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Here's more info on pesticides, particularly fumigants, which also cause twitching... Wendy ****************************** --------------------- Forwarded message: From: [log in to unmask] (Tebay, Wendy) To: [log in to unmask] (athome) Date: 95-06-27 18:38:47 EDT --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Acrolein Acrolein (acrylaldehyde) is an extremely irritating gas, used as a fumigant, aquatic herbicide, and "tear gas." The vapor causes lacrimation and upper respiratory tract irritation, which may lead to laryngeal edema, bronchospasm, and delayed pulmonary edema. The consequences of ingestion are essentially the same as those which follow formaldehyde. Contact with the skin may cause blistering. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Acrylonitrile Acrylonitrile is biotransformed in the body to hydrogen cyanide. Toxicity and mechanisms of poisoning are essentially the same as have been described for cyanide, except that acrylonitrile is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Carbon Disulfide Carbon disulfide vapor is only moderately irritating to upper respiratory membranes, but it has an offensive "rotten cabbage" odor. Acute toxicity is due chiefly to effects on the central nervous system. Inhalation of high concentrations for short periods has caused headache, dizziness, nausea, hallucinations, delirium, progressive paralysis, and death from respiratory failure. More prolonged exposure to lesser amounts has lead to blindness, deafness, paresthesia, painful neuropathy, and paraly-sis. Long-term occupational exposures have been shown to accel-erate atherosclerosis, leading to ischemic encephalopathy, myocardiopathy, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Toxic damage to the liver and kidneys may result in severe functional deficits of these organs. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Carbon Tetrachloride Carbon tetrachloride is less toxic than chloroform as a central nervous system depressant, but is much more severely hepatotoxic, particularly following ingestion. Liver cell damage is apparent-ly due to a free radical generated in the process of initial dechlorination. Kidney injury also occurs; sometimes this is exaggerated by jaundice. Cardiac arrhythmias, progressing to fibrillation, may follow inhalation of high concentrations of carbon tetrachloride or ingestion of the liquid. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Chloroform Chloroform has an agreeable sweet odor and is only slightly irritating to the respiratory tract. It is a powerful central nervous system depressant (in fact, an anesthetic). Inhalation of toxic concentrations in air leads to dizziness, loss of sensation and motor power, and then unconsciousness. Inhalation of large amounts causes cardiac arrhythmias, sometimes progress-ing to ventricular fibrillation. Large absorbed doses damage the functional cells of the liver and kidney. Ingestion is more likely to cause serious liver and kidney injury than is inhala-tion of the vapor. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Chloropicrin Chloropicrin is severely irritating to the upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. Inhalation of an irritant concentration sometimes leads to vomiting. Ingestion could be expected to cause a corrosive gastroenteritis. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Commercial Products Hydrocarbon: naphthalene (naphthene) Halocarbons: methylene chloride, methyl bromide (bromomethane, Brom-O-Gas, Brom-O-Sol, Meth-O-Gas, Terr-O-Gas, Brom-O-Gaz, Celfume, Kayafume, MeBr), chloroform (trichloromethane), carbon tetrachloride, chloropicrin (nitrochloroform, Chlor-O-Pic, Aquinite, Dojyopicrin, Dolochlor, Larvacide, Pic-Chlor, Tri-Clor), ethylene dichloride (dichloroethane, EDC), ethylene dibromide (dibromoethane, Bromofume, Celmide, E-D-Bee, EDB, Kopfume, Nephis), dichloropropene (Telone II Soil Fumigant, D-D92), dichloropropene plus dichloropropane (D-D), dibromochloropropane (Nemafume, Nemanax, Nemaset, DBCP, Nematocide), paradichlorobenzene (PDB, Paracide). Oxides and Aldehydes: ethylene oxide (epoxyethane, ETO, oxirane), propylene oxide, formaldehyde (formalin is a 40% aqueous solution), paraformaldehyde, acrolein (propenal, acryladehyde, Aqualin). Sulfur Compounds: sulfur dioxide, sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane), carbon disulfide. Phosphorus Compounds: phosphine (liberated from aluminum phosphide: phostoxin, AIP, Fumitoxin). Nitrogen Compounds: hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid, prussic acid, Cyclon), acrylonitrile (Acritet, Carbacryl, Acrylofume - all mixtures with carbon tetrachloride). Packaging and formulation of fumigants is complex. Those which are gases at room temperature (methyl bromide, ethylene oxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, sulfuryl fluoride) are provided in compressed gas cylinders. Liquids are marketed in cans or drums. Solids which sublime, such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, must be packaged so as to prevent signifi-cant contact with air before they are used. Mixtures of fumigants have several advantages. Carbon tetrachlo-ride reduces the explosiveness of carbon disulfide and acryloni-trile. Chloropicrin, having a strong odor and irritant effect, is often added as a "warning agent" to other liquid fumigants. Liquid halocarbons and carbon disulfide evaporate into the air while naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene sublime. Paraformaldehyde slowly depolymerizes to formaldehyde. Aluminum phosphide slowly reacts with water vapor in the air to liberate phosphine, an extremely toxic gas. Fumigants have remarkable capacities for diffusion (a property essential to their function). Some readily penetrate rubber and neoprene personal protective gear, as well as human skin. They are rapidly absorbed across the pulmonary membrane, gut, and skin. Special adsorbents are required in respiratory canisters to protect exposed workers from airborne fumigant gases. Even these may not provide complete protection when air concentrations of fumigants are high. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Dibromochloropropane Dibromochloropropane is irritating to skin, eyes, and the respi-ratory tract. Eye damage has resulted from repeated exposure to the vapors. When absorbed, it causes headache, nausea, vomiting, ataxia, and slurred speech. Liver and kidney damage are promi-nent features of acute poisoning. Chronic exposure to relatively low concentrations has led to permanent sterility of workers in a manufacturing plant, by causing diffuse necrosis of seminiferous tubule cells. Because it is much less odiferous than ethylene dibromide, exposure of workers to toxic concentrations of DBCP is more likely. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Dichloropropene and Dichloropropane Dichloropropene and dichloropropane are strongly irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Bronchospasm may result from inhalation of high concentrations. Liver, kidney, and cardiac toxicity is probably similar to that produced by carbon tetrachloride. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Ethylene Dibromide Ethylene dibromide (correctly, dibromoethane) is a severe irri-tant to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. The liquid causes blistering and erosion of skin, and is corrosive to the eyes. Once absorbed, it may cause pulmonary edema and central nervous system depression. Long-term exposure may have some damaging effect on testicular tissue. Persons poisoned by ingestion have suffered chemical gastroenteritis, liver necrosis, and renal tubular damage. Death is usually due to respiratory or circula-tory failure. A powerful disagreeable odor is advantageous in warning occupationally exposed workers of the presence of this gas. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Ethylene Dichloride Ethylene dichloride (correctly, dichloroethane) is moderately irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It depresses the central nervous system, induces cardiac arrhythmias, and damages the liver and kidney, in much the same way as carbon tetrachlo-ride. Symptoms and signs of poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, hypotension, cyanosis, and uncon-sciousness. In addition to necrosis of liver and kidney cells, the adrenal cortex may be destroyed, especially after poisoning by ingestion. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Ethylene Oxide and Propylene Oxide Ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are irritants to all tissues they contact. Aqueous solutions of ethylene oxide cause blister-ing and erosion of the affected skin. The area of the skin may thereafter be sensitized to the fumigant. Inhalation of high concentrations is likely to cause pulmonary edema and cardiac arrhythmias. Headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and a persis-tent cough are common early manifestations of acute poisoning. Coughing of bloody, frothy sputum is characteristic of pulmonary edema. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Formaldehyde Airborne formaldehyde is irritating to the eyes and to membranes of the upper respiratory tract. In some individuals, it is a potent sensitizer, causing asthma and dermatitis. High air concentrations may cause laryngeal edema, asthma, or tracheobron-chitis, but apparently not pulmonary edema. Aqueous solutions in contact with the skin cause hardening and roughness, due to superficial coagulation of the keratin layer. Ingested formalde-hyde attacks the lining membrane of the stomach and intestine, causing necrosis and ulceration. Absorbed formaldehyde is rapidly converted to formic acid. The latter is partly responsi-ble for the metabolic acidosis that is characteristic of formal-dehyde poisoning. Circulatory collapse and renal failure may follow the devastating effects of ingested formaldehyde on the gut, leading to death. Paraformaldehyde is a polymer which slowly releases formaldehyde into the air. Toxicity is somewhat less than that of formaldehyde because of the slow evolution of gas. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hydrogen Cyanide Hydrogen cyanide gas causes poisoning by inactivating cytochrome oxidase, the final enzyme essential to mammalian cellular respi-ration. The cells of the brain appear to be the most vulnerable to cyanide action. Unconsciousness and death may occur imme-diately following inhalation of a high cyanide concentration, respiratory paralysis being the principal mechanism. Lesser exposures cause a constriction and numbness in the throat, stiffness of the jaw, salivation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and apprehension. Worsening of the poisoning is manifest as violent tonic or clonic convulsions. Trismus and opisthotonos occur. Paralysis follows seizure activity. Incontinence is characteristic. The skin remains pink. Fixed, dilated pupils, bradycardia, and irregular gasping respiration (or apnea) are typical of profound poisoning. The heart often continues to beat after breathing has stopped. A bitter almond odor to the breath or vomitus may be a clue to poisoning, but not all individuals are able to detect this odor. Similar color of the retinal arteries and veins may be a useful sign of cyanide poisoning; it is due to failure of reduction of hemoglobin as blood perfuses poisoned tissues. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Methyl Bromide Methyl bromide is colorless and nearly odorless, but is severely irritating to the lower respiratory tract, sometimes inducing pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, or a confluent pneumonia. The onset of respiratory distress may be delayed 4-12 hours after exposure. It is a central nervous system depressant, but may also cause convulsions. Early symptoms of acute poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremor, and ataxia. Repeated prolonged exposures in some cases have led to a long-lasting syndrome of ataxia, incoordination, muscle weakness, and areflex-ia. One case of recurrent myoclonic seizures has been reported which required treatment for five years following methyl bromide exposure. If liquid methyl bromide contacts the skin, severe burning, itching, and blister formation occurs. Skin necrosis may be deep and extensive. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Methylene Chloride Methylene chloride is one of the less toxic halocarbons. It is absorbed by inhalation and to a limited extent across the skin. Exposure to high concentrations may cause central nervous system depression, manifest as fatigue, weakness, and drowsiness. Some absorbed methylene chloride is degraded to carbon monoxide in humans, yielding increased blood concentrations of carboxyhemo-globin. However, concentrations are rarely high enough to cause symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Ingestion has caused death from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, severe liver damage, coma, shock, metabolic acidosis, and renal injury. In laboratory animals, extraordinary dosage has caused irritation, tremor, and narcosis, leading to death. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Naphthalene Naphthalene is a solid white hydrocarbon long used in ball, flake, or cake form as a moth repellent. It sublimes slowly. The vapor has a sharp, pungent odor that is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of high concentra-tions causes headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Inten-sive prolonged inhalation exposure, or ingestion or dermal exposure (from contact with heavily treated fabric) may cause hemolysis, particularly in persons afflicted with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. It is actually the alpha-naphthol metabolite that causes the hemolysis. Secondary renal tubular damage may ensue from the naphthol and from the products of hemolysis. Convulsions and coma may occur, particularly in children. In infants, high levels of hemoglobin, methemoglobin, and bilirubin in the plasma may lead to encephalopathy (kernic-terus). Some individuals exhibit dermal sensitivity to naphtha-lene. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Nervous System Headache Behavioral Mood Distrubances Nervous System Depression Convulsions Muscle Twitching Myotonia Tetany, Carpopedal Spasma Tremor Incoordination Paralysis, Paresis, Muscle Weakness Paresthesia of Extremities Hearing Loss --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Paradichlorobenzene Paradichlorobenzene is solid at room temperature, and is now widely used as a moth repellent, air freshener, and deodorizer in homes and in public facilities. The vapor is only mildly irri-tating to the nose and eyes. Liver injury and tremor may occur following ingestion of large amounts. Although accidental ingestions, especially by children, have been fairly common, symptomatic human poisonings have been rare. Other stereoisomers of dichlorobenzene are more toxic than the para-isomer. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Phosphine Gas Phosphine gas is only slightly irritating to the respiratory tract, but is at least as toxic systemically as hydrogen cyanide. It is slowly released into treated produce or storage spaces by hydrolysis of solid aluminum phosphide (phostoxin). Mechanisms of toxicity are not well understood. The principle manifesta-tions of poisoning are fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, thirst, cough, shortness of breath, paresthesia, and jaundice. Pulmonary edema is a common cause of death. Odor is said to resemble that of decaying fish. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sulfur Dioxide Sulfur dioxide is a highly irritant gas, so disagreeable that persons inhaling it are usually warned to seek uncontaminated air as soon as possible. However, laryngospasm and pulmonary edema have occurred occasionally, leading to severe respiratory dis-tress and death. It is sometimes a cause of asthma in occupa-tionally exposed persons, even when air concentrations are low. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sulfuryl Fluoride Sulfuryl fluoride has been used extensively for structural fumigation. Although use experience has generally been good, some fatalities have occurred when fumigated buildings have been prematurely reentered by unprotected individuals. Manifestations of poisoning have been nose, eye, and throat irritation, weak-ness, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, cough, restlessness, muscle twitching, and seizures. Renal injury may induce proteinuria and azotemia. --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Toxicology and Manifestations of Poisoning Naphthalene Methylene Chloride Methyl Bromide Chloroform Carbon Tetrachloride Chloropicrin Ethylene Dichloride Ethylene Dibromide Dibromochlororpropane Dichloropropene and Dichloropropane Paradichlorobenzene Ethylene Oxide and Propylene Oxide Formaldehyde Acrolein Sulfur Dioxide Sulfuryl Fluoride Carbon Disulfide Phospine Gase Hydrogen Cyanide Acrylonitrile --PART.BOUNDARY.claven.3d95.2ff087d3.0001--