Health impairments

Early health impairment with clear adverse effects... 

They also may not be directly adverse, but can indicate potential health impairment (e.g., DNA adducts). Biomarkers of effects caused by acrylonitrile are discussed in Section 2.5.2. 

Effects produced by exposure to acrylonitrile, particularly after acute exposures, are characteristic of cyanide toxicity. These effects can be detected in people exposed by evaluating signs and symptoms such as limb weakness, labored and irregular breathing, dizziness and impaired judgement, cyanosis and convulsions. While tests are not specific for acrylonitrile-induced toxicity, they do identify potential health impairment. Studies to develop more specific biomarkers of acrylonitrile-induced effects would be useful in assessing the potential health risk of acrylonitrile near hazardous waste sites. 

Sakurai H, Kusumoto M. 1972. An epidemiological study of health impairment among acrylonitrile workers. J Sci Labor 48 273-282. 

Biomarkers of effect are defined as any measurable biochemical physiologic, or other alteration within an organism that, depending on magnitude, can be recognized as an established or potential health impairment or disease (NAS/NRC 1989). This definition encompasses biochemical or cellular signals of... 

HEALTH IMPAIRING OXIDATION PRODUCTS 13.3.1 Oxidized Lipids... 

The health impairing and toxic elfects of oxidation of lipids are due to loss of vitamins, polyenoic fatty acids, and other nutritionally essential components formation of radicals, hydroperoxides, aldehydes, epoxides, dimers, and polymers and participation of the secondary products in initiation of oxidation of proteins and in the Maillard reaction. Dilferent oxysterols have been shown in vitro and in vivo to have atherogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, angiotoxic, and cytotoxic properties, as well as the ability to inhibit cholesterol synthesis (Tai et ah, 1999 Wpsowicz, 2002). 

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