Epistaxis and Liver-Function Abnormalities Associated with Exposure to “Butyl” Caulk – Kentucky

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In a recent study the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was asked to investigate a report of possible toluene overexposure involving a person who lived in a log home in Brodhead, Kentucky. On February 27, 1981, a 45-year-old male resident of Brodhead was hospitalized for uncontrolled epistaxis. Three days earlier, while the walls on the first floor of his log home were being caulked with a toluene- and petroleum distillate-based "butyl" caulk, he had noted a "strong solvent odor." However, he remained in the house almost continuously. Over the next 3 days, he experienced increasingly severe headache, nausea, dizziness, and feelings of disorientation. On the fourth morning he had a nosebleed that became profuse in early evening, requiring that he be hospitalized. His wife and 2 sons, who slept upstairs, had similar symptoms, including nosebleeds, but to a milder degree. Neither he nor his family had a history of nosebleeds or bleeding diathesis. Results of blood tests done during his hospitalization to determine coagulation parameters were consistently normal. ... On March 6, a routine blood chemistry screen showed elevations of total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl-transferase, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase. His liver function returned to normal within 2 weeks, except for a persistently elevated alkaline phosphatase. ... Evaluation of the log home included air sampling and caulk analysis by a private environmental consulting firm on April 5, 1981, and a visit by NIOSH investigators on April 20. Air sampling on April 5 showed toluene at a concentration of 2 parts per million (ppm) in the patient's bedroom (acceptable NIOSH limit is 100 ppm). NIOSH investigators noted that the house was heated to about 75 degrees F (24 degrees C) without humidification. The patient's bedroom had bare log walls with caulk visibly extruding between the logs. NIOSH calculated the surface area of exposed caulk in the bedroom to be 4.4 square feet. Quantitative analysis of a bulk sample of fresh caulk yielded 6% toluene, 0.5% xylene, and 15.5% "naphtha" or mixed petroleum distillates. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Digestive System Digestive System Diseases Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Hematologic Tests Liver Nose Occupational Health Petroleum Safety Sense Organs Temperature Ventilation Wood Xylenes

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• Keywords:
  Air Sampling Alkalines Blood Tests Blood Vessels Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Exposure Limits FamiliesToluene Health Effects Humans Liver Disorders Liver Function Men Naphtha Nasal Cavity Nasal Disorders Odors Petroleum Distillates Petroleum Products Sampling Solvent Vapors Temperature Effects Women Xylene

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Kentucky ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  3 pdf pages
• Volume:
  31
• Issue:
  19
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055778
• Citation:
  MMWR 1982 May; 31(19):251-252
• CAS Registry Number:
  Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light (CAS RN 64742-47-8) ; Naphtha (CAS RN 8030-30-6) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1e0bfd967ecc38dbc7a370aa407c3ccf41891b5c50f84f6b5c8f0a3707fe809acc82093ddca1584bda035113f8cd980eb6c445efc1ea76090f107fc3f6c64a4b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183081/cdc_183081_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 409.09 KB ]