Is a reduction in residual volume a sub-clinical manifestation of hydrogen sulfide intoxication?
BACKGROUND
A number of employees at an aircraft factory were accidentally exposed to hydrogen sulfide. Because of concern that this may have resulted in lung injury, forty-seven workers were referred for clinical and physiological evaluation.


METHODS
Comprehensive pulmonary function tests were performed including spirometry, flow volume curves, static lung volumes, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide.


RESULTS
The results obtained indicated that ten people (23%) had an isolated reduction in residual volume. This was an unexpected finding as other physiological indices of lung function were within normal limits. Clinical examination was also normal, therefore, radiological investigations were considered inappropriate.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the decrement in residual volume, in the presence of other normal indices of lung function, could represent a sub-acute manifestation of hydrogen sulfide intoxication.
Buick
J B
JB
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland, UK.
Lowry
R C
RC
Magee
T R
TR
D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000506:poisoning*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012115:Residual Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry
D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide