in the past decade with the application of neurophysiological and neurobehavioral research techniques to occupational disease problems. With a good epidemiologic study design and the careful application of these techniques, occupational field studies of neurotoxic effects are possible. Three examples from recent health hazard evaluations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) illustrate some of the problems in performing these studies and methods to overcome these problems.

Key terms epidemiologic design; epidemiologic study design; field study; methyl alcohol; neurobehavioral test; neurotoxic effect; neurotoxicity; occupational neurotoxicity; organ-risk index; pesticide