Nervous-system responses of rats to subchronic inhalation of n- hexane and n-hexane plus methyl-ethyl-ketone mixtures.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Altenkirch H ; Spencer PS ; Stoltenburg G ; Wagner HM ; Altenkirch H ; Spencer PS ; Stoltenburg G ; Wagner HM
• Description:
  The nervous system effects of continuous inhalation exposures to concentrations of n-hexane (110543) (HEX) or HEX plus methyl-ethyl- ketone (78933) (MEK) mixtures were investigated in male Wistar-rats. Long term effects of intermittent exposures to the mixtures were also examined. In experiment-A, the animals were exposed for 24 hours/day, 7 days/week for 9 weeks to 500 parts per million (ppm) HEX, 700ppm HEX, 300ppm HEX plus 200ppm MEK, 400ppm HEX plus 100ppm MEK, 500ppm HEX plus 200ppm MEK, or hydrocarbon filtered air (HFA). In experiment-B the animals were exposed 8 hours/day, 7 days/week, for 40 weeks to 700ppm HEX, 500ppm HEX plus 200ppm MEK, or HFA. Solvent exposed animals from experiment-A showed marked reductions in weight. Those treated with the mixture of compounds demonstrated excessive hypersalivation, frequent orange/red discoloration of the skin and fur, and narcosis. All solvent exposed animals demonstrated limb weakness commencing by evasion of the hindlimbs and resulting in paralysis. Histological examination showed hexacarbon specific axonal lesions in peripheral nerves, particularly tibial branches to calf muscles, and in the gracile tract at cervical levels of the spinal cord. Those who survived experiment-B did not give evidence of narcosis and no depressed body weights were evident. Fur discoloration was restricted to an orange/red collar around the neck and appeared more often in animals exposed to the mixture than to hexane alone. The author recommends that exposure to the combination of HEX and MEK be avoided and that appropriate warning accompany these products. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Butanones Epoxy Resins Hexanes Laboratories Lung Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Solvents

  More +
• Keywords:
  Coatings Ketones Laboratory-animals Lung-irritants Nervous-system-disorders Neurological-system NIOSH-Grant Organic-solvents Resins
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Report ; Report
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-21
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00181249
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB88-248000
• Citation:
  Klinikum Steglitz, Department of Neurology, FU Berlin, West Germany :1-21
• Contact Point Address:
  Neuroscience Albert Einstein College 1410 Pelham Parkway Bronx, N Y 10461
• CAS Registry Number:
  Hexane (CAS RN 110-54-3) ; Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS RN 78-93-3) ; Hexane (CAS RN 110-54-3) ; Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS RN 78-93-3)
• Performing Organization:
  Yeshiva University, New York, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19800501
• Source Full Name:
  Klinikum Steglitz, Department of Neurology, FU Berlin, West Germany
• End Date:
  19890430
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8925ad826234b2b2d6905dc8777a7c1dd800ce4fedd11eb1fbac7d3cdd70802156ff6bb7e296da0592259a146cd359a7c0d095b52e620b76ac277ce64c56895a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185585/cdc_185585_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 869.47 KB ]