Comparison of local neurotoxicity of three white spirit formulations by percutaneous exposure of rat tail nerve.
A recently developed technique was used to compare the local neurotoxicity of three white spirit (crude oil distillates) formulations. They differed in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations. Formulations I and II contained over 10% n-nonane, whereas its concentration was negligible in formulation III with 17% aromatics. Formulation I contained no aromatics. Formulation I and II caused local axonopathy by neurophysiological and morphological criteria after 6 weeks of daily 3-h exposures for 5 days a week. No neurophysiological changes were caused by formulation III while morphological analysis revealed infrequent demyelinative foci after 6 weeks. Rats exposed to formulation II with 1% trimethylbenzene isomers showed urinary excretion of dimethylbenzoic acid isomers not detected in other rats thus providing a method for the biological monitoring of exposure.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012997:Solvents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013623:Tail / Q000294:innervation
D001565:Benzoates; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012997:Solvents; C013089:ligroin