[Industrial pollution due to organic solvents as a cause of teratogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To inform of a new teratogenic syndrome in human beings and its confirmation in rats.


METHODS
The study comprised three phases: a field study; a case-control study; and a genetic epidemiology study, aiming at identifying the causes of the occurrence of congenital malformations and psychomotor retardation in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The second-phase clinical multidisciplinary study was carried out at a general hospital, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of patients identified during the first phase and offer them the necessary treatment. The third-phase experimental study was done in rats in order to confirm the teratogenic effect of the agents detected in the first phase.


RESULTS
A total of 44 patients had a peculiar phenotype and mental retardation of varying degrees, all children of ex-workers of the same factory who were in direct contact, without protection, with organic solvents (methyl cellosolve and ethylene glycol). In the clinical study a syndrome was delineated, previously unreported, consisting of a peculiar facies, mental retardation, and musculo-skeletal and sensorial abnormalities. In the experimental study it was demonstrated that both methyl cellosolve and ethylene glycol cause cranio-facial, musculo-skeletal and central nervous system abnormalities, which confirmed the teratogenic effect of these solvents.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study establish the existence of a new teratogenic syndrome in humans, produced by methyl cellosolve and ethylene glycol, whose teratogenic capacity had not been reported previously.
Saavedra-Ontiveros
D
D
Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Secretaría de Salud (SSA), México.
Arteaga-Martínez
M
M
Serrano-Medina
B
B
Reynoso-Arizmendi
F
F
Prada-Garay
N
N
Cornejo-Roldán
L R
LR
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D018812:Paternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013577:Syndrome
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D012997:Solvents; C005219:methyl cellosolve; D019855:Ethylene Glycol
Contaminación industrial con solventes orgánicos como causa de teratogénesis.