health and safety plan solid waste management unit assessment

FUEL OILS 66-23
observed in the lung, nasal cavity and sinuses, digestive system,
brain, skin, pancreas and kidney. Leukemias and lymphomas have also
been reported (1817).
66.3.3 Toxicology of Fuel Oil Components
A brief overview of the toxicology of the major hydrocarbon
components of fuel oils are summarized below (see Table 66-5).
n-Hew
Hexane may be the most highly toxic member of the alkanes. When
ingested, it causes nausea, vertigo, bronchial and general intestinal
irritation and CNS effects. It also presents an acute aspiration
hazard. Acute exposure occurs primarily through inhalation.
Non-specific symptoms such as vertigo, headache, nausea and vomiting
are the first to be manifested. At high concentrations, a
narcosis-like state appears as a result of CNS depression.
Pre-narcotic symptoms occur at vapor concentrations ranging from
1500-2500 ppm. n-Hexane irritates the eyes and mucous membranes.
These effects can be seen after an exposure of 880 ppm for 15 minutes.
Skin contact primarily causes fat removal an@ cutaneous irritation.
Chronic exposure to n-hexane vapors causes peripheral neuropathy.
The first clinical sign of neural damage is a feeling of numbness in
the toes and fingers. Progression leads to further symmetrical sensory
impairment
muscular
in the
stretching
distal portions
reflexes.
of the extremities and to loss of
Ultimately, symmetrical muscular
weakness
Paralysis
develops,
develops
chiefly
with
in the
varying
distal
degrees
portion of the extremities.
of impaired grasping and
walking; This may include muscular atrophy (sensorimotor
polyneuropathy). The development of electrophysiological changes
parallels the severity of the clinical. picture. In the most severe
cases, neme conductivity is neutralized. In some cases, cranial nerve
involvement is also observed. After exposure ceases, recovery begins
within 6 to 10 months in mild to moderate cases, but may take up to 3
years in serious cases. The threshold level at which neuropathy occurs
has not been
people exposed
firmly established
to concentrations
but symptoms have
ranging from 10 to
been observed in
200 ppm for 9-12
months.
In animals, signs of narcosis are seen after mice are exposed to
vapor levels of 16,000 ppm for 5 minutes. Death generally occurred at
concentrations between 43,800 and 52,000 ppm after 9-119 minutes. The
oral ID,, is cited as 24 mL/kg for 14.day-old rats and 49 mL/kg for
young adult rats.
Long-term inhalation experiments in rats suggest that the first
signs of neurotoxicity appear after they are exposed to levels of 200
ppm for 24 weeks. This higher threshold to induce neurotoxicity in
animals may be due to differences in metabolism. Specifically,
2-heexanol is the chief metabolite in animals, while 2,5-hexanedione
6/87
-__