Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

4. Solvent Toxicology
Pages 82-97

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 82...
... Instead, this chapter begins with a review of the general chemistry and toxicokinetics of solvents, the effects of exposure to solvents as a general class, and general interactions that might occur between solvents and other chemicals. Those sections are followed by information on some groups of organic solvents that have unique toxicologic properties or effects or that warrant special mention because of their use in the Gulf War: the aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, glycols, glyco} ethers, esters, ketones, and petroleum distillates.
From page 83...
... Peripheral neuropathy is also seen in persons who abuse solvent products containing n-hexane or methyl-n-buty} ketone. N-hexane, carbon disulfide, and methyl-n-butylketone produce identical pathologic and clinical changes.
From page 84...
... The metabolism of benzene, which occurs in the liver and to a lesser extent in the bone marrow, plays an important role in its toxicity. Benzene is metabolized to benzene oxide, an epoxide, through an oxidation reaction catalyzed primarily by cytochrome P450 2El.
From page 85...
... . Four halogenated hydrocarbons are discussed in this section: tetrachIoroethylene, trichioroethylene, methylene chloride, and chloroform.
From page 86...
... Renal tubular cell adenomas and adenocarcinomas, which are rare in untreated male rats, were observed in male rats exposed to tetrachioroethylene. Oral exposure of male and female mice to tetrachloroethylene over a lifetime resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas.
From page 87...
... and benign mammary tumors in female rats (Burek et al., 1984; Mennear et al., 1988; Nitschke et al., 1988) after exposure to high concentrations of methylene chloride vapors.
From page 88...
... . Male mice, but not female mice or male and female rats, demonstrated an increase in renal tumors following exposure to chloroform in a toothpaste base (Palmer et al., 1979; Roe et al., 1979)
From page 89...
... Figure 4.3 shows the chemical structures of four representative alcohols: two primary aliphatic alcohols, methanol and ethanol; one secondary aTiphatic alcohol, isopropanol, and one cyclic secondary alcohol, cyclohexanol. In addition to CNS depression, methanol exposure in primates results in serious effects mediated by metabolites.
From page 90...
... for 21 and 37 days, respectively, was associated with reproductive toxicity (Tyagi et al., 1979~. The adverse effects observed included decreased weights of the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, and ventral prostate and degenerative changes in spermatozoa and spermatozoa precursors.
From page 91...
... The buildup of glycolic acid is thought to be a major factor in the metabolic acidosis involved in the toxicity of ethylene glycol. Renal toxicity of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol has been observed in experimental animals (including rodents, primates, canines, and felines)
From page 92...
... Deposits of calcium oxalate crystals in the renal interstitium have been proposed as contributing to renal dysfunction through physical damage and blockage of the tubules. Evidence has also been presented that other acid metabolites, including glycolic acid and glyoxylic acid, contribute to renal toxicity through direct cytotoxic effects on the renal tubular epithelium.
From page 93...
... ethers appear to be due to differences in their metabolism. Evidence indicates that the toxic effects of EM, EE, and EB are mediated by alkoxyacid metabolites (for example, methoxyacetic acid is a metabolite of EM)
From page 94...
... There is no evidence that any of the ketones thought to have been sent to the Gulf War cause that peripheral neuropathy or have 2,5hexanedione as a metabolite. There is evidence, however, that coexposure to some of the compounds sent to the Gulf War (specifically, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobuty]
From page 95...
... This range of hydrocarbons includes hexane, a recognized neurotoxicant that causes a distal neurofilamentous axonopathy. n-Hexane's concentration in Stoddard solvent is low enough that it is not expected to pose a risk of induced peripheral neuropathy (Chang, 1 987~.
From page 96...
... 1997. Methylene chloride induced mouse liver and lung tumours: An overview of the role of mechanistic studies in human safety assessment.
From page 97...
... 1988. Inhalation toxicity and carcinogenesis studies of methylene chloride (dichloromethane)


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.