ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of n-hexane subchronic exposure on the serum level of neuron specific enolase(NSE), neurofilament light chain protein(NF-L) and nerve growth factor(NGF) in rat, and to explore the feasibility of using NSE, NF-L and NGF as biomarkers of n-hexane neurotoxicity. METHODS: Specific pathogen free male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and low-, medium-and high-dose exposure groups, with 6 rats in each group. Rats in the low-, medium-and high-dose exposure groups were given n-hexane solution at doses of 168, 675 and 2 700 mg/kg body mass, respectively, while rats in the control group were gavaged with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, once a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. At week 0, 2, 4, and 6 of exposure, the body mass of the rats was weighed, the gait scores were performed, and the serum levels of NSE, NF-L, and NGF were detected.RESULTS: Body mass, gait score and serum levels of NSE and NF-L in rats were statistically significant in terms of the n-hexane exposure dose and exposure time(P<0.01). At the 6 th week of n-hexane exposure, the body mass of the three dose exposure groups was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05), and the gait score was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05). Moreover, the abnormal gait of the rats showed a dose-effect relationship with the increasing n-hexane poisoning dose. At week 2, 4 and 6, the serum levels of NSE and NF-L in these three dose exposure groups were higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). In addition, the serum level of NF-L in rats in the medium-and high-dose exposure groups increased with the n-hexane exposure time increasing and showed a time-effect relationship(P<0.05). The level of serum NGF in rats was statistically significant in the main effects of n-hexane dose and duration of exposure(P<0.05). The serum NGF level in the high-dose exposure group was lower than that in the control group, the low-dose and medium-dose exposure groups(P<0.05). NGF level in serum of rats at week 6 was lower than that at week 0, 2 and 4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both NSE and NF-L in serum can be used as biomarkers for the early effect of n-hexane on peripheral nerve injury. The feasibility of using serum NGF as a biomarker for the early effect of n-hexane on peripheral nerve injury warrants further investigation.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analysis pathogenic conditions and pathogenic characteristics of organic fluorosis caused by applying of anti-fingerprint coating material on touch screen glass of the mobile phone.@*Methods@#To collect clinical data and analyze the causes and pathogenic characteristics of poisoning through surveying occupational health, detecting occupational hazards in the workplace, collecting clinical data and diagnosing of occupational diseases. 6 employees in workshop 1 of packaging were as the organic fluorine exdposed group, and 16 employees in other workshops were as the non-exposed group.@*Results@#Organic fluorine chemicals (perfluoro-1, 3-dimethylcyclohexane, hexadecafluoroheptane, perfluoro-hexane, perfluoromethy lopentane, perfluoro-2-methyl-2-pentene, etc.) can be volatilized by spraying and baking of anti-fingerprint nano-coating material on touch screen. The relative percentage of volatile components in air is 85.65%. Four cases of acute poisoning were caused by organic fluorosis deposited in a dustless air conditioning workshop with poor ventilation.The clinical manifestations of the patients were acute bronchitis, pulmonary edema and/or myocarditis. The average concentration of urine fluorine in the organic fluorine exposed group was 13.7± 4.4 mmol/mol creatinine, which was 4-5 times higher than that of other non-organic fluorine exposed groups. The difference of urine fluorine level between the organic fluorine exposed group and non exposed group was statistically significant (P<0.01) . The main indicators were abnormal for the blood oxygen saturation of finger pulse under suction air, leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, hypersensitivec-reactive protein, procalcitonin, l-lactate dehydrogenase, forebrain diuretic natriuretic peptide, hypersensitive troponin T in the four cases. One case was myocardial ischemia, four cases had bilateral lung symmetrically exudative lesions, one case was accompanied by a small amount of pleural pericardial effusion.@*Conclusion@#Acute organofluorine poisoning can caused by the applying of the fingerprint nano-coating material on touch screen of the mobile phone. Attention should be paid to occupational poisoning caused by the applying of the small molecular perfluoroalkanes (olefins) in new industries, new processes and new materials.