Report on a conference on organic solvents and the nervous system.

At two scientific conferences in 1985, one in Copenhagen sponsored by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the World Health Organization (WHO), the other in Raleigh, NC, it was concluded that chronic toxic encephalopathy may develop following long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents (1,2). The terms organic affective syndrome, mild and severe chronic toxic encephalopathy were suggested for this condition describing increasing severity. In May 1990, a conference on organic solvents and the nervous system was held in Copenhagen sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities and the Danish Ministry of the Environment (3). Scientists and representatives from the governments, industries, and labour organisations from the EEC and US participated.