ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF ADMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS OF FORMALDEHYDE ON THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Formaldehyde is the one of the most dangerous toxic substances to human health. The purpose of research is to evaluate the functional state of the central nervous system in children with different levels of excretion of formaldehyde. There were examined 220 children (100 boys and 120 girls) aged of 11-17 years. There was used a complex of psychophysiological methods allowing to study cognitive features, power and performance of the central nervous system. Among the cognitive functions there were studied: gnosis (the perception and processing of information); sensorimotor coordination, attention. The formaldehyde concentration in urine was found to be in the range of values of conditional norms. Children were distributed into three groups in dependence on the formaldehyde concentration in urine. Children with the lowest level of excretion of formaldehyde were noted to possess an average speed of visual-motor reaction, a high level of sensorimotor coordination, middle level of the volume, distribution and shiftability of attention. In children with intermediate values of formaldehyde there were revealed the functional level of the system assessed as low, impaired performance of the CNS and sensorimotor coordination, shiftability of attention below average. The functional state of the central nervous system in children with the most high urinary excretion of formaldehyde, corresponding to the upper range of values, was differed by the low functional level of the system, decreased performance and sensorimotor coordination, volume, distribution and shiftability of attention below average level. In children from this group there was established the negative correlation between the concentration of formaldehyde in the urine and indices of the tapping test (the number of taps, the initial rate of speed). The tests revealed psychophysiological signs of the deterioration in the functional state of the central nervous system in children with the increasing of formaldehyde concentration in the urine.