Deck 26: Industrial Chemicals That Biodegrade: Organic Chemical Exposures and Impacts

Question 1

What is CSE and how does it develop?

Answer 1

Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy is due to non-specific depressive effects of solvents on the CNS.

Question 2

How does CS₂ markedly differ from methanol in its toxicity?

Answer 2

Methanol depends on metabolism to formate and the CNS toxicity (blindness or death depending on concentration). Carbon disulfide induces a psychosis and peripheral nerve damage that is quite unique to other solvents.

Question 3

Why is CYP2E1 linked to the toxicity of highly chlorinated solvents?

Answer 3

Reductive dehalogenation results in a carbon atom radical that is formed in carbon tetrachloride due to the electron withdrawing properties of the halogens.

Question 4

Why is benzene a carcinogen, and toluene and xylenes mainly neurotoxins?

Question 5

Why is hexachlorobenzene more like a dibenzodioxin rather than a bromobenzene?