Neurologic dysfunction from exposure to 2-t-butylazo-2-hydroxy-5-methylhexane (BHMH): a new occupational neuropathy.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Horan, John M. ; Kurt TL ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Melius, James M. ; Singal, Mitchell
• Description:
  Case histories of seven patients exposed to 2-t-butylazo-2-hydroxy-5- methylhexane (BHMH) while employed in a small plastics manufacturing facility were examined. A case was defined as a previously healthy person, exposed to BHMH, who developed peripheral neuropathy, imparied memory or concentration, and visual disturbances. All cases were in workers exposed directly to BHMH. Information was obtained from each worker on job history, extra occupational exposures, and use of personal protective equipment. Patients with evidence of motor or sensory deficits were evaluated electromyographically and ophthalmologically. To determine etiology, examinations were performed 5 to 6 months after exposure to BHMH was discontinued. Seven of 18 workers had histories of illness that fulfilled the case definition. All seven had evidence of neurologic impairment. Three had abnormal electromyograms and four had abnormal nerve conduction outcomes. Epidemiologic evaluation indicated that onset of symptoms in all seven cases occurred during the 6 months in which the facility had used BHMH. No cases developed before or after that period. The incidence of new cases was observed to decline as effective protective equipment was employed. The authors conclude that BHMH was the agent responsible for the outbreak of neurologic disease in workers at the facility. BHMH may have been responsible also for episodes of neurologic dysfunction in workers exposed to the compound in two other facilities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hydrocarbons Nervous System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Aliphatic-hydrocarbons Humans Nervous-system Neuropathology Neurotoxicity Neurotoxins NIOSH-Author Occupational-hazards Quantitative-analysis Work-analysis Work-operations Workers

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• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• 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
• Volume:
  75
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00149712
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 1985 May; 75(5):513-517
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. John Horan, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30333
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:294062d295a2953300fdaf7e8e9dd0c3ed566d4bd06d5a500b005474048afa9d8e18316d22c80b7179eaf8f4f2681d4dd8d8b2a6a721b486493498732685c1fb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184867/cdc_184867_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 993.58 KB ]