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Well, most of my former postings on specific pesticides have been on those which I found classified originally under the symptom of twitching. No here is the first in a series of installments on those causing tremor. There is some overlap between the two groups - but I'm only gonna post those which I haven't already, under either heading. Here goes the group know as borates: ************* Subj: tremor - borates Date: 95-06-14 18:02:03 EDT From: [log in to unmask] From: [log in to unmask] (Tebay, Wendy) To: [log in to unmask] (myself) <<<<<< Attached TEXT file named "Commercial Products" follows >>>>>> Commercial Products Boric acid, sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), sodium pentaborate, boron trioxide, sodium biborate. Commercial products: Polybor, Pyrobor Formulated as tablets and powder to kill larvae in livestock confinement areas and cockroaches in residences. Rarely, solutions are sprayed as a nonselective herbicide. <<<<<< Attached TEXT file named "Toxicology and Manifestations o" follows >>>>>> Toxicology and Manifestations of Poisoning by Borate Borax dust is moderately irritating to skin. Inhaled dust causes irritation of the respiratory tract: cough and shortness of breath. There have been few poisonings from the pesticidal uses of borates, although powders and pellets scattered on the floors of homes do present a hazard to children. Most poisonings have resulted from injudicious uses in human medicine aimed at suppressing bacterial growth, such as compresses for burns. Many poisonings of newborns occurred in the 1950's and 1960's. Borates are well absorbed by the gut and by abraded or burned skin, but not by intact skin. They are efficiently excreted by the kidney. The residence half-life in humans averages 13 hours, in a range of 4-28 hours. The gastrointestinal tract, skin, vascular system, and brain are the principal organs and tissues affected. Nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea reflect a toxic gastroenteritis, which occurs even when the borate was absorbed across damaged skin. Blood in vomitus and feces reflect hemorrhagic lesions in the gut mucosa. In severe poisonings of infants, a beefy red skin rash, most often affecting palms, soles, buttocks, and scrotum, has been described. It has been characterized as a "boiled lobster appearance." The intense erythema is followed by extensive exfoliation. Cyanosis, weak pulse, and cold clammy skin indicate shock, which is sometimes the cause of death in borate poisoning. Headache, weakness, lethargy, restlessness, and tremors may progress to intermittent seizures. Unconsciousness and respiratory depression signify life-threatening brain injury. Acute renal failure (oliguria or anuria) may be a consequence of shock, of direct toxic action on renal tubule cells, or both. It occurs only in severe borate poisoning. Metabolic acidosis may be a consequence of the acid itself, of seizure activity, or of metabolic derangements. Fever is sometimes present in the absence of infection. A recent analysis of 784 cases of ACUTE SINGLE-DOSE BORATE INGESTION (excluding newborns and cases of protracted exposure) has indicated a much more favorable prognosis than that which was based on neonate poisonings in the 1950's and 1960's (50%-70% mortality). In the recent survey (Litovitz, T.L. et al. Am. J. Emergency Med. 6(3):209-213, 1988), only 12% of cases were even symptomatic, and there were no fatalities. In those who became symptomatic, gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea) predominated. Central nervous system manifestations and rash were rare and of brief duration when they did occur.