Inhalants long-term effects

Workers in the metals treatment industry are exposed to fumes, dusts, and mists containing metals and metal compounds, as well as to various chemicals from sources such as grinding wheels and lubricants. Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Historically, metal toxicology was concerned with overt effects such as abdominal coHc from lead toxicity. Because of the occupational health and safety standards of the 1990s such effects are rare. Subtie, chronic, or long-term effects of metals treatment exposure are under study. An index to safety precautions for various metal treatment processes is available (6). As additional information is gained, standards are adjusted. 

Solvents are common around the home and workplace. As with most toxic substances, the best policy is to substitute less toxic products whenever possible, and reduce exposure via ventilation or protective equipment if substitutes are not available. Inhalation of solvents is particularly dangerous because of the rapid exchange in the lungs and quick access to the nervous system. Solvent inhalation produces predictable short-term effects but the long-term effects of repeated solvent exposure are not well characterized. 

Vestbo J, Sorensen T, Lange P, Brix A, Torre P, Viskum K. Long-term effect of inhaled budesonide in mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 1999 353 1819-23. 

Because information on possible long-term effects of the other irritant chemicals used in the Edgewood tests is sparse, this chapter focuses on the effects of mustard gas and two lacrimators, CS and CN. Information on the potential long-term adverse effects of these chemicals is derived from several sources first, observation of long-term disabilities in soldiers who were exposed to a single (in most cases) toxic concentration of irritant during World War I and in persons exposed in peacetime accidents or riot-control procedures second, studies of morbidity in workers chronically exposed to chemical irritants during their manufacture and third, studies in which experimental laboratory animals were exposed to selected chemicals by topical application, injection, or aerosol inhalation. 

Little Is known about possible long-term effects of CS Inhalation. This is due In part to the fact that short-term experiments with experimental animals, carried out for from several days to a month and using much higher (In some cases, nearly lethal) concentrations of CS, showed that ocular, respiratory, and cutaneous alte-. rations were mild and readily reversible, whereas necropsy findings failed to reveal any evidence of systemic alterations. Retrospective studies performed by the Hlmsworth committee at the request of the British Parliament after the extensive use of CS in Northern Ireland showed that no adverse effects of CS use were observed, with respect to eye burns, residual respiratory tract injury, Increased death rate in the elderly, exacerbations of mental Illness, increased Incidence of strokes or heart attacks, or incidence of tuberculosis. At exposure concentrations reported by the Hlmsworth committee (about 90 mg-min/m ), no persistent or notably adverse health effects were observed. 

Substances produced in quantities of less than 10 tonnes per year include most of the chemicals used as textile dyestuffs and auxiliaries (CEC, 2003b). This illustrates the inadequacy of using tonnage thresholds as a measure of human exposure. Chemicals used to dye or treat cloth are present in our clothes and may leach from clothes through our skin into our bodies. We may also inhale the chemicals, after the skin has flaked off and become part of household dust (ENDS, 1994). Clothes are probably one of the major routes of human exposure to synthetic chemicals and the long-term effects of those chemicals should surely be investigated. 

The long-term effects of budesonide on adrenal function have been assessed in 63 asthmatic children using budesonide 400 micrograms/day, nedocromil 16 mg/day, or placebo over 3 years (74). There were no differences in serum cortisol concentrations after ACTH stimulation between the three treatment groups, regardless of the time after ACTH administration or months of follow-up. Cumulative inhaled glucocorticoid exposure did not affect the serum cortisol response to ACTH or urinary free cortisol excretion at 3 years. 

An important confounding factor is the influence of non-adherence to inhaled glucocorticoid treatment (139). Sensitive and reliable measures of adherence should be applied when evaluating long-term effects on height. 

Health effects from inhalants range from mild to severe. A distinction between harmful side effects and long-term effects has not been fully determined. Although some inhalant-induced damage to the nervous and other organ systems may be at least partially reversible when inhalant abuse is stopped, many syndromes caused by repeated or prolonged abuse are irreversible, according to the NIDA research report on inhalants, which was updated in February 2002. 

Studies indicate that both the acute and chronic effects from smoking marijuana often mirror the short-term and long-term effects associated with smoking tobacco. Smoke is made up of both solid and gas particles. The inhalation of hot gases combined with volatile tars (and other particulates) can be very harmful to the lungs, throat, and bronchial tubes. Short-term health effects from smoking marijuana can... 

The toxicological data should provide evidence of adverse effects to humans. The acute oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity is characterized by the LD50 or LC50 (lethal dose or lethal concentration). In addition to the acute toxicity, possible long-term effects are reported, such as mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic effects. 

In conclusion, the pulmonary delivery of insuhn offers an efficient and convenient therapy for diabetic patients. The feasibility of inhaled insuhn is based mainly on the lungs large absorption area of alveoli and their extremely thin walls full of intercellular spaces that make them more permeable than other mucosal sites to large proteins. Generally, inhaled insuhn showed a more rapid absorption than insulin administered by SC injection [59]. One major concern for pulmonary insuhn delivery is the unknown long-term effects of inhaled insuhn within the respiratory tract. Thus, possible long-term problems should be considered when insuhn is administered in this manner [66]. 

Fried, P. A. (1976). Short and long-term effects of pre-natal cannabis inhalation upon rat offspring. Psychopharmacology (Berl.) 50, 285—291. 

Toxicity The acute oral toxicity of simazine for rats is more than 15,380 mg/kg, and the acute dermal LD50 in rabbits is 10,200 mg/kg. It demonstrated moderate primary skin and eye irritation effects in rabbits. The acute inhalation LC50 to rats is greater than 5 mg/L. Reports have indicated that simazine caused no serious effects in humans except minor skin rashes in some cases. Similarly, it caused no long-term effects in humans.5,36... 

Kassa, J., Koupilova, M., Vachek, J. (2001c). Long-term effects of low-level sarin inhalation exposure on the spatial memory of rats in T-maze. Acta Med. (Hradec Kralove) 44 93-6. 

The following chapters will include historical information on the discovery and use of inhalants. There will also be descriptions of the classes of inhalants and information given on many of the commonly abused chemicals. Explanations of the mechanisms by which inhalants act on the brain and body will follow, including the discussion of current research aimed at understanding drug addiction. The short- and long-term effects of inhalant abuse on the body will be described, and trends of inhalant use and attitudes toward it will be discussed. Lastly, there will be a presentation of information on treatment and prevention of inhalant use. 

Primary effects of methyl bromide are on the nervous system, lungs, nasal mucosa, kidneys, eyes, and skin. Neurologic symptoms include blurred vision, mental confusion, paresthesias, tremors, and speech defects. Severe exposure may result in narcosis, seizures, coma followed by respiratory paralysis, and circulatory failure. Contact with the skin and eyes can lead to irritation and burns. After an acute single, small with prompt recovery, no delayed or long-term effects are likely to occur. In larger exposures inhalation can cause injury to the nervous system, lungs, and throat. High doses can also injure the kidneys and liver. 

The concern for both dermal and inhalation exposures is the site of contact and effects on that tissue. The mechanism of crude oil toxicity is mediated through its irritant effects which after sufficient exposure duration and concentration result in tissue hyperplasia. Chronic hyperplasia leads to subsequent loss of tissue integrity and damage and in some animal models of cancer. It has been suggested that at exposures below levels that cause chronic irritation, other long-term effects would not be expected. 

Weller WE and Kammler E (1973) Long-term effect of tantalum dust in connection with inhalation bronchography. Respiration 30 430-442. 

The majority of toxic substances in the air are present in the gaseous state, a smaller portion being in the form of aerosols and dust. The substances from the air enter the organism via the respiratory tract (inhalation). In contrast to toxic substances occurring in water, pollutants in the atmosphere exert continuous and long-term effects. They represent a health hazard and catastrophic events can sometimes occur. They affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems (Table 9.9). They also exert negative effects on the nervous system, increasing its instability. 

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