The Effects of Organic Solvent Neurotoxicity
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) define organic solvents as “carbon-based solvents...that are capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more substances.” Organic solvents can be divided into different categorizations, like carcinogens, reproductive hazards and neurotoxins. Neurotoxins, like toluene, tetrachloroethylene and n-hexane, can damage the brain, resulting in the condition organic solvent neurotoxicity (abbreviated as OSN).
Organic solvent neurotoxicity can be caused by improper protection at work, such as not using a mask when using a solvent, or from abuse. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2007 notes a rise in inhalant use among females between the ages of 12 and 17. For example, between 2002 and 2005, 34.9 percent of females in that age group answered that they had used toluene, glue or shoe polish to get high, compared to 25.8 percent of males in the same group.
The acute organic solvent neurotoxicity make the person feel ill, with symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, confusion, light-headedness and severe headaches. Dermatitis can also occur; symptoms of dermatitis include itching, skin lesions, redness and swelling. Jenni A. Ogden, PhD, author of the book Fractured Minds: A Case-Study Approach to Clinical Neuropsychology, notes “people who suffer from acute symptoms do not necessarily develop the chronic syndrome of OSN, possibly because they are so debilitated by the acute symptoms that they stop working with solvents before irreversible neurological damage results.”
Exposure to organic solvents can also result in peripheral neuropathy, as studied by Kutlu et al.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a CommentComments
There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!