Peripheral Neuropathy in Workers Exposed to Nitromethane

Details

• Personal Author:
  Arnold TC ; Fincher AR ; Goddard MJ ; Page, Elena H. ; Pajeau AK
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Two workers from a headlight subassembly plant developed severe peripheral neuropathy. These workers had extensive, but brief (1-2 months) dermal and inhalational exposure to nitromethane, a solvent. METHODS: Environmental sampling was performed for nitromethane and ethyl cyanoacrylate. Medical records, including electrodiagnostic studies, were reviewed. Literature on nitromethane, ethyl cyanoacrylate, and other exposures in the workplace was reviewed. RESULTS: Electromyography and nerve conduction studies performed on these patients were consistent with a severe, axonal neuropathy. No etiology was discovered despite an extensive medical evaluation. Environmental sampling revealed exposure to nitromethane at the threshold limit value. CONCLUSIONS: The history of acute onset of severe peripheral neuropathy temporally associated with exposure to nitromethane is suggestive of a toxic neuropathy. While it cannot be definitively concluded that these two workers developed peripheral neuropathy secondary to exposures at work, occupational exposure to nitromethane appears to be the most likely etiology. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Polymethyl Methacrylate Respiratory System Safety Solvents
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Neuropathy Ethyl Cyanoacrylate Etiology Inhalation-studies Injuries Methyl Methacrylate Nitromethane Peripheral-nervous-system
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Louisiana ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6
• 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:
  107-113
• Volume:
  40
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021831
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2001 Jul; 40(1):107-113
• Contact Point Address:
  Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, USA
• Email:
  edp7@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e04827c602e39a91a7d9327420d8c1a7dc474d8410a17c73d0cdc8066e9b7096a5885cc69a94745520035e224e97af7507edd60d399231106d9fcf1b5f26b65e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198928/cdc_198928_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 97.61 KB ]