Influence of aliphatic alcohols on the hepatic response to halogenated olefins.

Abstract

The role of alcohols in potentiating the toxicity of halogenated hydrocarbon solvents has been reviewed. The toxicity of carbon tetrachloride and chloroform can be markedly potentiated by prior treatment with ethanol or phenobarbital. Trichloroethylene toxicity may also be potentiated by ethanol ingestion. Prior ethanol ingestion acts by altering biochemical parameters that result in an increased response to subsequent solvent exposure. Simultaneous exposure to both ethanol and trichloroethylene allows for competitive substrate inhibition of metabolism since these compounds share several common enzymatic pathways. Thus the toxic response to multiple exposures varies depending upon the time sequence and the comparative levels of the individual components. Phenobarbital apparently potentiates solvent toxicity by induction of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system. Ethanol, either on a chronic or single dose basis, also has the ability to stimulate this enzyme system. Although alteration of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system by chronic ethanol ingestion may play an important role in potentiation of solvent toxicity, the potentiation seen following a single dose of ethanol cannot be fully accounted for by the known effects of ethanol on the mixed function oxidase system. In addition to ethanol a large number of other alcohols will markedly potentiate the hepatotoxic response to solvents such as carbon tetrachloride and chloroform. The mechanisms involved in such potentiation are not known at the present time.

The interaction of ethyl alcohol and industrial chemicals

“…The consumption of ethanol prior, or during exposure, to carbon tetrachloride vapors may result in increased toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride [Cornish and Adefuin, 1966;Cornish et al, 1977;Maling et al, 1975;Strubelt et al, 1978;Traiger and Plaa, 19721. There are numerous cases of poisoning and deaths from this combination of exposures [Polacsek et al, 19761.…”

Biotransformation of organic solvents. A review.

“…Interactions between different solvents and between solv,ents and drugs or ethanol are very insufficiently known but are probably of great importance, since simultaneous exposure to several of these compounds is very common. It is, eg, known that aliphatic alcohols, among others, ethanol, may influence the metabolism of trichloroethylene and potentiate the hepatotoxic eff.ect of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride (22). Recently it has also been shown that simultaneous exposure of rats to ethanol and vinyl chloride leads to a greater number of tumors than the administration of vinyl chloride only (81).…”

Venous Blood Levels of Inhaled Trichloroethylene in Female Rats and Changes Induced by Interacting Agents

“…Certain chemicals, for instance alcohols, may potentiate the toxicity of TCE (Muller el (11. 1975;Cornish et al 1977;White & Carlson I98lb). In the present study, the effects from peroral administration of a series of I36 INGA JAKOBSON ET AI,.…”