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PRINCIPLES OF TOXICOLOGY

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154 NEUROTOXICITY: TOXIC RESPONSES <strong>OF</strong> THE NERVOUS SYSTEM<br />

7.7 SUMMARY<br />

Evaluating neurotoxicity can be problematic for several reasons:<br />

• The proper functioning of the nervous system depends upon many complicated steps<br />

occurring in a precisely controlled fashion, and thus an agent that is disruptive of any of<br />

these steps may be potentially neurotoxic.<br />

• The operation of the nervous system is intimately involved with that of other systems, such<br />

as the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, so that impairment of respiration<br />

or hormone function may occur in conjunction with, or as a result of, neurotoxic symptoms.<br />

TABLE 7.1 Some Common Neurotoxic Chemicals<br />

Chemical<br />

Metals<br />

Symptom(s) Site(s) of Action<br />

Arsenic Seizures, tremors Peripheral motor neurons<br />

Barium Muscle spasms Ion channels<br />

Lead Insomnia, tremors Myelin, synapse, axon<br />

Manganese Insomnia, confusion Synapse<br />

Mercury (organic) Ataxia, tremors, confusion Peripheral motor neurons, axon<br />

Thallium Seizures, psychosis Myelin, axon<br />

Tin (organic)<br />

Organic solvents<br />

Headache, psychosis Myelin<br />

Acetone CNS depression Neuronal membrane<br />

Benzene Giddiness, ataxia Neuronal membrane<br />

Carbon tetrachloride CNS depression, giddiness Neuronal membrane<br />

Carbon disulfide Dizziness, psychosis Peripheral sensory and motor<br />

neurons, synapse<br />

n-Hexane Numbness, giddiness Peripheral sensory and motor<br />

neurons, axon<br />

Methanol Blindness, mild inebriation Neuronal membrane, axon<br />

Tetrachloroethylene Dizziness, ataxia Neuronal membrane<br />

Toluene Dizziness, euphoria Neuronal membrane<br />

Trichloroethylene<br />

Organic pesticides<br />

Giddiness, tremors Neuronal membrane, axon<br />

Chlordane Blurred vision, ataxia Synapse<br />

Cyanide Confusion, labored breathing Cytochrome oxidase<br />

2,4-D Muscle spasms, convulsions Neuronal membrane<br />

DDT Dizziness, convulsions Ion channels, synapse<br />

Endosulfan CNS depression, convulsions Synapse<br />

Lindane Headache, convulsions Synapse<br />

Malathion Blurred vision, headache Synapse, axon<br />

Parathion Ataxia, convulsions Synapse, axon<br />

Rotenone<br />

Other<br />

Tremors, convulsions Electron transport chain<br />

Carbon monoxide Headache, dizziness Hemoglobin<br />

Ethanol CNS depression, giddiness Ion channels, neuronal membrane<br />

Hydrogen sulfide Convulsions, coma Cytochrome oxidase<br />

Nicotine Excitability, nausea Synapse<br />

Petroleum distillates CNS depression, dizziness Neuronal membrane

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