Neurobehavioral effects of acute exposure to normal (n-) paraffins

• Published in: International journal of toxicology Vol. 30; no. 1; p. 47
• Main Authors: Lammers, J H C M, Muijser, H, Owen, D E, Kulig, B M, McKee, R H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2011
• Subjects: Alkanes - chemistry; Alkanes - pharmacokinetics; Alkanes - toxicity; Animals; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiopathology; Brain Chemistry; Inhalation Exposure; Longevity - drug effects; Molecular Weight; Motor Activity - drug effects; Octanes - chemistry; Octanes - toxicity; Pattern Recognition, Visual - drug effects; Pentanes - chemistry; Pentanes - toxicity; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Recovery of Function; Solvents - chemistry; Solvents - pharmacokinetics; Solvents - toxicity; Visual Perception - drug effects
• ISSN: 1092-874X
• DOI: 10.1177/1091581810385148

This article reports the results of neurobehavioral tests on C(5)-C(10) normal paraffinic constituents (n-paraffins). Shortly after exposure, effects were evaluated in several domains including clinical effects, motor activity, functional observations, and visual discrimination performance. The representative C(5) n-paraffin, n-pentane, did not produce any evidence of acute central nervous system (CNS) effects at levels up to 20 000 mg/m(3). Similarly, there was no compelling evidence that n-octane (C(8)) produced CNS effects at 14 000 mg/m(3), the highest concentration tested. n-decane (C(10)) produced minor, reversible acute CNS effects at 5000 mg/m(3), with 1500 mg/m(3) as the no-effect level. Consistent with literature data, there seemed to be a relationship between increasing molecular weight up to C(10) and acute CNS effects. However, the CNS effects were reversible. Repeated exposures did not provide evidence of metabolic induction.