Phenol bums

Horch R, Spilker G, Stark GB. 1994. Phenol bums and intoxications. Bums 20 45-50. 

Hunter DM, Timerding BL, Leonard RB, et al. 1992. Effects of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol/industrial methylated spirits in the treatment of acute phenol bums. Ann Emerg Med 21 1303-1307. 

B. Specific drugs and antidotes. For most agents, there Is no specific antidote. (See p 221 for hydrofluoric acid bums and p 302 for phenol bums.) In the past, corticosteroids were used by many clinicians in the hope of reducing scarring, but this treatment has been proved ineffective. Moreover, steroids may be harmful in the patient with perforation because they mask early signs of inflammation and inhibit resistance to infection. 

The formulae described in this chapter have been standardized and are readily available from Delasco Laboratories (Council Bluffs, Iowa) at no financial gain to the author. The author has been a student of phenol since 1971 - first with industrial phenol bums, next with Baker-Gordon formula (1975-1991), and currently with modified phenol (1991 to date). The author is convinced that virtually any type of resurfacing need can be met with chemicals. 

In fires, melamine—phenolic laminates ignite slowly at high temperatures and bum slowly producing smoke that has about the same toxicity as wood smoke (17). 

Pure phenol crystallises in long colourless needles which melt at 41°C. It causes severe bums on the skin and care should be taken in handling the material. 

We discover the relative differences in Ka when walking in the country, for a nettle can give a nasty sting (i.e. a chemical bum) but vinegar does not bum the skin. We say methanoic acid is a stronger acid than ethanoic acid because its value of Ka is larger. A mole of phenol yields few protons, so we say it is a weak acid, because its value of Ka is tiny. 

Depending on the number of coordinated phenolates in the precursor complexes, it has been possible to generate and characterize a (phenoxyl) manga-nese(III) species [Mnm(L BuM<,)(Bu2acac)]2+ or a (phenoxyl)manganese(IV) species [MnIV(LBuMet )]2+. 

Alan Smith was a 58 year old who suffered chemical bums to 35% of his body following exposure to a phenol-containing industrial solvent. He was admitted to hospital for treatment of the burns and observation. Concerns arose, when despite intravenous fluids, he failed to pass urine and plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine began to rise. 

Since ETS contains phenol, reducing the amount of smoking indoors will reduce phenol exposures. Household products and over-the-counter medications containing phenol should be stored out of reach of young children to prevent accidental poisonings and skin bums. Always store household chemicals in their original labeled containers. Never store household chemicals in containers that children would find attractive to eat or drink from, such as old soda bottles. Keep your Poison Control Center s number next to the phone. 

A 10-year-old boy was hospitalized with serious bums during the next 2.5 days his bums were treated by applying 7.5 L of an antiseptic solution containing 2% phenol his urine became dark, respiration became labored, he fell into a coma, and died. Post mortem analysis of urine showed 200 mg/L of conjugated phenol (Cronin and Brauer 1949). 

Gastrointestinal Effects. During the first few days after a man splashed a phenol-water solution (concentration not stated) on his face, chest wall, hand, and both arms, he complained of nausea and vomited twice (Horch et al. 1994). A worker who was partially immersed for only a few seconds in a shallow vat containing a mixture of 40% phenol in dichloromethane, collapsed after showering and was taken to a hospital where he was found to have bums over 50% of his body. Initial observations were stable however, after drinking fluids, he developed nausea and vomiting (Foxall et al. 1989). 

DeBono R, Laitung G. 1997. Phenolic household disinfectants Further precautions required. Bums 23 182-185. 

Phenol/chloroform 11 mixture of phenol (liquefied, washed with Tns buffer) and chloroform/isoamyl alcohol 24 1 (v/v). Note phenol causes severe bums and should be handled with care. Store at 4°C... 

Irritant dermatitis does not involve an immune response and is typically caused by contact with corrosive substances that exhibit extremes of pH, oxidizing capability, dehydrating action, or tendency to dissolve skin lipids. In extreme cases of exposure, skin cells are destroyed and a permanent scar results. This condition is known as a chemical burn. Exposure to concentrated sulfuric acid, which exhibits extreme acidity, or to concentrated nitric acid, which denatures skin protein, can cause bad chemical bums. The strong oxidant action of 30% hydrogen peroxide likewise causes a chemical bum. Other chemicals causing chemical bums include ammonia, quicklime (CaO), chlorine, ethylene oxide, hydrogen halides, methyl bromide, nitrogen oxides, elemental white phosporous, phenol, alkali metal hydroxides (NaOH, KOH), and toluene diisocyanate. 

Like phenol, these chemicals cause severe bums... 

Of all organic polymers used to produce insulation materials, glyptal and phenol-formaldehyde polymers are the most thermal resistant. They can function for a long time in electrotechnical devices at temperatures up to 130 °C. At higher temperatures insulation from organic polymers bums. Its dielectric properties considerably decrease, because the carbon formed is a good conductor. 

Some of the phenol units are linked at all three positions, whereas others are linked at only two. Because of its high degree of cross-linking, Bakelite does not melt, bums only with difficulty, and is an excellent electrical insulator. It is molded into a large variety of objects, including billiard balls, automobile distributor caps, instrument control knobs, and handles for cookware and toasters. 

TABLE 16 Uptakes of Substituted Phenols, Expressed as Normalized Surface Areas (with Respect to Phenol) as a Eunction of the Degree of Bum-Off (BO) for Activated Carbon Prepared from Olive Stones... 

When a small piece of various kinds of foams are held in hand, and a match or lighter flame is brought near to the small piece, phenolic foam does not bum up and almost no smoke is developed, whUe other foams bum up with smoke. From this fact it is understood that phenolic foam is excellent in incombustibility and low anoke development. 

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