Organic Solvents as Risk Factor for Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Barragán-Martínez, Carolina; Speck-Hernández, César A.; Montoya-Ortiz, Gladis; Mantilla, Rubén D.; Anaya, Juan Manuel; Rojas-Villarraga, Adriana

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051506

Cited by 118 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…Exposure to organic solvents, which are often used in commercial industries, have been reported to be associated with an increased risk of adult MS (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.03 – 2.29) 6, 10. However, in our study, childhood exposure to paint, stains, or lacquers, which generally contain organic solvents, was not associated with increased risk of pediatric onset‐MS.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

“…A proposed mechanism linking environmental toxins to MS is the activation of the immune system by toxic chemicals leading to destruction of oligodendrocytes 12. Alternately, environmental toxins may have an indirect effect by modifying native proteins, such that they are misidentified as foreign proteins, setting off a cascade of inflammation and CNS injury 10. However, it has also been suggested that the toxic effect influences the appearance of autoimmune diseases like MS, only in subjects who are genetically susceptible 13…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organic solvents, which are chemical compounds used routinely in commercial industries, can alter cellular proliferation, apoptosis and tissue‐specific functions, and chronic exposure may lead to deposits in an organ 7, 8, 9. Self‐proteins that are modified by organic solvents may become immunogenic, and trigger an inflammatory cascade with resulting tissue injury 10. However, exposure to a chemical toxin alone may be insufficient to cause a disease such as MS, and more likely the environmental exposure become relevant in a genetically‐susceptible individual.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Several household chemical exposures are associated with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis

Mar

Liang

Waltz

et al. 2018

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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BackgroundThere is limited information about the potential associations of multiple sclerosis (MS) and commonly used household chemicals.MethodsWe performed a case‐control study of exposures to common household chemicals during childhood in children with MS and healthy pediatric controls. Exposures to household products were collected from a comprehensive questionnaire (http://www.usnpmsc.org/Documents/EnvironmentalAssessment.pdf) completed by parents at the time of enrollment in the study. Cases included children diagnosed with MS or clinically isolated syndrome with at least two silent T2 bright lesions on MRI, recruited within 4 years of disease onset from 16 pediatric MS clinics in the USA. Multivariate analyses using logistic regression were adjusted for possible confounders including age, sex, race, ethnicity, mother's highest level of education, and urban versus rural living.ResultsQuestionnaire responses to household chemicals were available for 312 eligible cases (median age 15.7 years, 63% girls) and 490 healthy controls (median age 15.0, 57% girls). Exposure to rodenticides (odds ratio [OR] 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–3.26, P ≤ 0.001), weed control agents (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.36–2.92, P ≤ 0.001) and products for plant/tree disease control (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.54–4.82, P ≤ 0.001) anytime during childhood were associated with an increased risk for pediatric‐onset MS in adjusted and multiple comparisons analyses.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that exposure to specific household chemicals during early childhood is associated with the risk of developing pediatric‐onset MS. Future studies are needed to elucidate a causal relationship and the exact agents involved.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Several household chemical exposures are associated with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis

Mar

Liang

Waltz

et al. 2018

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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“…Accordingly, we have also observed from our clinical experience that some PVOD patients report an occupational history of significant exposure to chemicals such as organic solvents. Furthermore, numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to organic solvents and systemic sclerosis [15][16][17]. Given the above considerations and the aforementioned high frequency of venular involvement in systemic sclerosis-associated pre-capillary PH, we speculated whether occupational exposure to organic solvents might also be relevant in PVOD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Occupational exposure to organic solvents: a risk factor for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

et al. 2015

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Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare form of pulmonary hypertension characterised by predominant remodelling of pulmonary venules. Bi-allelic mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α kinase 4 (EIF2AK4) gene were recently described as the major cause of heritable PVOD, but risk factors associated with PVOD remain poorly understood. Occupational exposures have been proposed as a potential risk factor for PVOD, but epidemiological studies are lacking.A case-control study was conducted in consecutive PVOD (cases, n=33) and pulmonary arterial hypertension patients (controls, n=65). Occupational exposure was evaluated via questionnaire interview with blinded assessments using an expert consensus approach and a job exposure matrix ( JEM).Using the expert consensus approach, PVOD was significantly associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents (adjusted OR 12.8, 95% CI 2.7-60.8), with trichloroethylene being the main agent implicated (adjusted OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.4-49.4). JEM analysis independently confirmed the association between PVOD and trichloroethylene exposure. Absence of significant trichloroethylene exposure was associated with a younger age of disease (54.8±21.4 years, p=0.037) and a high prevalence of harbouring bi-allelic EIF2AK4 mutations (41.7% versus 0%, p=0.015).Occupational exposure to organic solvents may represent a novel risk factor for PVOD. Genetic background and environmental exposure appear to influence the phenotypic expression of the disease. @ERSpublications Occupational exposure to organic solvents is a novel risk factor for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

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“…For example, when some Korean workers afflicted with multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis claimed workers' compensation, no scientific papers were found to support the work-relatedness of semiconductor production, though a number of papers have reported strong associations between organic solvent exposure and multiple sclerosis. 96 Later, we learned that the IBM PMR study also found elevated risks for these…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health impacts of semiconductor production: an epidemiologic review

Kim¹,

Kim

Paek

2013

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

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Background: Despite concerns over the harmful health effects of semiconductor production, epidemiological studies have shown mixed results. Objectives: We aim to critically appraise epidemiologic studies to date, and to suggest future research and actions to protect workers in semiconductor industry. Methods: Epidemiologic studies were identified through electronic database searches, review of reference lists of relevant published works, and expert consultations, and were narratively reviewed. Results: Most evidence suggests reproductive risks from fabrication jobs, including spontaneous abortion (SAB), congenital malformation, and reduced fertility. Although chemicals have been suspected as causal agents, knowledge of the likely contribution(s) from specific exposures is still limited. Evidence of cancer risk seems to be equivocal. However, the available studies had serious limitations including healthy worker effects (HWEs), information bias, and insufficient power, all of which are associated with underestimation. Nevertheless, excess risks for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, brain tumor, and breast cancer were observed. Conclusions: Monitoring and innovative research based on international collaboration with a focus on sentinel events are required.Keywords: Adverse reproductive outcomes, Cancer, Epidemiology, Healthy worker effect, Information bias, Semiconductor, Statistical power IntroductionThe semiconductor industry began as a parts production sector of the microelectronic industry in the 1960s. However, with the growth of the computer industry, semiconductor manufacturing has taken the linchpin of the entire microelectronics industry. Semiconductor global sales revenue reached US$307 billion as of 2011, 1 and the size of workforce is also huge; for instance, the number of employees in just two countries -South Korea (hereafter Korea) 2 and Taiwan 3 -exceeds 290 000. This industry is typically characterized by highly specialized processes, rapid technological innovation, significant chemical use, and large-scale investment to support such innovation and mass production, 4 all of which could influence workers' health and safety. Contrary to its 'clean' image represented by 'bunny suits', semiconductor production includes a wide variety of hazards. Work processes mainly consist of three steps -wafer manufacturing, fabrication, and packaging/testing, and at each step, there are various sub-processes. In particular, the wafer-fabrication process includes material deposition, photolithography, etching, and doping, all of which include the use of hazardous materials. 5 A variety of chemicals including organic solvents, acids, and metals are heavily used. Some individual chemicals are simply irritants to skin or respiratory organs, whereas others are carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and/or neurotoxins. Air recirculation systems designed to minimize dust make workers more vulnerable to effects from these chemicals both singly and in complex combinations. Physical hazards including extremely low-frequen...

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Organic Solvents as Risk Factor for Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cited by 118 publications

References 103 publications

Several household chemical exposures are associated with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis

Several household chemical exposures are associated with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis

Occupational exposure to organic solvents: a risk factor for pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

The health impacts of semiconductor production: an epidemiologic review

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