Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0012833 (dizziness)
 9,689 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) are nitroaromatic compounds appearing as pale yellow crystalline solids at room temperature. Dinitrotoluenes exist as a mixture of 2 to 6 isomers, with 2,4-DNT, and 2,6-DNT being the most significant. About 500 persons are estimated to be potentially exposed yearly to 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT during the production of munitions and explosives. The main route of human exposure at ammunition facilities is inhalation, but dermal contact and inadvertent ingestion can also be substantial. In factory workers, exposure to DNTs has been linked to many adverse health effects, including cyanosis, vertigo, headache, metallic taste, dyspnea, weakness and lassitude, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms including pain or parasthesia in extremities, abdominal discomfort, tremors, paralysis, chest pain, and unconsciousness have also been reported. The primary targets of DNT toxicity are the hematopoietic system (pallor, cyanosis, anemia, and leukocytosis), the cardiovascular system (ischemic heart disease), the nervous system (muscular weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and tingling pains in the extremities) and the reproductive system (reduction of sperm counts, alteration of sperm morphology, and aspermatogenesis). An association between DNT exposure and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinomas and subcutaneous tumors in rats, as well as renal tumors in mice, has been established. Epidemiologic studies of DNT toxicity have been limited to small groups of workers who had been occupationally exposed at various ammunitions production facilities. Clearly defining the health effects of DNTs with a high degree of confidence has therefore been difficult because of the multigenic nature of occupational exposure. In an attempt to update the toxicologic profile of the DNTs, we hereby provide a critical review of the environmental and toxicologic pathology of DNTs, with a special emphasis on their potential implications for public health.
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PMID:Environmental toxicology and health effects associated with dinitrotoluene exposure. 1467 15

Nitrotoluenes are important intermediates in the chemical industry. 2,6-Dinitrotoluene (26DNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (24DNT) and 2-nitrotoluene are carcinogenic in animals and possibly carcinogenic in humans. It is therefore important to develop methods to biomonitor workers exposed to such chemicals. Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts of nitroarenes are established markers of the biological effective dose. We developed a method to measure Hb adducts in biological samples. Hb adducts were measured in rats after a single exposure (0.5 mmol/kg) of 24DNT, 26DNT, 2,4-toluenediamine (24TDA) and 26TDA. Hydrolysis of Hb from rats dosed with 24DNT yields, 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene (4A2NT) (16.3 nmol/g Hb), 24TDA (4.3 nmol/g Hb) and 4-acetylamino-2-aminotoluene (4AA2AT) (0.51 nmol/g Hb). Hydrolysis of Hb from rats dosed with 26DNT yields three amines, 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene (2A6NT) (2.5 nmol/g Hb), 26TDA (1.2 nmol/g Hb) and 2-acetylamino-6-aminotoluene (2AA6AT) (0.17 nmol/g Hb). A similar Hb adduct pattern was found in Chinese workers exposed to nitrotoluenes. With respect to 24DNT, 4A2NT was the predominant adduct, and the amount was approximately 24-fold higher than 24TDA. With respect to 26DNT, 2A6NT was the predominant adduct, and the amount was approximately 20-fold higher than 26TDA. With respect to the mononitrotoluenes, the Hb adduct of 2NT was present in the highest concentrations. Each worker was examined for adverse health effects linked to exposure to DNT. The health effects were compared with the Hb adduct levels using logistic regression analysis. The odds of suffering from inertia were 3.2 times higher [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-5.8] when the level of 4A2NT Hb adducts increased by one log-unit. Similar odds ratios were observed with somnolence (3.1, CI = 1.4-6.9), nausea (2.4, CI = 1.3-4.3) and dizziness (5.5, CI = 1.3-24.2). These results inferred that quantification of DNT-Hb adducts provided an effective biomarker of toxicity and could be used to estimate the risk associated with a particular exposure to DNT.
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PMID:Hemoglobin adducts in workers exposed to nitrotoluenes. 1547 93