Rutchik Jonathan S, Wittman Richard I
Neurology, Environmental and Occupational Medicine Associates, Neoma.com, 20 Sunnyside Avenue, A-321, Mill Valley, CA 94941, USA.
Clin Occup Environ Med. 2004 Nov;4(4):621-56, v-vi. doi: 10.1016/j.coem.2004.03.010.
Reports of injury began after the introduction of chlorinated solvents in the 1920s. In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported that 9.8 million workers were exposed to organic solvents in occupational settings, with most of these exposures being to mixtures of solvents. Although solvent mixtures have been noted to be responsible for neuropathy, seizures, and encephalopathy, identifying the culpable agent has been difficult, because the associations between many solvents and their biologic effects have not been well defined, and solvent interaction in mixtures have not been well or easily characterized. In some cases, these exposures have been estimated to be below levels designated in regulations as acceptable for workers.
20世纪20年代引入氯化溶剂后，就开始有了关于伤害的报告。1987年，美国国家职业安全与健康研究所报告称，有980万工人在职业环境中接触有机溶剂，其中大多数接触的是溶剂混合物。尽管已注意到溶剂混合物会导致神经病变、癫痫发作和脑病，但确定罪魁祸首却很困难，因为许多溶剂与其生物学效应之间的关联尚未明确界定，而且混合物中的溶剂相互作用也没有得到很好或很容易的表征。在某些情况下，据估计这些接触水平低于法规规定的工人可接受水平。
