Car Mechanics May Be at Risk of Nerve Damage
By Emma Hitt, PhD

ATLANTA (Reuters Health) - Car mechanics should be wary of breathing in aerosol brake cleaner and other products containing n-hexane, because the chemical is known to cause nerve damage, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) (CDC).

The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) first stumbled upon this problem in 1998 when a physician referred an automotive worker to the department. He had a type of nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy, with symptoms including muscle weakness, tremors and numbness in his hands and feet.

According to the report, the 24-year-old worker used from one to nine 15-ounce aerosol cans of brake cleaner per day during the 22 months he worked at the automotive repair facility. The brake cleaner consisted of about 50% n-hexane.

``The technician sprayed the product on brakes, tools, small spills, and engine surfaces,'' CDC researchers report in the November 16th issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The worker's condition improved when he stopped using the brake spray, but he continued to have numbness and tingling in his hands and feet, the report indicates.

To investigate whether the use of n-hexane was a problem in other automotive repair facilities, the CDHS screened another facility during 1999 that used an aerosol product containing only 1% to 5% n-hexane.

Six technicians from the facility participated in the screening. All had worked as technicians for at least 20 years.

One of the six workers was found to have peripheral neuropathy, and three showed signs of n-hexane exposure as measured by a urine test, but their levels of exposure were judged acceptable by the government standard.

To find more cases, the CDHS surveyed neurologists in August 2000 to determine if any of their patients might have been exposed to n-hexane in an automotive repair facility.

One of the 58 neurologists who responded reported having a patient who was a car mechanic and who had peripheral neuropathy from breathing in n-hexane.

``The three cases of peripheral neuropathy described in this report are related to occupational exposure to n-hexane among automotive technicians,'' CDC authors conclude.

They point out that ``other cases of n-hexane-related peripheral neuropathy may be occurring in this industry, but the nature of these exposures and the extent of illness are unknown.''

The CDC researchers suggest that the automotive repair industry try to use water-based rather than n-hexane-based cleaning solutions.

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2001;50:1011-1013.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/2001...chanics_1.html



[This message has been edited by Mike89GTA (edited November 21, 2001).]

 

There's nuttin rong wit me

(as my head spasmodically jerks to the side a couple of times a second and I drool uncontrollably)

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

"Everything is dangerous,"
You heard it hear first people!

------------------
Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI Edelbrock Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake 1 5/8" Headers Semi-Siamesed Runners, IROC
suspension, alum shaft. Numerous mods.
92Z28convt5spd (stock)
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

THIS man speaks the truth



------------------
- David
88' GTA 5.7L TPI MODS---> air foil, K&N, Shift Kit, 180* therm, TB bypass, Gutted CAT, Flowmaster 80 Series Muffler added to Unkown CatBack, Ported Intake

http://www.geocities.com/david_angel_16

 

Its kind of sad, but when I was in high school, we had a couple people in our auto service class that would sniff that **** all the time. Seeing them now, I am so glad I decided not to join in.



------------------
Joshua Johnston
1991 Z-28
350, T-5, K&N, Ported Vortec heads, Edelbrock RPM, Holley 750 D.P., HEI, 11.07:1 CR, Comp Cams Roller-.510"/.520"-282*/288* dur., Shorty Headers, Dual 2.5 Exhaust, Dynomax Bullet Mufflers, T&R Motorsports custom air intake, Bald tires

 

I always wondered why my hands tingle all the time.....LOL...(As EB sprays his hands)

I've drank that stuff in soda before, and not just a little....hmmm..could explain a few things...

The problem is, all the stuff that doesn't cause you to die early sucks, it doesn't evaporate well and leaves a film. I'll stick to the stuff that works.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R
and 2 POS commuters...

R.I.P. #3
"He can see air"

 

n-hexane added to a little anthrax... let's hope Bin Laden doesn't figure that one out.

 

Man, you got that right! Wurth is the only kind I'll buy. Just use it properly/smartly. You'll be fine.

 

And dirty engine oil causes cancer. But has that ever stopped me? Noooo...

------------------
91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

Will you marry me?? LOL

 

Yeah, but Brake Clean ROCKS!! ....... It's like a sore di ck , ya just can't beat it..... lol....

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

[This message has been edited by Matt87GTA (edited November 22, 2001).]

 

hmmmmm, I have that problem. seriously, no joke. I used to be a dealer mechanic, and I did use that stuff heavily, but that was 15 years ago. never know ??? I will share that with my doctor.

 

THAT explains why we're all so F'ed up!

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90 IROC convertible, dead stock 305TPI and TH700R4
79 Malibu, 350, ZZ3 cam, Vortec heads, Performer RPM manifold Th200r4, GN rear, real sleeper(excuse for not doing any body work)

 

BWAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAA...... ...... rofl

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

ihjnnao;i8nfnas a fsaddffo afsa

Translated: I don't seem to have any problems.

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89 GTA w/700r4w/stage 2 shift kit,2800 converter, corvette servo, B&M mega shifter, TPIS bigmouth intake, TPIS large tube runners, TPIS 52mm throttle body, Ported Edelbrock centerbolt heads,Accell 30# injectors,holly afpr,GMPP LT4 hotcam,CompCams Pro magnum roller rockers,Edelbrock headers, flowmaster crossflow muffler,MSD 6A, accell coil,150 shot NOS. The new engine is in but I am still having some small problems.

 

But seriously we will just have to be cautious in how we use it. It is a good piece of information to know.

 

Seriously, I've never used 15 damn cans of brake cleaner in a day. Geez, no wonder. All that gasoline I drank that one time kinda gave me a little bit of a twitch, doesn't show up too often;lsdjf;l.l'kasdjfjk There it is.
bsa