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Document ID (ISN)62045
CIS number 94-631
ISSN - Serial title 0096-1736 - Journal of Occupational Medicine
Year 1993
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Scolnick B., Hamel D., Woolf A.D.
Title Successful treatment of life-threatening propionitrile exposure with sodium nitrite/sodium thiosulfate followed by hyperbaric oxygen
Bibliographic information June 1993, Vol.35, No.6, p.577-580. 28 ref.
Abstract Case report on two workers at a chemical plant who were overcome by propionitrile fumes. One victim was comatose, acidotic, and hypertensive (blood cyanide level 5.0µg/mL). The second victim complained of nausea, dizziness, and headache but never lost consciousness (blood cyanide level 3.5µg/mL). The ambient concentration of propionitrile in air samples after exposure was 77.5mg/m3. Both workers received sodium nitrite/sodium thiosulfate (the first one also received hyperbaric oxygen for 4h). In occupational situations in which workers exhibit sudden symptoms of acute poisoning and where substituted nitriles are known to be on site, acute cyanide poisoning should be suspected. Hyperbaric oxygen may be a valuable adjunctive therapy to consider in addition to normal first-aid measures.
Descriptors (primary) toxic effects; chemical industry; toxic substances; propionitrile; acute poisoning
Descriptors (secondary) case study; cyanides; medical treatment; emergency treatment; coma
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUSA
Subject(s) Chemicals, plastics and rubber
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Cyano compounds
Chemical industry