ROLE OF HYDROCARBONS IN NONNEOPLASTIC RENAL-DISEASE

The term hydrocarbon refers to any aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, hal ogenated hydrocarbons (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform), glycols (eth ylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dioxane, glycerol) and organic solven ts. Hydrocarbons commonly find their use as solvents in the industrial manufacturing practices because of their lipid solubility. Hydrocarbo ns have long been known to be neurotoxicants, affecting both periphera l and central nervous systems. Although benzene and its derivative hav e a known association with uroepithelial tumours there is now a consid erable body of evidence suggesting a possible role for hydrocarbon exp osure in the development of non-neoplastic renal diseases. This articl e presents an epidemiological case for such an association and critica lly reviews the literature.