Neurocognitive Effects in Welders Exposed to Aluminium: An Application of the NPC Test and NPC Ranking Methods

Stefano Bonnini (), Livio Corain (), Fortunato Munaò () and Luigi Salmaso ()
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Stefano Bonnini: University of Padova
Livio Corain: University of Padova
Fortunato Munaò: University of Messina
Luigi Salmaso: University of Padova

Statistical Methods & Applications, 2006, vol. 15, issue 2, No 5, 208 pages

Abstract: Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exposure to aluminium on the cognitive sphere in a group of welders. Given the intrinsic complexity of the neurocognitive sphere, three different psychomotor variables were used for its investigation allowing the resulting problem to be naturally modelized into a multivariate framework and solved by a nonparametric combination of permutation tests (NPC test). In order to make the treated and control groups comparable, we also stratified the samples on the basis of a risk index that estimates the combined action of biological age and exposure time. Despite the fact that studies in the literature have reached conflicting results, our study highlights a significant drop in attention and memory performances in individuals exposed to aluminium. Finally, we identify a global criterion that summarises the information on the neurocognitive state by applying the nonparametric combination of dependent rankings method (NPC ranking).

Keywords: Aluminium exposure; Dependent rankings; Neurocognitive effects; Nonparametric combination; Permutation tests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10260-006-0019-3

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