A shoe factory worker presents with jaundice, anaemia, and peripheral neuropathy. He is found to have chronic occupational exposure to which solvent MOST likely responsible for this triad?
- A Carbon tetrachloride
- B Benzene ✓
- C Toluene
- D n-Hexane
Correct answer: B. Benzene
Explanation
Benzene causes bone marrow toxicity leading to aplastic anaemia and haematological malignancies (leukaemia), jaundice from haemolytic anaemia, and peripheral neuropathy with chronic exposure. Shoe factory workers are at risk from glue solvents containing benzene. Carbon tetrachloride primarily causes hepatic and renal toxicity without the haematological picture. Toluene causes CNS effects and encephalopathy. n-Hexane causes distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy (glue-sniffer's neuropathy) without the hepatic-haematological triad.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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