Citation

Bonfiglioli R, Carnevali L, Di Lello M, Violante FS. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2014; 57(2): 254-257.

Affiliation

Occupational Health Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22257

PMID

24085714

Abstract

Dichloromethane is a widely used organic solvent. Occupational exposure to dichloromethane is frequent and can result in both acute and chronic toxicity, affecting mostly the central nervous system, directly or through its metabolite, carbon monoxide. The effects of dichloromethane on the peripheral nervous system are debated. Here we report the case of a 37-year-old woman who was accidentally exposed to dichloromethane. In the days following the incident she experienced bilateral hypoacusis. Hearing loss regressed after 25 days treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. This is the first report of sudden hearing loss after acute exposure to dichloromethane, suggesting a possible toxic effect of this solvent on the auditory system. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en