Acute lung disease after exposure to fly ash.
A 48-year-old man with no history of pulmonary disease developed acute lung disease after the intensive exposure of fly ash. He subsequently had progressive worsening of shortness of breath and hypoxemia to the point of requiring mechanical ventilation. Fly ash is a compound consisting of silicon dioxide and various other substances and is used in industrial settings to generate electricity. Exposure to fly ash may cause irritation to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and even pulmonary fibrosis in humans. To our knowledge, this is the first case report described in the medical literature of acute lung disease developing after fly ash exposure.
Department of Internal Medicine, San Joaquin General Hospital, Stockton, Calif.
D K
DK
Shrivastava
S S
SS
Kapre
K
K
Cho
Y J
YJ
Cho
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000208:Acute Disease; D002244:Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060729:Coal Ash; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011859:Radiography; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
D060729:Coal Ash; D007220:Industrial Waste; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon