Symptom  
diarrhea  
headache GWS *   EVOS *
sore throat  
voice change or loss  

constant humph

  
A horrible cough that won't quit  

catarrh

 
flu-like symptoms

      
sore/watery/gritty eyes Eyes are primary route of exposure  2-butoxyethanol *

sudden change in color of urine

Dark amber to black

 red blood cells dying prematurely - immediately occurs when too much exposure to 2-butoxyethanol type chemicals.  STOP EXPOSURE IMMEDIATELY
sudden unexpected tiredness *
fatigue  what to check blood for *  CFIDS checklist - suspect EGBE exposure
irritability often with aggression  CNS *  *
anxiety  CNS  *
depression  CNS *
loss of concentration  CNS *
short-term memory loss  CNS *
reactions to other chemicals  
dizziness  
blocked nose  
rhinitis  
mouth ulcers   
bad/metallic taste in mouth  
lip sores  
chest tightness  
shortness of breath *
chest pains  
onset of asthma/allergies *
sinusitis  
nasal discharge  
nose bleeds  
ulceration of nasal mucosa  
itchy burning skin  
rashes rashes given to spouses who NEVER WENT TO THE GULF  (Second hand solvent exposure)
dermatitis  
aching joints and muscles  
fibromyalgia  
uncontrollable twitching CNS *
heart arrhythmia's  
palpitations *   *   Rapid heart rate
abdominal pain  
nausea, vomiting  
Digestive Problems (GI) EVOS - rash in stomach; stomach cancer
tinnitus  
earache  
pins and needles CNS *
numbness in fingers and toes CNS *
Raynaud’s Syndrome  

menstrual irregularities

endocrine disruption

 *

pain/difficulty urinating

endocrine disruption - kidney

  painful urinations *
liver damage  
cancer Cancer rates were way too high 
teeth and gum problems  

reproductive effects 

endocrine disruption

 burning sex, burning semen *

lack of interest in sex 

endocrine disruption

  
hair loss *  

Sudden onset of high blood pressure endocrine disruption

  X

Sudden onset of high blood sugar endocrine disruption

  X

hormonal imbalances 

endocrine disruption

  
impaired sight and hearing  
insomnia - can't sleep CNS *
night sweats  
swollen glands: pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, liver  
stinging tummy in children  
exacerbation of existing conditions  
broken bones don't heal  
weakened immune system  
onset of rheumatoid arthritis  
bouts with paralysis CNS   
backache  Kidney or Bone  
learning impairment  CNS?  
Suicidal Tendencies   CNS *
Birth Defects of Their Children Clefts and other birth defects were higher than normal among Gulf Veterans according to the Association of Birth Defects in Florida

EPA expects pesticides to cause endocrine disruption

Gulf War Syndrome group given multiple diagnosis that indicate endocrine disruption *

 

CNS stands for Central Nervous System possibility

"85% of the Gulf War veterans were sick."
If you've just undergone a 'chemo' treatment, or are recovering from a major surgery, you can expect something from this list, even with taking a prescribed pain medication.  If you don't have any fever and can rule out an infection or flu; then maybe the medication?  It's probably to be expected.  Find out from your doctor what is mandatory and what is optional in your medications.  Less is better than more for those who are dealing with too much chemical exposures.

Continue to use caution around chemicals, when these symptoms show up, if possible STOP the exposure; or wear all of the recommended appropriate gear.  This is IMPORTANT.  If it's not possible to wear the appropriate protective gear, maybe you shouldn't be doing that job.   For glycol ethers - this PPE

Stop immediately if the chemical has serious long term effects.  You will not want more exposure, in that case, for sure.  Effects from chemicals seem to bioaccumulate.  So a little now and a little next week and on and on  -  may be a serious health hazard over time.

Educate yourself on what you are using.  Your company must post the Material Safety Data Sheets from all products they use &/or that employees are around.  If you want to know on your own, ask the product's company for an MSDS.  When you find the ingredients, get more information by contacting them and ask for an MSDS.  Hazardous components of their product must be identified; however, some still 'get away' with saying proprietary:  as with CLP

Go to ChemFinder.com and put in the CAS number for a compound.  Lots of info comes up.  Or you can see if the NJ Hazard sheet exists for it:  http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm  These are very helpful.  They explain in lay terms what a chemical's concerns are; how you could be affected, etc.

Here is the one for 2-butoxyethanol:  http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/0275.pdf  2-butoxyethanol  revised  2/2001  

Here is the one for ethylene oxide http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/0882.pdf  that is probably considered 'trace' in Corexit 9527.  With a lot of exposure, it may no longer be trace at all, but a serious health threat.   www.valdezlink.com/doc_gen.htm 

So, when you are using one of the common household cleaners for 'spring cleaning' and you start sniffling, don't pass it off as "Oh, I must have allergies"  Most likely, friend, you are being affected by some of the horrible solvents in our every day cleaning products that the consumer, by law, does not have to be notified of.  Companies only have to disclose to their employees when they have 2 or more employees; and the every day citizen is not included in full disclosure requirements.  Help to change that!   What we are up against -  The chemical industry

Two household cleaners to use with extreme caution:  Lysol Tub 'n Tile &  409 Cleaner.   Contain pesticides?

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