An unusual occupational accident: fall into a sewage plant tank with lethal outcome

Padosch, S. A.; Dettmeyer, R.; Kröner, Lars; Preuß, J.; Madea, Burkhard

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.05.011

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Postmortem bacterial activity is highly variable because it depends on numerous factors such as the type of bacteria involved, the cause of death, injuries, and composition and amount of ingested food, as well as environmental conditions (Bajanowski et al 1998;Daldrup and Huckenbeck 1984;Keil et al 1980;Mallach and Schmidt 1980;Pedal et al 1987;Pierucci and Gherson 1968;Rodriguez 1997;Sakata et al 1980). Putrefaction rates decelerate with decreasing (water) temperature (Bonhotal et al 2006;Dickson et al 2011;Haberda 1895;Padosch et al 2005;Petrik et al 2004;Robinson et al 1953). Decay by intestinal bacteria (e.g., Clostridia, Escherichia) all but halts below 4°C, while enzymes (0autolysis) remain active until −5°C (Jauniaux et al 1998;Keil et al 1980;Lochner et al 1980;Robinson et al 1953;Sharp and Marsh 1953;Vass et al 2002;compare Rollo et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Onset of putrefaction processes due to exogenous bacteria is thus conceivable (as in human carcasses; Davis 1986;Dickson et al 2011;Lunetta et al 2002;Mallach and Schmidt 1980;Padosch et al 2005;Tomita 1975Tomita , 1976. The putrefaction gases produced by the intrinsic bacteria but probably also by exogenous bacteria comprise CO 2 , H 2 , N 2 , to a lesser amount CH 4 , H 2 S, and even O 2 (Keil et al 1980;Mallach and Schmidt 1980; see also Ettwig et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Float, explode or sink: postmortem fate of lung-breathing marine vertebrates

Reisdorf

Bux

Wyler

et al. 2012

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

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What happens after the death of a marine tetrapod in seawater? Palaeontologists and neontologists have claimed that large lung-breathing marine tetrapods such as ichthyosaurs had a lower density than seawater, implying that their carcasses floated at the surface after death and sank subsequently after leakage of putrefaction gases (or ''carcass explosions''). Such explosions would thus account for the skeletal disarticulation observed frequently in the fossil record. We examined the taphonomy and sedimentary environment of numerous ichthyosaur skeletons and compared them to living marine tetrapods, principally cetaceans, and measured abdominal pressures in human carcasses. Our data and a review of the literature demonstrate that carcasses sink and do not explode (and spread skeletal elements). We argue that the normally slightly negatively buoyant carcasses of ichthyosaurs would have sunk to the sea floor and risen to the surface only when they remained in shallow water above a certain temperature and at a low scavenging rate. Once surfaced, prolonged floating may have occurred and a carcass have decomposed gradually. Our conclusions are of significance to the understanding of the inclusion of carcasses of lung-breathing vertebrates in marine nutrient recycling. The postmortem fate has essential implications for the interpretation of vertebrate fossil preservation (the existence of complete, disarticulated fossil skeletons is not explained by previous hypotheses), palaeobathymetry, the physiology of modern marine lung-breathing tetrapods and their conservation, and the recovery of human bodies from seawater.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Float, explode or sink: postmortem fate of lung-breathing marine vertebrates

Reisdorf

Bux

Wyler

et al. 2012

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

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“…A few small case reports exist, describing occupational injuries and deaths suffered by individuals working in sewers and wells. [6][7][8] However, the injuries suffered by trained personnel are likely to differ from those sustained by an unsuspecting pedestrian. The purpose of this study was to describe the injury patterns suffered following a fall down an open manhole.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury Patterns Following Falls Down Open Manholes

Emigh

Schellenberg

Owattanapanich

et al. 2022

The American Surgeon

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Little is known of the possible injuries caused by a fall through an open manhole, with the last study published 40 years ago. The purpose of this study was to examine the injuries, surgical interventions, and outcomes in patients suffering from a fall through an open manhole or storm drain. All patients injured by falling through open manholes (ICD codes E883.2, W17.1) from 2007 to 2017 were queried from the National Trauma Data Bank® (NTDB). Transferred patients were excluded. Studied variables included patient demographics, comorbidities, emergency room physiology, toxicology, injury severity and pattern, surgical interventions, and outcomes. A total of 388 patients met study criteria. The number of patients injured from open manholes per year ranged from 20 (0.004%) to 49 (0.005%). Major trauma (ISS ≥16) occurred in 37 patients (10%). Severe injuries (AIS ≥ 3) most frequently occurred in the lower extremities (13%), chest (12%), and head (8%). Major surgery was performed in 18 patients (5%) and five (1%) died. Despite an increase in reporting in recent years, the number of patients who suffer severe injuries following a fall through an open manhole is low. Nonetheless, these injuries are easily preventable and mandate an increased focus on manhole safety.

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“…Consequently, complicated air pollutants may be produced through the physical, chemical or biological reactions in sewers, and the accumulation of hazardous air pollutants may harm the health of sewer workers (Paxeus et al, 1992;Haas and Herrmann, 1996;Watt et al, 1997;Haas and Herrmann, 1998;Devai and DeLaune, 1999;Lee et al, 2002;Huisman et al, 2004;Ohuraa et al, 2006;Choosong et al, 2010). Many studies have examined fatalities occurring in sewerage chambers and pipes, with sewer workers suffering injury or death from chemicals released into sewerage system or from explosions in sewer systems (Veldkamp et al, 1998;Bordado and Comes, 2001;Bridges, 2003;Padosch et al, 2005). Several toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified, and these compounds are classified as hazardous air pollutants and/or carcinogens (Chien et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Cancer Risk Increment from Air Pollutant Exposure for Sewer Workers Working in an Industrial City

Yeh

Lai

Lin

et al. 2011

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Sewer construction in Taiwan lags other developed nations, and the authorities are undertaking major sewerage system construction projects in several cities. In Kaohsiung City, sewerage networks pass through residential, commercial and industrial areas. The composition of sewage thus is highly complicated. Eight target monitoring positions are chosen to analyze the compounds and concentrations of hazardous air pollutants. Pollutant concentrations are used to evaluate the cancer risk increment based on inhalation intake for sewer workers under using exhaust ventilation and wearing personal gas filtering equipment. GC/MS analysis confirmed that concentrations of benzene and trichloromethane compounds in sewer air for all the monitoring positions exceeded the minimum risk levels (MRLs) of 0.009 ppm benzene and 0.1 ppm trichloromethane, and the maximum concentrations reached 148.4 and 327.3 ppm, respectively. The cancer risks of benzene and trichloromethane for workers without personal protection approached 2.77-3.98 × 10 -3 and 29.74-42.70 × 10 -3 , respectively. Through ventilation for 15 minutes and the wearing of gas filtering equipment, the cancer risks for benzene and trichloromethane were reduced to 0.0003-0.0004 × 10 -3 and 0.0029-0.0041 × 10 -3 , respectively. The authorities thus must order all workers to follow a strict code of practice for sewer entry before entering sewer systems. This code of practice should include a minimum time for general exhaust ventilation and the use of personal protection equipment.

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An unusual occupational accident: fall into a sewage plant tank with lethal outcome

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Float, explode or sink: postmortem fate of lung-breathing marine vertebrates

Float, explode or sink: postmortem fate of lung-breathing marine vertebrates

Injury Patterns Following Falls Down Open Manholes

Estimating Cancer Risk Increment from Air Pollutant Exposure for Sewer Workers Working in an Industrial City

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