The enlarging view of hexacarbon neurotoxicity.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Sabri MI ; Schaumburg HH ; Spencer PS ; Veronesi B
• Description:
  Reports concerning hexacarbon neurotoxicity in humans and animals are reviewed. N-hexane (110543) and methyl-n-butyl-ketone (591786) (MBK) are neurotoxic in humans following prolonged exposure. The mixing of hexacarbon solvents with other solvents in industrial facilities where protective devices, worker education, and ventilation are deficient results in human neuropathy. Insidious onset, a slow course, and continuous progression of disability following cessation of exposure are signs of industrial neuropathy, with complete recovery requiring 10 months to 3 years. Industrial exposure problems are compounded by the absence of an organized industrial hygiene program and the insufficient monitoring of worker health. Most cases of human hexacarbon neurotoxicity reported worldwide cite n-hexane or MBK as causal agents. The deliberate inhalation of solvent, lacquer, glue, or glue thinner vapors, known as glue sniffing, is the most common cause of human hexacarbon neuropathy. All documented cases of neuropathy due to glue sniffing relate to n-hexane, which is usually present in conjunction with other six carbon compounds. One such study indicates that the n- hexane concentrations in place in the air when using a plastic bag to inhale solvent vapors can reach 44,000 parts per million (ppm). Brief exposures to n-hexane concentrations ranging from 1,400 to 2,000ppm cause nausea, headaches, and eye and throat irritation, while a concentration of 5,000ppm inhaled for 10 minutes results in giddiness and mild narcosis. Other symptoms include proximal weakness, respiratory insufficiency, cranial nerve palsy, and greatly slowed nerve conduction velocities. Respiratory, subcutaneous or intraperitoneal exposure to n-hexane or MBK induces neurological damage in experimental animals. Inhaled MBK has a much greater neurotoxic effect on human and animal subjects than n- hexane. The MBK exposure concentration limit currently in force in the United States is 1ppm, while the same value for n-hexane is 100ppm. Threshold limits established for these substances by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists are 5 and 25ppm, respectively. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hazardous Substances Hematologic Tests Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  Blood-sampling Disease-incidence Nerve-function Nervous-system NIOSH-Grant Physiological-measurements Toxic-effects
• ISSN:
  1040-8444
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  279-356
• Volume:
  7
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00154257
• Citation:
  Crit Rev Toxicol 1980 Oct; 7(4):279-356
• Contact Point Address:
  Pathology Albert Einstein Coll of Med 1300 Morris Park Avenue Bronx, N Y 10461
• CAS Registry Number:
  2-Hexanone (CAS RN 591-78-6) ; Hexane (CAS RN 110-54-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1981
• Performing Organization:
  Yeshiva University, New York, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19751101
• Source Full Name:
  Critical Reviews in Toxicology
• End Date:
  19850331
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f7b9783b828a867a82d13c5d712a6ce912edb166af510436c62b3e194c7f6f4b3b4af1f544b89d61d77daf3127391c6d631af3ac3409c9dfc98f64bf09f52514
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184922/cdc_184922_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.25 MB ]