Health Risks Of Common Chemical Far Worse Than Suspected

by Jim Newman

Scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have shown that a form of benzene damages the nervous system. The substance is much more dangerous than benzene lookalikes already known to cause peripheral nerve damage (loss of limb sensation and muscle weakness).

"Previously, researchers believed that benzene derivatives were unable to damage the nervous system," said Peter Spencer co-leader of the study. Besides 1,2-diacetylbenzene, Spencer warns that other aromatic chemicals may cause the same damage and should be studied for neurotoxicity.

One of these related aromatic chemicals, a substance known as Musk tetralin, was used until the 1980s by the fragrance industry to hide product odor in soaps and fragrances. The industry voluntarily withdrew Musk tetralin worldwide after Spencer and fellow researchers demonstrated the substance was neurotoxic. Because aromatic hydrocarbons have been used in such large quantities by the public and in commerce, the chemicals are now common soil and water contaminants.

"One surprising property of these neurotoxic substances, including Musk tetralin and 1,2-diacetylbenzene, is their ability to cause blue discoloration of tissue and urine to turn green. Perhaps this property could be used as a biological marker of exposure to these hazardous substances," said Mohammad Sabri, co-author of the study.

"We hope to develop a method by which urine or other fluids can be tested for the presence of the blue pigment. Since urine discoloration occurs before neurological disease, it may serve to help prevent onset of disease among those exposed to these substances in the workplace or at contaminated sites."

The research was published in the Journal of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.