title: Acute arsine intoxication as a consequence of metal burnishing operations.
abstract: 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 CuSO4 (3%), HCl (32%), and As2O3 (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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apostoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovacic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brugnone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001152:Arsenicals; C006633:arsine