Acute skin injuries acids

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Retrospective Acute adult burn injury patients 1,584 1996-2004 Chemical skin injuries = 5.8 % Predominantly liquid acids and alkalis Involved TBSA <1-65 % Most patients had <10 % TBSA involved Greenwood et al. [33]... 

Health nd Safety Factors. Thionyl chloride is a reactive acid chloride which can cause severe bums to the skin and eyes and acute respiratory tract injury upon vapor inhalation. The hydrolysis products, ie, hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide, are beheved to be the primary irritants. Depending on the extent of inhalation exposure, symptoms can range from coughing to pulmonary edema (182). The LC q (rat, inhalation) is 500 ppm (1 h), the DOT label is Corrosive, Poison, and the OSHA PEL is 1 ppm (183). The safety aspects of lithium batteries (qv) containing thionyl chloride have been reviewed (184,185). 

Titanium tetrachloride is a severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritant and corrosive. It can also severely irritate the mucous membranes and the lungs. Inhalation of high levels of titanium tetrachloride can be fatal due to the ensuing lung injury from the hydrochloric acid produced. Acute (short-term) exposure may result in constriction of various sections of the upper respiratory tract in humans. 

Propionic acid is a toxic and corrosive liquid. Contact with the eyes can result in eye injury. Skin contact may cause burns. Acute exposures to its vapors can cause eye redness, mild to moderate skin bums. 

C. Acute inhalation of hydrogen selenide produces dyspnea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Inhalation of selenium hexafluoride produces severe corrosive injury and systemic toxicity from acids of selenium plus fluoride ion toxicity. Selenium salt inhalation causes dyspnea and skin and mucous membrane irritation. 

Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis and acute caustic chemical or acid injuries are the most common toxin-related skin problems. Systemic toxicity may occur (p 157) but is not a common complicating factor. 

Toxicity The acute toxicity of acetic acid is low. The immediate toxic effects of acetic acid are due to its corrosive action and dehydration of tissues with which it comes in contact. A 10% aqueous solution of acetic acid produced mild or no irritation on guinea pig skin. At 25 to 50%, generally severe irritation results. In the eye, a 4 to 10% solution will produce immediate pain and sometimes injury to the cornea. Acetic acid solutions of 80% or greater concentration can cause serious bums of the skin and eyes. Acetic acid is slightly toxic by inhalation exposure to 50 ppm is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. Acetic acid has not been found to be carcinogenic or to show reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans. 

Human health Sulfuric acid is corrosive to all body tissues. Inhalation can paralyze the respiratory system, contact with eyes may result in loss of vision, and skin contact may result in severe bums and necrosis. Swallowing may cause severe injury or death. Between one teaspoonful and half an ounce of the concentrated acid may be fatal if swallowed, and an even smaller quantity may be fatal if inhaled. Chronic exposure may cause tracheobronchitis, stomatitis, conjunctivitis, and gastritis. Gastric perforation and peritonitis may occur and may be followed by collapse of the circulatory system. Pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and emphysema have been reported from acute exposure to fuming sulfuric acid and sulfuric acid mist. Chronic exposure usually results in erosion of the teeth, particularly the incisors. 

Corrosives. Corrosivity is a form of acute toxicity sufficiently common and hazardous to merit separate discussion. Corrosive chemicals include strong acids, strong bases, oxidizing agents, and dehydrating agents. When they come in contact with skin, eyes, or, through inhalation, the surface tissues of the respiratory tract, they react with the tissues they touch and cause local injury. 

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