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Hydrogen sulfide poisoning: Clarification of some controversial issues
Author(s) -
Milby Thomas H.,
Baselt Randall C.
Publication year - 1999
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(199902)35:2<192::aid-ajim11>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - medicine , unconsciousness , hydrogen sulfide , toxicity , pulmonary edema , intensive care medicine , toxicology , physiology , pathology , anesthesia , lung , sulfur , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology
Background Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas about which much has been written. We discuss here several issues we believe would benefit from further clarification. Conclusions We conclude that: 1) Certain neurotoxic effects of exposure are probably due to a direct toxic effect on the brain, while others are almost certainly a result of hypoxia secondary to H 2 S‐induced respiratory insufficiency; 2) pulmonary edema is a common consequence of poisoning and there is suggestive evidence of hyperactive airway responses in some individuals following brief H 2 S‐induced unconsciousness (knockdown); 3) criteria for acceptable community levels are very different than those governing occupational standards; 4) urinary thiosulfate determinations can be useful for monitoring occupational exposure; and 5) determination of sulfide ion concentrations in blood or major organs can be useful in corroborating a diagnosis of fatal H 2 S toxicity, but there are many pitfalls in collecting, storing, and analyzing tissue and fluid samples. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:192–195, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.