Neuropathy in an artist exposed to organic solvents in paints: a case study.
A 61-year-old artist in Israel had been painting for 30 years in his home studio. He had been healthy until he reached the age of 59.5 years, at which time he began complaining of weakness and paresthesia in both hands and legs. He also complained that he had difficulty concentrating, and his memory was impaired. His work was unusual in that he painted large posters (i.e., 2 x 3 m) with different mixtures of organic solvents, including toluene, xylene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene diisocyanate, acetone, and thinner. He did not use any protective gloves and did not wear a mask. He was evaluated with several methods and was diagnosed as having peripheral and central neuropathy, including ototoxic hearing loss as a result of long exposures to organic solvents. The authors were unable to find any similar case report in the literature.
Hashfela Occupational Medicine Unit, Maccabi Medical Services, Yavne, Israel.
Shlomo
S
Moshe
Enrique
E
Bitchatchi
Joshua
J
Goshen
Joseph
J
Attias
D000096:Acetone / Q000506:poisoning; D001154:Art; D001554:Benzene / Q000506:poisoning; D002074:Butanones / Q000506:poisoning; D003638:Deafness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000506:poisoning*; D010150:Paint / Q000506:poisoning*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012997:Solvents / Q000506:poisoning*; D013997:Time Factors; D014050:Toluene / Q000506:poisoning; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate / Q000506:poisoning; D014992:Xylenes / Q000506:poisoning
D002074:Butanones; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D000096:Acetone; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate; D014050:Toluene; C005222:methylethyl ketone; D001554:Benzene