Pulmonary toxicity signs/symptoms

Minimal local pain may be present initially however, systemic toxicity may be delayed for several hours. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and numbness have been reported. Drowsiness or euphoria may occur. Central and peripheral nervous system effects and paralysis may be quite serious, but do not always occur. Life support measures should be instituted, as necessary, with stabilization of vital signs, and evaluation of pulmonary and neurological symptoms. Antivenin may be given to a patient, based on history and circumstances of the bite. Skin testing for sensitivity to horse serum is performed when that decision is made. Patients who are treated with the antivenin need to be monitored for serum sickness. 

Clinical signs associated with BCNU-induced pulmonary toxicity in humans are dyspnea, tachypnea, and a dry hacking cough. The incidence of these symptoms is between 20% and 30% and mortality varies from 24% to 80%. The onset of symptoms is usually within 3 years of treatment. There is a linear relationship between total dose received and pulmonary toxicity at doses >I000mgm , with 50% of patients developing pulmonary toxicity at total cumulative doses of 1500 mg m . ... 

The time of onset and severity of symptoms depend on the route of exposure, potency of the agent, and total dose received (see below). Toxic signs and symptoms develop most rapidly after inhalation or intravenous injection and slowest after skin contact. Anticholinesterase insecticides are absorbed through the skin, lungs, conjunctivae, and gastrointestinal tract. Severe symptoms can occur from absorption by any route. Within 6 hours, most patients are symptomatic, and without treatment, death may occur within 24 hours. Death typically is caused by respiratory failure owing to the combination of pulmonary and cardiovascular effects (Fig. 10-4). Poisoning may be complicated by aspiration pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. ... 

In the case of oral intake, these include nausea, vomiting, salivation, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps the vomitus and diarrhea often are bloody. In the short term, inhaled cadmium is more toxic. Signs and symptoms, which appear within a few hours, include irritation of the respiratory tract with severe, early pneumonitis, chest pains, nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Toxicity may progress to fatal pulmonary edema or residual emphysema with peribronchial and perivascular fibrosis. 

Iron penlacarbonyl (Iron caibonyl [CAS 13463-40-6]) Acute toxicity resembles that of nickel carbonyl. Inhalation of vapors can cause lung and systemic injury without warning signs. Symptoms of overexposure include headache, nausea and vomiting, and dizziness. Symptoms of severe poisoning are fever, extreme weakness, and pulmonary edema effects may be delayed for up to 36 hours. 0.1 ppm Colorless to yellow viscous liquid. Vapor pressure is 40 mm Hg at 30.3°C (86.5°F). Highly flammable. 

Data on acute exposures of humans to both isomers of dimethylhydrazine are limited to case reports of accidental exposures. Signs and symptoms of exposure include respiratory irritation, pulmonary edema, nausea, vomiting, and neurologic effects. However, definitive exposure data (concentration and duration) were unavailable for these accidents. The limited data in humans suggest that the nonlethal toxic response to acute inhalation of dimethylhydrazine is qualitatively similar to that observed in animals. No information was available regarding lethal responses in humans. In the absence of quantitative data in humans, the use of animal data is considered a credible approach for developing AEGL values. 

Caution Ricin is extremely toxic to cells and acts by inhibiting protein synthesis. After aerosol exposure, signs and symptoms would depend on the dose inhaled. Humans can be expected to develop severe lung inflammation with progressive cough, dyspnea, cyanosis, and pulmonary edema. 

The primary target organ for HDI toxicity is the respiratory tract. The signs and symptoms of exposure to HDI (burning and irritation of the respiratory tract, headache, bronchitis, asthmatic reactions, obstructive breathing defects, tightness of the chest, pulmonary edema, etc.) are easily recognizable however, none are specific for exposure to HDI. No specific biomarkers used to characterize effects caused by HDI were located in the literature. 

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