Occupational Hazards as Neurological Disorders

Human brain is the most complex organ that controls various complicated functions like behavior, learning, talking, memorizing, organizing, listening, performance of routine skills and interaction with environment. The vulnerability of brain towards toxic effects of occupational hazards is very high due to the presence of high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and high metabolism. Interference with xenobiotics or occupational hazards disrupts homeostatic processes and may cause long lasting effects in humans including behavioural abnormalities, cognitive deficits, depression and movement disorders. Prolonged exposure to toxicants and occupational hazards leads to altered membrane and lipid rafts leading to various neurological disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, a deep knowledge of occupation induced hazards mediated alteration on normal brain development and function will add to the research of minimizing this risk. In the present chapter, different occupational hazards are discussed with their deleterious effects on human brain.

Keywords: Brain, Occupational hazards, Pesticides, Heavy metals, Industrial chemicals, Radiation, Neurological disorders, Stress, Oxidative stress, Toxicity, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Neurobehavior.