title: Diphoterine for emergent decontamination of skin/eye chemical splashes: 24 cases.
abstract: Chemical skin/eye splashes can cause burns. Standard references recommend decontamination with water. Diphoterine, a polyvalent, hypertonic, amphoteric, chelating solution is an alternative. Occupational medical records of 24 workers in a German metallurgy firm from 1994 to 1998 were reviewed. There were 11 acid eye splashes, 8 acid skin splashes, 4 base eye splashes, and 1 base skin splash. Following Diphoterine decontamination, no burns developed and there were no requirements for burn treatment or sequelae. Three workers had 1 lost workday each. Diphoterine decontamination successfully prevented skin/eye burns in this group of metallurgy workers.
authors.affiliation: Mannesmann Hoesch Prazisrohr, Remscheid, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nehles
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blomet
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mathieu
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C472007:diphoterine