Methyl isocyanate chronic

Sriramachari S, Jeevaratnam K Comparative toxicity of methyl isocyanate and its hydrolytic derivatives in rats. II. Pulmonary histopathol-ogy in the subacute and chronic phases. Arch Toxicol 69 )-A5-5, 1994... 

The released gases burst the tank, and about 40 tons of methyl isocyanate was released. It killed thousands of people and left tens of thousands with chronic ailments. 

Hydrogen selenide is probably a more poisonous gas and methyl isocyanate is certainly a more poisonous vapour (b.pt. 39 C). Bis(chloromethyl)ether is more poisonous in the chronic sense (OEL = 1 p.p.b.). Phosgene might, therefore, be more correctly described as the most poisonous gas used in any significant volume in industry. 

The large number of casualties from chlorine and phosgene exposure during World War I showed that survivors showed long-term respiratory disorders with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the most common conditions, followed by pulmonary fibrosis. The Bhopal incident in India (see Chap. 10) has also shown evidence of long-term respiratory disorders following exposure to the toxic industrial pulmonary oedemagen methyl isocyanate. 

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