Organic solvents

General consideration:
 Most of the organic solvents are hydrocarbon compounds, used
as fat solvent, found mainly in liquid state,evaporate at the room
temperature into vapors with a bade harmful smell.
 Organic solvent vapors are absorbed mainly by lungs and skin
and deposited in the fatty tissues in the body such as central
nervous system (CNS) & liver, skin and induce adverse effects
in those organs.
 Absorbed solvent are excreted in expired air ,found in blood or
metabolized into other compounds excreted in urine.
 Organic solvents are mainly divided into two groups:
1-Halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, easily decomposed by heat
exposure and release an irritating compounds such as phosgene
(COCL2) gas and hydrofluoric acid.
2-Halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon: benzene derivatives.
The diagnosis of organic solvents intoxication is based upon:

 History of occupational exposure.

 Clinical examination & laboratory investigation.
 Periodical screening for liver, renal. CNS functions.
 Periodical monitoring for the level of solvents vapors at the
work site. These can be measured by direct reading equipment,
colored tubes and gas chromatography, the organic solvent
concentration should not exceed the permissible exposure limit.

Preventive and control measures.

  Pre-employment & periodic medical examinations to exclude
workers with neurological, hepatic, renal and hematological
disorders from exposure. Also to correlate and link the
environmental measures with the medical condition .
 Health education, good ventilation & personal protective
devices(ppd) must be considered.
First aid measures in acute intoxication
 Safe removal of the workers to fresh air.
 remove contaminated clothes and showering with soap and
water, wash the eye with water or saline ,eye antibiotic
drops ,oxygen administration might be used,
 Referral to specialized hospital for the treatment of any
pulmonary, renal, hepatic & CNS disorders.
Organic solvents & heavy metals (painter's syndrome)
 Headache dizziness, lack of concentration, memory problems &
neuropsychological changes, dementia in late cases (chronic
toxic encephalopathy).
 Organic solvents commonly used in pesticides: e.g. carbon
tetrachloride dichloromethane, trichloroethane,
trichloroethylene, xylene and benzene.

Organic solvents compounds

A: Halogenated hydrocarbon:
1-Carbon tetrachloride CCl4
 Occupational exposure: solvent for oils, fats, lacquers, resin,
varnishes … etc., degreasing, cleaning agents, refrigeration
gases, inks …..
 Absorption: respiratory tract (R.T): vapor is converted by the
liver into free radicals CCl3 which might induce toxic hepatitis.
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ Hepatic: toxic hepatitis
ᴏ Renal: toxic nephritis:
ᴏ CNS depression : fatigue, lethargy, insomnia, stupor,
dizziness, headache, anorexia nausea, vomiting, memory
disturbance, psychological disturbance, muscle in
coordination .
ᴏ Skin: dermatitis:
 Aids in diagnosis: CCL4 in expired air & blood
N.B: Alcohol beverage (ethanol) consumers experience flushing face
& back& alcohol potentiate the CNS adverse effects of both CCl4 and
trichloroethylene (TCE). They compete with alcohol for the same
metabolic enzyme (synergetic effect).

2-Trichloroethylene (TCE): ClCH = CCl2

 Occupational exposure: solvents in metal degreasing, dry
cleaning, ingredients of paints, adhesive varnishes, inks.
 Absorption: RT, gastro-intestinal tract (GIT), skin.
  Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: (central nervous system): depression.
ᴏ PNS: peripheral and cranial neuropathy.
ᴏ Skin: irritation and dermatitis.
ᴏ CVS: (cardio vascular system): arrhythmias.
 Aids in diagnosis: TCE in expired air, or TCE metabolites in
urine (trichloroethanol or trichloroacetic acid).
3- Six chloronaphthene: (C10 H2 CL 6)
 It is waxy substances.
 Occupational exposure: Petrochemicals, viscous, storage
batteries, electric condensers.
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ Skin: chlorachne in face, neck.
ᴏ Hepatic: toxic hepatitis.

4-Polychlorinated biphenyls C12 H10 clx (1-10)

 Occupational exposure: electric equipments.
 Systemic effect: chlorachne, hepatitis, sexual dysfunction.
 Endocrine disruptors interfere with growth, behavior,
reproductive function.
5-Vinyl chloride gas
 Occupational exposure: mfs of chemicals and viscous.
 Absorption: RT metabolized in the liver to chloroacetaldhyde.
 Systemic effect: Reynouds phenomena, angiosarcoma of the
liver, blood platelets decrement.
 Aids in diagnosis: breathe analysis for vinyl cl or its metabolites
in urine.

B: Benzene & Benzene derivatives

1-Benzene (C6 H6)
 Occupational exposure: mfs of organic chemicals, detergents,
pesticides, solvents, paint removal, paints, viscous,
petrochemicals.
 Absorption: RT (vapors) & skin (slightly).
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS depression.
ᴏ Skin: dermatitis.
ᴏ Hematopoietic: leukemia , aplastic anemia.
ᴏ Early manifestations: anemia ( RBC) & bleeding
(decrease platelets count and repeated infection due to
decreased white cell counts & leukemia (late).
ᴏ NB: exclude pregnant women from benzene exposure.
 Aids in diagnosis: phenol metabolites in urine although some
benzene (30%) is excreted in the expired air, decrement in blood
platelets.
2-Toluene: (C6 H5 Ch3).
 Occupational exposure: mfs of chemicals petrochemicals, dyes,
paints.
 Absorption: RT vapors.
 Skin: liquid
 Systemic effect:
 CNS: depression.
 Skin: dermatitis
 Reproductive: birth defect syndrome.
 Aids in diagnosis: urinary hippuric acid.
NB: commercial toluene is contaminated with benzene.

3-Xylene (C6 H4 (Ch3)2

  Occupational exposure: solvent, ingredient of paints, lacquers,
varnish, ink, dyes, adhesives.
 Absorption: RT vapor
 Skin: slightly.
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression.
ᴏ RT: pneumonitis (evaporated) .
ᴏ ENT: ear, nose, throat irritation.
ᴏ NB: exclude pregnant women.
 Aids in diagnosis:
ᴏ Methyle hippuric acid in urine
ᴏ Xylene in expired air and blood.

4-Nitrobenzene (C6H5 NO 2)
 Occupational exposure: dyes, explosive & solvent.
 Absorption: RT & skin and converted to paranitrophenol
excreted in urine.
 Systemic effect:
o CNS: depression.
o Hepatic: toxic hepatitis.
o Hematopoietic: convert hemoglobin into methemoglobin
which is unable to carry oxygen to the tissues (cyanosis).
 Aids in diagnosis:
o paranitrophenol in urine
o methemoglobin level in the blood.
o Henz bodies in RBC.

5-Aniline (aminobenzene (C 6 H5 NH2))

 Occupational exposure: mfg of chemicals, viscous, dyes.
 Absorption: RT converted to para aminophenol.
 Aids in diagnosis and systemic effect: as nitrobenzene
methemoglobin pluses it may inducr urinary bladder cancer.
C-Ketones (C =) group as acetone
 Occupational exposure: mfs of ketones, chemicals, solvent.
 Absorption: RT: vapor
Skin: liquid
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression & narcosis.
ᴏ PNS: peripheral neuropathy.
ᴏ Skin: dermatitis.
 Aids in diagnosis:
Acetone in blood, urine, expired air.

D- Alcohol (methanol )
 Occupational exposure: mfs of formaldehyde, paints, varnishes,
inks, dyes.
 Absorption: RT: vapor
Skin: liquid.
Methanol is converted into formic acid
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression.
ᴏ Eye: optic neuritis (blindness).
ᴏ Metabolic acidosis and stomach pain.
ᴏ Ethanol: birth defect syndrome (heavy alcoholics)
 Aids in diagnosis: formic acid in urine & methanol in urine and
blood , metabolic acidosis.

E: Ethylene glycol ethers compounds

  Occupational exposure: solvents for resins, paints, lacquers,
varnishes, dyes, inks, plastic and textile dying.
 Absorption: RT :vapors.
o Skin: liquid.
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression.
ᴏ Liver: hepatitis.
ᴏ Renal failure following ingestion.
ᴏ Reproductive: miscarriage.
ᴏ Hematobiotic: pancytopenia
 Aids in diagnosis: glycol metabolites in urine.

F: Other organic solvents

1-Stoddard:
 It is a mixture of solvents mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons and
some benzene derivatives.
 Occupational exposure: degreasing, paints.
 Absorption: RT: vapors.
o Skin: liquid.
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression.
ᴏ Skin: dryness, scaling, defatting.
ᴏ Renal failure following ingestion.

2-Carbon disulfide (CS2)

 Occupational exposure: solvent for lipids, sulfur, halogens,
phosphorous, rubber, oil, waxes resins, mfs of organic
chemicals, paints, viscose, rayon, explosive.

 Absorption: RT vapor
 Skin: liquid
  Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: parkinsonism, psychosis, suicide.
ᴏ PNS: peripheral neuropathy.
ᴏ Renal: nephritis and nephritic syndrome.
ᴏ CVS: atherosclerosis, hypertension.
ᴏ Skin: dermatitis and irritation.
ᴏ Reproductive: menorrhagia, metrorrhagia in female
workers.
 Aids in diagnosis:
ᴏ CS2 in expired air, blood, urine.
ᴏ Iodine azide test for CS2 metabolites in urine

3-Dioxane
 Skin: dryness, scaling, defatting.
 Renal failure following ingestion.
 Occupational exposure: solvent for cellulose, fats, dyes, resins,
varnish, waxes, polyvinyl polymers.
 Absorption: RT: vapor.
 Skin: liquid
 Systemic effect:
ᴏ CNS: depression.
ᴏ Liver: toxic hepatitis.
ᴏ Renal: nephritis.

NB: Dioxane should not confused with dioxin (pesticide)

(trichlorodibenzo dioxin) :teratagenic agent & endocrine disruptors.

Pesticides
 Pesticides are mixtures of substances that destroy the pests including
insects, rodents ,fungi, weeds…etc,.

Types:
 Pyrethroids compounds i.e. permithrin.
 Organochlorine compounds i.e. DDT and dieldrin.,endrin,
aldrin, heptochlor
 Carbamate derived from carbamic acid carboryl (savin) ,.
carbofuron.
 Organophosphorus compounds i.e. parathion and malathion.
 Biological compounds ie nicotine.
 Pesticides commonly used :dieldrin ,heptachlor ,
carboryl ,carbofuran ,& dioxin

A. Organophosphorus insecticides (OPI):

 Most toxic pesticides , derived from nerve gases i.e sarin
 OPI contain phosphorus , absorbed and metabolized into water
soluble compounds and excreted in urine ,sometimes, the
metabolites are more toxic than the original compounds, for
example paraxon and malaxon are more toxic than parent
parathion and malathion respectively.
 Serum acetyl cholinesterase enzyme(ACHe)
Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides compete with
acetylcholine (ACH) for cholinesterase enzyme (Ache) resulting
accumulation of Ach on nerve ending and over nerve
stimulation resulting characteristic symptoms. Return of
cholinesterase enzyme to the base line after acute exposure takes
several weeks in plasma and several months in RBC.

 Clinical manifestation:
 1-Acute OPI poisoning : Headache, dizziness ,cramps, weakness ,
fatigue , nervousness, lack of concentration, blurred vision, meiosis,
sweating, diarrhea, salivation ,cyanosis, convulsion & coma may
occur in sever cases ( CNS & PNS) effect of Ach.
2-OP delayed effect: Anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and
decrease memory. polyneuropathy (axonal degeneration).
3-The clinical manifestations of carbamate are similar to OPC but
mild, reversible, shorter duration. Savin is commonly used against
broad spectrum of insects control,
 Investigations: in acute poisoning plasma cholinesterase enzyme
level is first elevated then elevation of RBC cholinesterase ,
 Treatment of OPI poisoning:
1- First aid measures i.e remove the contaminated clothes,
showering , stomach wash….etc
2-Atropin: 2-4mg iv repeated after 3minutes until atropinization.
3-Pralidoxime slow iv if no response to atropine.

B. Organochlorine pesticides (OCP):e.g DDT, kepone , aldrin ,

uridin…etc
Characterstics:
 Long life period.
 Found in food residuals, accumulated in fatty tissues & slow
degradation rate, , with adverse effects mainly on CNS
especially in the children. , interfere with transmission of the
nerve impulses along the axon (it blocks neurotransmitters )
 CNS : Seizures may be the first manifestation, dizziness,
confusion , agitation , headache ,parasthesias….etc
 Endocrine disruptor .It may mimic endocrine reproductive
hormones and interfere with reproduction , growth, behavior
C. Pyrithrin:
 It is extracted from dried flowers grown in Kenya & Ecuador;
affect the CNS of the insects leading to paralysis of the insects
but not lethal effect, so it is synergistic by OPI or carbamate
compounds.
 Pyrithrin is mainly used indoor & it is unstable by outdoor light
& heat. It is relatively safe and converted to inactive form and
eliminated from the body
 Pyrithroids : It is human made from pyrithrin but more outdoors
stable, so it is used in agriculture & garden pest control, -
 It blocks neurotransmitters & cause seizures, tremor. These
compounds irritate & sensitize eyes, RT, skin resulting contact
dermatitis & bronchial asthma; it is advisable to cover the skin
(gloves), RT (mask) & eyes (goggles) during spraying these
compounds

D. Herbicides:
 Bipyrids compounds i.e paraquate
 Benefin compounds i.e carbicide
 Triazine compounds i.e atrazin.
 Those compounds may be associated with massive lung
fibrosis after ingestion ie paraquate , , peripheral neuropathy ,
myopathy , contact dermatitis & potentially carcinogenic .

E: Pediculicides
 Used in head lice control (shampoo).
  Active gradient is pyrithrins with low skin absorption, so it
might mixed with OPI (malathion) or OCI (linden) to potentiate
its effect, this combined form is available only with prescription
 N.B : some pesticides with inert ingredients are more toxic than
those with active ingredients particularly if mixed with toxic
solvents i.e OPI or OCI
 Some agricultural pesticides are wrongly used at home , it is
biodegraded by env. condition pluse high biological period.

F: Repelllent insecticides
i.e diethyl- tolumide(DET) , used to repel mosquito , seizures &
encephalopathy particularly in children, repel label should cautious
about that & concentration less than 10 percent is used in children and
only applied to exposed parts of the skin & contact dermatitis may
occur.

G: Pesticide (termite control):

 It is liquid spray containing OPI or pyrithrin appling directly to
wood parts
 House hold pesticides: e.g. carbamate, pyrithrin inproper storage
and disposal are quite toxic to the children.
 Pesticides metabolites: in urine i.e. DDT, dieldrin and OPC
metabolites.
 Reproductive toxic pesticides: i.e DDT, Lindan, dioxin and
methyl parathion.(endocrine disruptors)

Other hazardous effects of pesticides :

 Hepato-renal damage.
  Birth defects
 Allergic to contact skin, eyes, &R.T (bronch. Athma).
 Neuropathy and cardiac arrhythmias.
 Bone marrow depression.
 Narcotic effect (solvents effect).
 Suspected carcinogen. & lower immunity
Pesticide elimination policy
 Manual removing weeds & pests from plants
 Applying heat, placing traps to catch pests
 Develop plant self resist pests
 Biocontrol agents i.e birds