J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2008 Dec;6(2):117-122.

Analysis of Patients with Acute Industrial Toxic Exposure at an Emergency Department in an Industrial Complex

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Korea. yg9912@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Surveys on poisoning usually involves intoxication rather than inhalation, skin contact, etc. Therefore, we examined the characteristics of patients who visited the emergency department in an industrial complex after acute industrial exposure to toxic materials.
METHODS
Medical records of patients exposed to toxic materials in the work places from April, 2006, to March, 2008, were analyzed retrospectively. Inhalation patients due to fire were excluded.
RESULTS
Subjects included 66 patients, with a mean age of 35.4+/-10.9 years, mostly men (91%). Toxicity occurred in 51 patients (77%) by contact, 15 patients (23%) by inhalation, and none by oral ingestion. For toxic materials, 10 patients were exposed to hydrofluoric acid, 8 to hydrochloric acid, 7 to sodium hydroxide, 7 to metals, and others. The face and hands were the most frequent exposure site by contact. Most exposures were caused by accidents, with 29 cases (42%) exposed because of carelessness or not wearing protective equipment. Most complaints were pain on exposure site, but 7 of the inhalation patients complained of dyspnea. The majority of patients with contact exposure were discharged after wound care or observation. After inhalation exposure, 1 patient died and 5 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit.
CONCLUSION
Major causes of workplace exposure were not wearing protective equipment or carelessness. Although contact exposures are usually benign, cautious observation and management are required in patients with inhalation exposure.

Keyword

Industrial exposure; Contact; Inhalation

MeSH Terms

Dyspnea
Eating
Emergencies
Fires
Hand
Humans
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Hydroxides
Inhalation
Inhalation Exposure
Critical Care
Male
Medical Records
Metals
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Sodium Hydroxide
Workplace
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Hydroxides
Metals
Sodium Hydroxide
Full Text Links
  • JKSCT
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr