Common Chemical Affects Auto Mechanics

Serious health problems caused by a common chemical have surfaced in another venue, according to a Nov. 16, 2001, report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Automotive technicians can suffer long-lasting nerve damage after occupational exposures to n-Hexane, a solvent found in products such as degreasers. The CDC report is based on an investigation by the California Department of Health Services: Jim Cone, 510-310-1033.

A wide range of adverse health effects from n-Hexane have been identified in other occupational settings, including printing plants and shoe and furniture factories, and from products such as glues, spray paints, and silicones. Background (search for "n-hexane").