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Acute arsine intoxication as a consequence of metal burnishing operations
Author(s) -
Romeo Luciano,
Apostoli Piero,
Kovacic Mauro,
Martini Silvia,
Brug Francesco
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199709)32:3<211::aid-ajim5>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - arsine , medicine , burnishing (metal) , hemolysis , metallurgy , toxicology , biochemistry , chemistry , materials science , phosphine , polishing , biology , catalysis
The report concerns a 30‐year‐old factory worker, employed in a small galvanizing plant for over ten years in the burnishing, copper‐ and nickel‐plating of small metal articles for the shoe industry. Acute arsine poisoning was attributed to the use of a dilute solution of CuSO 4 (3%), HCl (32%), and As 2 O 3 (2%) for burnishing metal (Fe‐Zn) shoelace eyelet holes, in the absence of local exhaust ventilation and with no respiratory protection. Arsine caused severe intravascular hemolysis with a rapid drop in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. Other body organs were involved as a result of the hypoxic effect of anemia and hemolysis, or as a direct toxic effect of the arsine itself. Our experience confirms that exchange transfusion is capable of rapidly arresting the adverse effects of arsine. The importance of preventive measures and worker information to avoid acute arsine poisoning is emphasized. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:211‐216, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.