title: Acute exposure to rhodamine B.
abstract: Rhodamine B is a red colored dye that is used in cosmetic products. We report a case of 17 patients who were exposed to aerosolized Rhodamine B inside a maintenance shop. The mean duration of exposure was 26 minutes (range 2-65). Sixteen of the patients (94%) complained of acute symptoms including: burning of the eyes (82%), excessive tearing (47%), nasal burning (41%), nasal itching (35%), chest pain/tightness (35%), rhinorhea (29%), cough (29%), dyspnea (29%), burning of the throat (24%), burning/pruritic skin (24%), chest burning (12%), headache (6%), and nausea (6%). All of the patients had resolution of their symptoms within 24 hours (less than 4 hours in 63%). Acute exposure to Rhodamine B resulted in transient mucous membrane and skin irritation without evidence of serious sequellae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-5063.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dire
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012235:Rhodamines; D014966:Xanthenes; C029773:rhodamine B