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Toluene:
Toxicology and metabolism
Main article: Toluene
(toxicology)
Inhalation of
toluene fumes can be intoxicating, but in larger doses nausea-inducing.
Chronic or frequent inhalation of toluene over long time periods
leads to irreversible brain damage. The toxicity of toluene
can be explained mostly by its metabolism. As toluene has very
low water solubility, it cannot exit the body via the normal
routes (urine, feces, or sweat). It must be metabolized in order
to be excreted. in the metabolism of toluene, 95% is oxidized
to become benzyl alcohol. The toxic metabolites are created
by the remaining 5% that are ring oxidized to epoxides. Most
of the epoxides become glutathione conjugated. However, the
remainder will severely damage cells.
Behavioural
Effects of Long Term Exposure
Serious adverse behavioural effects are often associated with
toluene abuse related to the deliberate inhalation of solvents.
Long term toluene exposure is often associated with effects
such as: psychoorganic syndrome; visual evoked potential (VEP)
abnormality; toxic polyneuropathy, cerebellar, cognitive, and
pyramidal dysfunctions; optic atrophy; and brain lesions.
Toluene causes
postural tremors by increasing extracellular concentrations
of ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA) within the cerebellar cortex.
Treatment with GABA agonists such as, benzodiazepines provide
some relief from toluene induced tremor and ataxia. An alternative
to drug treatment is vim thalamotomy. The tremors associated
with toluene misuse do not seem to be a transient symptom, but
an irreversible and progressive symptom which continues after
solvent abuse has been discontinued.
There is some
evidence that low level toluene exposure may cause disruption
in the differentiation of astrocyte precursor cells. This does
not appear to be a major hazard to adults; however, exposure
of pregnant women to toluene during critical stages of fetal
development could cause serious disruption to neuronal development.
Heptane:
Symptoms Dizziness, stupor, incoordination; loss of appetite,
nausea; dermatitis; chemical pneumonitis (aspiration liquid);
unconsciousness.
Target Organs:
Skin, respiratory system, central nervous system.
