Spray-induced frostbite in a child: a new hazard with novel aerosol propellants.
A case of deep frostbite occurred in an 8.5-year-old child. The lesion was due to the improper use of a toilet air freshener and was severe enough to require a skin graft. The propellants contained in the spray were propane and butane. We measured the temperature of this aerosol during spraying (-40 degrees) in comparison with an ethyl chloride spray (-3 degrees) widely used for local skin anesthesia. This difference is mainly due to the much lower evaporation temperature of propane (-42.2 degrees) and butane (-0.6 degrees) compared with ethyl chloride (12.5 degrees). This child aimed the spray directly toward his skin, thus producing a deep frostbite. We wish to draw the attention of clinicians to this potential hazard with new propellants, since they should soon replace chlorohydrofluorocarbons throughout the world for ecologic reasons.
Lacour
M
M
Clinique Universitaire de Chirurgie Pédiatrique, Geneva, Switzerland.
Le Coultre
C
C
D000335:Aerosol Propellants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002073:Butanes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005627:Frostbite / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011407:Propane / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D000335:Aerosol Propellants; D002073:Butanes; D011407:Propane