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Neuropathological evaluation of monkeys exposed to ethylene and propylene oxide.

Sprinz-H; Matzke-H; Carter-J

NIOSH 1982 Feb; :1-9

00122451

The neuropathological effect of ethylene-oxide (75218) and propylene- oxide (75569) on monkeys was studied. Male monkeys were exposed to and 300ppm propylene-oxide at 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 2 years. Brain, ulnar and sciatic nerves, and spinal cord tissue were examined histologically. No differences were found between controls and chemically treated animals, between sciatic and ulnar nerves, and between different levels of these nerves. The eight segments of spinal cord of control and experimental animals had no specific pathological differences. In the medulla oblongata of the brain, ethylene-oxide and propylene-oxide exposed monkeys had signs of axonal distrophy. Ethylene-oxide exposed monkeys also had signs of demyelination in this area of the brain. The author concludes that the concern expressed by OSHA about the allowable maximal amount of ethylene-oxide is strengthened by the result of the present study. Also, in view of the current great interest in the effect of chronic occupational exposure to the two compounds, additional studies would seem justified.

NIOSH-Contract; Contract-210-81-6004; Oxides; Central-nervous-system; Nervous-system-disorders; Comparative-toxicology; Neurotoxicity

75-21-8; 75-56-9

19820208

Final Contract Report

Contract

1982

PB83-134817

A02

Contract-210-81-6004

Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 9 pages, 10 references

MO; OH