Screening-level human health risk assessment of toluene and dibutyl phthalate in nail lacquers.

Toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are found in many consumer products, including cosmetics, synthetic fragrances, and nail polish. In 2012, the California Environmental Protection Agency evaluated 25 nail products and found that 83% of the products that claimed to be toluene-free contained toluene at concentrations ranging up to 190,000 ppm, and 14% of the products that claimed to be DBP-free contained DBP at concentrations ranging up to 88,000 ppm. We conducted a preliminary, screening-level analysis of the potential toluene and DBP-related health risks to consumers and professionals based on the medium and maximum concentrations of toluene and DBP presented in the 2012 report and evaluated dermal and inhalation exposure to a salon patron, nail technician, and home user. We concluded that the maximum toluene concentration for the technician and home user scenarios exceeded the California MADL, but the estimated air concentrations did not exceed the Federal or Cal OSHA PEL. The MADL for DBP was exceeded for all user scenarios at both the median and maximum concentrations. Using these highly conservative assumptions, exposures above regulatory limits could possibly occur during routine use of nail products; further research is needed in order to evaluate potential human health risks.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy with atypical MRI features following a lacquer thinner fire.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a structural alteration of the white matter following exposure to various toxic agents. We report a 49-year-old man exposed to an explosion of lacquer thinner with brain MRI features atypical from those of chronic toxic solvent intoxication.

[Drug-induced toxic hepatitis]. / Medikamentös-toxische Hepatitis.

A 55-year-old male patient was hospitalized with severe nausea, vomiting and icterus. Laboratory testing showed hepatocellular damage. After exhaustive testing, the exclusion diagnosis of a toxic hepatitis was reached. There was a strong temporal correlation with the ingestion of Hong Hua 29, a preparation from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This medication had been started twelve days prior to the first appearance of symptoms. The existing drug regimen included gabapentin (Neurontin), esomeprazole (Nexium) and prednisone (Prednison Streuli) for the therapy of an acute sensory and motor neuropathy of unknown aetiology. After cessation of Hong Hua 29, gabapentin and esomeprazole, transaminase levels started to declined and normalized within three months. According to the Swissmedic criteria of imputability, a causal correlation between the observed symptoms and the administration of Hong Hua 29 is possible.

Biomonitoring of 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols by analysing urinary 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids.

2-Methoxyacetic and 2-ethoxyacetic acids are well known toxic metabolites of 2-alkoxyethanols. The use of 2-alkoxyethanols is now restricted, and the regulations have forced manufacturers to find substitutive solvents, 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols. 2-(2-Alkoxyethoxy)ethanols resemble 2-alkoxyethanols, and their most hazardous similarity is their ability to metabolize to the 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids. In the present study, floor lacquerers' (n = 22) inhalation and total exposure to 2-(2-alkoxy)ethoxyethanols was measured. The measurements of inhalation exposure were done with charcoal tubes, and total exposure was biomonitored by urinalysis of 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids. The 8h inhalation exposures of floor lacquerers to 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGME), 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGEE) and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGBE) were in average 0.23 +/- 0.07 ppm (average+/-S.D., n = 3), 0.08 +/- 0.07 ppm (n = 16), and 0.05 +/- 0.03 ppm (n = 16), respectively. The excretions of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)acetic acid (MEAA), 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)acetic acid (EEAA) and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)acetic acid (BEAA) were in average 4.9 +/- 4.3 mmol/mol creatinine, 9.3 +/- 8.0 mmol/mol creatinine and 9.2 +/- 7.4 mmol/mol creatinine, respectively. A linear relationship was found between the urinary 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acid concentrations and the preceding 8-h occupational exposure to 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanol.

[On the effect of Chinese lacquer upon the cell division of root tip of Allium cepa].

Chinese Lacquer, as a fine coating, has been studied and applied for thousands years. The allergic reaction in Chinese Lacquer on the human skin has also been known early. The reaction of Chinese Lacquer on mitosis of cell in plant meristem have not been reported yet and was carefully studied in this paper. The result showed that Chinese Lacquer induced severe abnormality of mitotic division in Allium cepa root tips. This was more obvious in the anaphase and telophase, especially in the former phase laggard chromosomes, chromosome bridges, acentric fragments and polypolar distribution could be seen frequently. A lot of polynuclear bodies were observed in the telophase. Therefore, we think that the Chinese Lacquer can be used as a plant cell mutagen, and suggest geneticists and physiologists to do more researches on the effects of Chinese Lacquer at the genetic variation, metabolism etc.

[Exposure to organic solvent vapors during production of lacquers for automobile painting]. / Narazenie na pary rozpuszczalników organicznych podczas produkcji lakierów samochodowych.

This study was aimed at the development and improvement of the methods for determining solvent vapours to estimate occupational exposure in paint and varnish shops. Gas chromatographic method and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were applied respectively for quantitative determination and identification of toxic substances in the work-room air in plants manufacturing carbamide car paints and commonly used phthalic paints. Particular attention was paid to aromatic hydrocarbon components of farbasol: ethyltoluenes, propylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, mesitylene, hemimelitene, pseudocumene, diethylbenzenes and cymene. These hydrocarbons constitute about 95% of farbasol. At present, the evaluation of exposure in paint and varnish factories and in paint shops in Poland is insufficient because of the lack of TLV values for the above solvents, as well as inadequate methods of determination used in majority of laboratories.

[Cytochemical and immunological studies of workers exposed to organic solvents of paints and lacquer. III. Rosette formation and the tuberculin and distreptase skin tests]. / Badania cytochemiczne i immunologiczne u pracowników narazonych na dzialanie organicznych rozpuszczalników farb i lakierów. III. Zachowanie sie testu E rozetowego i odczynów skórnych: tuberkulinowego i z distreptaza.

Thirty nine workers, aged 24-56, occupationally exposed for 55-122 months to organic solvents, of paints and lacquers containing benzene, toluene and xylene, underwent E rosette test and skin reactions: tuberculinic and the one with distreptase. The findings were: reduction of the number of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and proper immunological response of cellular type. The authors indicate that it has not been settled whether or not the observed phenomenon results from actual change in the number of T lymphocytes or from inhibiting, or damaging, the surface cellular receptors by organic solvents. The E rosette test may be useful for monitoring the biological effects of exposure to the mentioned substances.