"The future will depend on our wisdom not to replace one poison with another." |
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Neurotoxicity Abstracts Abstract The acute neurotoxic effects of organic solvent exposure in workers and laboratory animals are narcosis, anesthesia, central nervous system (CNS) depression, respiratory arrest, unconsciousness, and death. Acute experimental exposures of human volunteers to one or several organic solvents have impaired psychomotor function as measured by reaction time, manual dexterity, coordination, or body balance. Chronic animal studies with a limited number of organic solvents support the evidence for peripheral neuropathy and mild toxic encephalopathy in solvent-exposed workers. Epidemiologic studies of various groups of solvent-exposed workers have demonstrated statistically significant chronic changes in peripheral nerve function (sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities and electromyographic abnormalities) that persisted for months to years following cessation of exposure. Epidemiologic studies have also shown statistically significant increases in neurobehavioral effects in workers chronically exposed to organic solvents. These effects include disorders is characterized by reversible subjective symptoms (fatigability, irritability, and memory impairment), sustained changes in personality or mood (emotional instability and diminished impulse control and motivation), and impaired intellectual function (decreased concentration ability, memory, and learning ability). Among organic solvent abusers, the most severe disorders reported are characterized by irreversible deterioration in intellect and memory (dementia) accompanied by structural CNS damage.http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/87104_48.html LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF LINDANE POISONING Richard C. W. Hall, M.D. Ryan C. W. Hall, B.A. Abstract This report documents a long-term case of severe hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) poisoning where, despite prompt medical treatment, the patient continued to experience neurological and psychiatric symptoms for 20 months following her poisoning. The neurophysiology of the organochlorines (as they relate to many of this patient’s symptoms), the proper uses of anticonvulsants for organochlorine-induced seizures, and other symptoms are discussed. |
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Lindane Education And Research Network
is a project of the National Pediculosis Association® (NPA) |