Posted on 11/14/2011 2:50:52 PM PST by decimon
An international study has linked an industrial solvent to Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found a six-fold increase in the risk of developing Parkinson's in individuals exposed in the workplace to trichloroethylene (TCE).
Although many uses for TCE have been banned around the world, the chemical is still used as a degreasing agent.
The research was based on analysis of 99 pairs of twins selected from US data records.
Parkinson's can result in limb tremors, slowed movement and speech impairment, but the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, and there is no cure.
Research to date suggests a mix of genetic and environmental factors may be responsible. A link has previously been made with pesticide use.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Ping
I could be in trouble, considering the quantities we used in the 70’s, while in the Air Force....
Guess that I haven’t been exposed to sufficient harmful chemicals to kill me off. Thanks to the Creator (continuing).
During the space program, they used TCE like it was water. Anything that came in contact, or could possibly come in contact, with liquid oxygen had to be washed in it so there wasn’t the tinyist trace of grease or oil on it. The United States Government demanded it.
Educated guess: it was used anywhere in the military that LOX could be found.
When I worked at [a well known electrical manufacturer] back in the 1970s, TCE was approximately as easy to get your hands on as distilled water was. It was officially considered “non toxic,” although it wasn’t good to get on your skin. Sucked the fat out of it, or so I was told.
After toxicity and groundwater pollution concerns began to emerge, the big manufacturers started using liquid Freon for a degreaser. That, of course, came to a screeching halt over concerns it was damaging the ozone layer.
Interesting you mention the military — a wonderful man I knew died from Parkinson’s — he suffered gravely. Before it hit he was a Navy man and energetic — creative in woodworking and in leatherworking.
Is this the same stuff that was leaked into groundwater and eventually caused birth defects?
Tri-Chlor used to be used in vapor degreasing tanks in the electronics industry. It disappeared in the late ‘80s, I think.
I’ve been exposed to these things too.
An old coworker told me he’d worked in an ammunition plant where they worked elbow deep in carbon tet. Big troughs where they cleaned the brass.
I used to swab tape drive heads with trichlortrifluorethene for many years.
We used it in the field of equipment repair.
Carbon tet? Carbon tetrachloride?
Waaaay nastier. Whoa.
Was used extensively in the 50s by the USAF to clean communication equipment by repeatedly dunking equipment in a TCE bath. I remember the skin on my arms turning white.
That was also the time that I smoked two packs of Pall Mall per day and bummed the rest from friends.
For the record, I’d rather have use of my limbs than some cash award.....
Waaaay nastier. Whoa.
But a common item you could buy anywhere.
I recall my mom talking about getting a stain out of the carpet and she mentioned the cleanser, which at the time I had just learned about as having carbon tet. (Don’t recall now what it was and google didn’t prompt my memory).
She said something like “This stuff just does wonders, but you can’t find it ANYWHERE anymore - and the bottle is almost out”. It’s probably been in the house since the sixties! I tried to convince her to get rid of it - but no way!
This was years ago though - but wouldn’t be surprised if she still has a drop or two of it. At 93 she’s VERY frugal with her stuff. I’ll have to give her a call. Even though I can’t remember what it was I’m sure she does! (Weird how some stuff gives some folks cancer, etc. and others just keep on ticking.)
Yup. I bought a big bottle for my "home laboratory" when I was in middle school. Got it at the drug store down the street.
It was heavy. I mean dense. Very high specific gravity.
Carbona?
I want to say that Carbona is/was dry cleaning fluid.
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