Polyneuritis incidence in shoe factory workers: cases report and etiological considerations.
This study describes an outbreak of polyneuropathies in an artificial leather shoe factory. Thirty-seven females employed in the factory were examined; clinical findings and hematochemical data suggest a possible role of tricresylphosphate (TCP) in the genesis of these polyneuropathies. A high percentage of subjects evidenced definite signs of upper-motor neuron involvement, which appeared at an early or late stage of the disease. A statistically significant (P less than .001) reduction of red-blood-cell acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was found in the subjects. The ascertained upper-motor neuron involvement suggests a connection with previously described intoxications by TCP- by ingestion or occupational poisoning. The reduction of AChE seems attributable to TCP, and not to n-hexane, whose anti-AChE activity has never been demonstrated.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003408:Cresols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012775:Shoes; D014317:Tritolyl Phosphates / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003408:Cresols; D014317:Tritolyl Phosphates; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase