Stillbirth after occupational exposure to n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. A case report and review of the literature.
Authors
Solomon-GM; Morse-EP; Garbo-MJ; Milton-DK
Source
J Occup Environ Med 1996 Jul; 38(7):705-713
Abstract
Fetotoxic effects associated with in-utero exposure to N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone (872504) (NMP) were examined. A case report of fetotoxicity following occupational exposure to NMP and a review of the literature were presented. The case report involved a 23 year old laboratory worker who used NMP in her job as a laboratory technician. She was exposed to NMP for an average of 42 hours/week during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Local ventilation was provided in some of the areas in which NMP was used. Personal protective equipment included a laboratory coat, safety goggles, latex gloves and a half face air purifying respirator worn beginning at about the ninth week of pregnancy. The recommendation of an occupational medicine consultant that the worker be transferred to a job without NMP exposure was not followed until about the twentieth week of pregnancy, after an NMP spill resulted in dermal exposure of the patient and induced symptoms including malaise, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Intrauterine growth retardation was seen at approximately 24 weeks gestation; a normal fetus had been seen in an ultrasound obtained at 13.8 weeks gestation. A stillborn fetus was delivered at 31 weeks gestation. No chromosomal or organ abnormalities were noted. NMP has been reported to have acute toxicity and fetotoxicity in experimental studies. The implementation of reproductive health policies in industries using suspected or confirmed reproductive toxicants was recommended.
Keywords
NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Training; Developmental-disorders; Pyrrolidines; Transplacental-exposure; Occupational-exposure; Organic-solvents; Laboratory-workers; Toxic-effects; Personal-protective-equipment; Reproductive-hazards
Contact
Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-CCT-110421
Source Name
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Performing Organization
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
