Test 2 Flashcards
MCS (toxicant-induced loss of tolerance)
sensitivity or intolerance to a number of chemicals and other irritants at very low concentrations
Sick building syndrome
a collection of symptoms reported
by workers in a given building for which no
cause is apparent.
Building related Illness
symptoms due to being in building with an identifiable cause
Natural Gas location and sx
- formed when layers of buried plant and animal is exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of year
- hydrocarbon mostly methane
- respiratory sx
- lower WBCs, higher RBCs, Hct, Hgb, and platelets
What are VOCs
any carbon-based compounds that readily enter a gaseous state
Benzene found in
- volcanoes
- forest fires
- a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke
- refinery emissions, motor vehicle exhaust
- glues
- paints
- furniture wax
- detergents
Benzene health effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Death (at very high levels)
- Vomiting
- Irritation of the stomach
- Sleepiness
- Convulsions
Chronic
- bone marrow and immune suppression
- irregular menses and decreased size of ovaries’
- leukemia
Toluene
methylbenzene
Toluene location
- plastic soda bottles
- synthetic fragrances
- inks
- cleaning agents
- nylon
- paint thinner
- gasoline
- coatings
- adhesives
- cigarette smoke
Toluene health effects
- CNS
- fatigue
- sleepiness
- headaches
- nausea
- developmental effect in children of pregnant women
- chronic inhalation
- Irritation of the upper resp. tract and eyes, sore throat, dizziness, and headache
Xylene
Aromatic hydrocarbon aka dimethylbenzene
Xylene health effects
- depression of CNS
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritation to the lungs that cause chest pain and SOB
- liver and kidney damage at high levels
- HEENT irritation
- irritation and dermatitis
- can penetrate most clothing
Phenol
carbolic acid
White volatile crystalline solid
Phenol locations
- petroleum
- conversion to precursors of plastics
- Bisphenol-A
- Phenolic resins
- Aspirin
- Herbicides
- Chloraseptic and Carmex
Phenol health effects
- Corrosive to eyes, skin, and resp tract
- dermatitis
- lung edema
- seizure
- coma
Formaldehyde
- Formalin, Formol, Methyl Aldehyde
- CH2O
- Colorless
- Flammable
- Pungent, irritating odor
Formaldehyde location
- Adhesives, glues, dyes
- biopsy containers
- Carpet, particle board, plywood
- Paper products
- Germicide, Embalming Fluid
- Fertilizer & food production
- “Wrinkle-free” clothing, Cosmetics
- Petroleum exhaust, tobacco smoke
Formaldehyde health effects
- Bronchitis, pulmonary edema, asthma (only upper respiratory tract)
- Sinonasal & nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- Leukemia
Vinyl chloride
Chloroethene
Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM)
#3
Location of Vinyl chloride
new car smell
PVC
multiple VC
What is the route of administration of VOCs?
inhalation, ingestion, transdermal absorption
MCS risk factors
- upper SES
- Caucasian
- middle age female
- males
- fibromyalgia
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- psychiatric/mental health condition
MCS diagnosis
- Sx are reproducible with repeated chemical exposures.
- Condition has persisted for significant period of time.
- Low levels of exposure result in manifestations of the syndrome (i.e. increased sensitivity).
- Sx improve when the triggering chemicals are removed.
- Responses often occur to multiple chemically unrelated substances.
- Symptoms involve multiple-organ symptoms