PERIPHERAL NERVE DAMAGE FROM SOLVENTS

Injury to nerves can result from exposure to common household and shop chemicals. Solvents, cleaning supplies, hobby supplies as well as agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, acaricides, and fungicides may penetrate the skin and enter the body.

Because these chemicals are freely available to anyone willing to buy them, an individual may be drawn into a false sense of security as it relates to the safety of these agents. Unfortunately, many of these commonly used compounds are allowed to contact the skin, and many of these chemicals can cause tremendous damage.

Due to the nature of the skin, low molecular weight compounds quickly penetrate the skin and enter the blood steam. The blood itself affords some protection from many of these chemicals through the presence of a number of available enzymes, and often, this protection is entirely satisfactory. Unfortunately, these enzyme systems do not protect from many of the hydrocarbons and petroleum distillates, and afford little, if any protection from heavy metals, which are often found in some fuel oils, lubricants and herbicides.

In addition to the transdermal route of chemical entry, the lungs can provide an easy route for these common poisons to enter the body. If solvents and pesticides are used in poorly ventilated areas, or if spray application results in the inhalation of the aerosols, the lungs provide little, if any, protection, and the chemical agents pass extremely quickly into the lungs, and then, directly to the brain.

Gasoline and kerosene are commonly used to clean grease from the hands. Solvents such as carbeurator cleaner and paint thinner are often splashed about with little appreciation or understanding for the damage that is being done.

The effect of the chemicals can be immediate, as in the case of nerve gasses, or it can occur slowly, insidiously, over time. The nervous system is probably the most sensitive organ system in the body, as it pertains to solvent and pesticide toxicity. Over time, exposure to these chemicals results in measurable quantities in the blood stream, and certain organs and tissues can be slowly and irreversibly damaged.

Situations where an exposure is large or overwhelming, kidney or liver failure can result. More commonly, however, small exposures over a long period of time results in the situation where the resulting damage is most noticeable in the nerve fibers going to the hands, feet, eyes ears and heart.

Burning of the hands and feet, similar to that of diabetes may be the first symptom. Tingling sensations, weakness, difficulty maintaining balance, and memory problems may occur.

Most importantly, eliminating exposure to the chemical agent improves the likelihood of recovery. Reversal of the damage may occur with time, and symptomatic relief is often achievable with intelligent use of certain anti-convulsant medication, such as Neurontin (gabapentin), Klonopin (clonazepam) and Lioresal (baclofen).

Additionally, some patients achieve some relief with the concurrent use of B-complex vitamins.

The only real cure for this serious problem is careful avoidance of skin contact to petroleum based solvents, suitable protective clothing, and care to work in a well ventilated area.