DCHAS-L Archives, Dec 01 2015 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Workplace Hexane exposures

From: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Workplace Hexane exposures
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2015 14:08:11 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 1515ef1ec40-20c7-1261b**At_Symbol_Here**webprd-a48.mail.aol.com
In-Reply-To <0C9BB8E8-93EA-4EA1-B6E1-578014804200**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu>

That reduction has to do with hexane's unique ability to cause peripheral neuropathy, a permanent destruction of the nerves in the lower legs and arms. You can google Niki sneaker inventor whose last name was Bowman. He invented the sneaker in his wife's kitchen using rubber cement and her waffle iron. At that time, rubber cement's solvent was always hexane. A common name for hexane is still the "rubber solvent."

Mr. Bowman became a multimillionaire, but he walked with canes for the rest of his life.

There were a number of lawsuits in the late 1980s and early 1990s including some artists who were exposed during printmaking. 3M got sued in one case for a spray adhesive personal injury.

Also google "metabolism of n-hexane" and you can show them the mechanism that makes normal hexane uniquely good at doing this and why it is replaced with heptane most often. One extra carbon on the chain makes a big difference in this potential.

There are so many great stories about n-hexane. The article you want I think is in the old AIHA journal before the merged with ACGIH. I will take a look, but that is more like archaeology than a file search in my office after this long.

Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist

President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.

Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE

181 Thompson St., #23

New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062

actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com www.artscraftstheatersafety.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Tue, Dec 1, 2015 9:43 am
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Workplace Hexane exposures

I recall seeing a fairly concise article that provided an overview of the impacts of hexane exposures to auto mechanics in California in the mid-1990's, when the products they used were reformulated to reduce their VOC contents. I'd like to share this article with industrial hygiene students here, but haven't been able to find it quickly. Does anyone know where I can find it?

Thanks for any help with this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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