Transcutaneous ethylene glycol monomethyl ether poisoning in the work setting.
During the period of an "energy crisis" in 1974, two workers in a textile printing plant in Massachusetts developed clinical manifestations of encephalopathy. Both had evidence of bone marrow injury and one had pancytopenia. Study of their work environment revealed that they had ethylene glycol monomethyl either (EGMME) poisoning primarily due to cutaneous exposure. EGMME was used as a cleansing agent as a substitute for acetone, which was unavailable due to temporary shortage. Proper product labels could have prevented the illness.
D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013783:Textile Industry
D005026:Ethylene Glycols