Biologic activity of epsilon-caprolactam.

In general, this literature review indicates that epsilon-caprolactam has a relatively low toxicity to humans. This low-degree of toxicity is attributable in part to its rapid elimination as demonstrated by experimental studies on animals. Human studies are mostly those based on workers in Russian factories. Although reporting physicians attributed such symptoms as general weakness, irritability, headaches, and insomnia, and such diagnoses as neurosis, neurasthenia, rapid mood shifts as well as others to excessive caprolactam exposures, the widely recognized Russian national scourge of alcoholism, particularly among working populations was not considered as a possible factor. Some of the reports recognized the complicating existence of multiple exposures in the factories such as excessively high temperatures and humidity, high noise levels, and other chemicals - including mixtures of diphenyl and diphenyl oxide, cyclohexane, benzene, and others, but most reports gave scant or no consideration to them.