Motor dysfunction following chronic exposure to a fluoroalkane solvent mixture containing nitromethane.

We report the occurrence of a partially reversible Parkinson-like extrapyramidal syndrome in a woman chronically exposed to vapours from an industrial solvent mixture based on trichlorotrifluoroethane and nitromethane. The fluoroalkane group of compounds has not been previously reported to produce such effects in man, but mixtures containing nitromethane may not be innocent. Under certain industrial conditions the conversion of nitromethane to methylisocyanide may result in toxicity particularly in the basal ganglia and cerebellum following chronic low level exposure.