Poisoning acute effects

Meredith TJ, Ruprah M, Liddle A, et al Diagnosis and treatment of acute poisoning with volatile substances. Hum Toxicol 8 277-286, 1989 Merry J, Zachariadis N Addiction to glue sniffing. Br Med J 5317 1448, 1962 Mihic SJ Acute effects of ethanol on GABAA and glycine receptor function. Neuro-chemint 35 115-123, 1999... 

Caution Some serious burns from arsenical vesicants can cause shock and systemic poisoning and are life-threatening even when the victim survives the acute effects the... 

Acute exposure involves a single dose. Toxicologists frequently refer to the immediate adverse consequence of an acute exposure as an acute effect. Such events are also referred to as poisonings. This usage is not incorrect, but, as will be seen in a moment, it can be misleading when similarly applied to chronic exposures. 

Piperidine alkaloids such as coniine and (—)-coniceine are very poisonous. They occur in hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), known as a very toxic plant. One of the characteristics of these piperidine alkaloids is smell. Moreover, they are neurotoxins which have acute effects such as chronic toxicity. 

An unprotected person exposed to H vapor will suffer simultaneously from skin burns, eye injury, and irritation of the respiratory tract.20 The acute effects of H depend on the concentration of the gas, the duration of exposure, the ambient temperature, the extent of protection, and the susceptibility of the person.23 Clothing will be contaminated and become a secondary source of poisoning even after a gas cloud has blown away. 

Chronic effects arise from the cumulative dose of a chemical which has resulted frcm integrated exposures over months or years. The best examples of airborne chemicals which produce only chronic effects are the fibrogenic dusts. However, most systemic poisons also produce chronic effects although some produce acute effects as well if inhaled in sufficient quantities during short intervals. For example, many halogenated solvents damage the kidney or the liver after long-term inhalation of moderate air concentrations but produce anesthesia or narcosis... 

Although many phosphorus-containing compounds are vital to life processes, as previously described, there are also many phosphorus compounds that axe quite toxic—elemental phosphorus, for example. While the elemental form is dangerous because of its low combustion temperature, its absorption also has an acute effect on the liver. The long and continued absorption of small amounts of phosphorus can result in necrosis of the mandible or jaw bone (sometimes called phossyjaw ). Chronic phosphorus poisoning occurs particularly through the lungs and... 

Toxicity and health effects Benzidine is known to be acutely toxic to humans by ingestion. The symptoms of acute poisoning by ingestion include but are not restricted to cyanosis, headache, mental confusion, nausea, and vertigo. Dermal exposure may cause skin rashes and irritation. There is no information available on the acute effects of benzidine in humans via inhalation exposure. Animals exposed for a prolonged period of time developed effects on the blood, liver, kidney, and CNS. Chronic exposure caused bladder injury among workers. ... 

Pesticides can have both acute and chronic health impacts, depending on the nature of exposure. Acute poisoning is caused by exposure to a high dose of a toxic chemical, on one occasion. Symptoms of poisoning develop in close relation to the exposure and, in extreme cases, can result in death. The extent of acute poisoning symptoms depends both on the toxicity of the product and on the quantity absorbed. Acute effects can be delayed by up to four weeks and can include cramping in the lower limbs that leads to lack of coordination and paralysis. Improvement may occur over months or years, but some residual impairment may remain. Very high doses may result in unconsciousness, convulsions and death. 

After initial contradictory reports it is now established that arsenic can cross the blood-brain barrier and produces alternations in whole rat brain biogenic amines levels in animals chronically exposed to arsenite (Tripathi et al, 1997). The neurological effects are many and varied. Usually, peripheral neuropathy, sensory neuropathy (Hafeman et al, 2005), and encephalopathy are the initial complaints associated with acute arsenic poisoning. Acute exposure to arsenic in humans has been shown to result in problems of memory, difficulties in concentration, mental confusion, and anxiety (Hall, 2002 Rodriguez et al, 2003). Other neurological symptoms arising due to arsenic are primarily those of a peripheral sensory neuritis, predominantly numbness, severe paresthesia of the distal portion of the extremities, diminished sense of touch, pain, heat and cold, and symmetrically reduced muscle power (Menkes, 1997). 

SAFETY PROFILE Confirmed carcinogen. Poison by ingestion, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intravenous, and intramuscular routes. Moderately toxic by inhalation and skin contact. Human mutation data reported. A skin and eye irritant. Mutation data reported. The liquid is dangerous to the eyes. The vapor is irritating to mucous membranes and is a central nervous system poison. However, its low volatility reduces its toxicity effect. Ingestion of furfural has produced cirrhosis of the liver in rats. In industry there is a tendency to minimize the danger of acute effects resulting from exposure to it. This is particularly tme because of its low volatility. 

---