title: Methyl ethyl ketone polyneuropathy in shoe factory workers.
abstract: Three cases of polyneuropathy in shoe factory workers are described. The etiologic agent is felt to be methyl ketone, a substance previously thought to be a safe solvent. The concentration of this substance in the ambient air of the patients was below the threshold limit value. This suggests that there may be a cumulative effect and that we should reexamine the threshold limit values set for all the organic solvents with respect to inhalation and absorption from skin surfaces.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002074:Butanones / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012775:Shoes; D012997:Solvents / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D002074:Butanones; D012997:Solvents; C005222:methylethyl ketone