Toxicity of dinitrobenzene

Dinitrobenzene-the commercial product consists mainly of m- dinitroben-zene-is one of the most toxic industrial poisons and has been the cause of a great number of fatal cases. Poisoning may be caused by inhaling the vapours or by absorption through the skin. Although dinitrobenzene has relatively little volatility, a concentration as low as 1 mg/m3 may be sufficient to cause acute poisoning, so great care should be taken to avoid toxic concentrations. [Pg.240]

Dinitrobenzene is a strong poison, affecting the blood and the liver. It causes the formation of methaemoglobin, which can be seen in the intense blue discol-ouration-cyanosis-of the lips, mucous membranes and the face of the victim. [Pg.240]

According to Koelsch [23], chronic industrial poisoning by dinitrobenzene may appear in two forms. One of them causes degeneration of haemoglobin and in most cases recovery follows within 1-2 weeks. In exceptionally acute cases the symptoms appear rapidly and are often followed by death within a few hours. [Pg.240]

Another form of dinitrobenzene poisoning is characterized by delayed symptoms which may appear from 1 to 3 months after exposure. Within 1-3 weeks after the first symptoms are manifested, degeneration of the liver takes place. Women are particularly liable to this form of poisoning. The illness may last for about 2 weeks in mild cases, while severe but not-fatal ones may last for 2 months. Some of the dinitrobenzene is excreted unchanged with the urine, while some of it undergoes a partial reduction in the body to a still more poisonous hydroxylamine derivative [Pg.240]

The medical literature (Staub [24]), dealing with industrial aspects of hygiene, reports that in the one year 1900 in a German explosives factory, 41% of the workers were poisoned by dinitrobenzene. [Pg.240]

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