Toxic Inhalational Exposures

Abstract

Respirable toxicants are a spectrum of irritant and nonirritant gases, vapors, fumes, and airborne particles that can be entrained into the body through the respiratory tract, resulting in exposures that cause pulmonary injury and/or systemic disease. Sources of respirable toxicants include structural fires, industrial accidents, domestic mishaps, and intentional releases of injurious agents on the battleground (warfare) or in civilian settings (acts of terrorism). Acute toxic inhalational exposures may result in respiratory failure, multisystem organ dysfunction, and death. Management of victims includes assessment and protection of the airway, monitoring and treatment of systemic toxicity, and delivery of exposure-specific and nonspecific therapies that improve outcomes. Treatments may include antidotes, hyperbaric oxygen, and other nonspecific life-supporting interventions.

Thermal fatalities in Pretoria: A 5-year retrospective review

“…Self-immolation is relatively uncommon except in countries such as India and Northern Tunisia [26,30]. In India, self-immolation was more common in females while the opposite applied to Northern Tunisia [29,33,34]. In this study, self-immolation was more common in males with a male:female ratio of 4.5:1 which corresponds with findings from other African countries and different regions of South Africa [26,30].…”

“…At our facility cyanide levels were reported as negative in two thirds of cases where analysis was conducted. These findings do not exclude cyanide toxicity as various factors such as storage temperature, time between sampling and testing may result in errors [33,34]. These findings were of concern, considering the time lapse between collection of the specimen and receiving results.…”

A cluster of lung injury cases associated with home humidifier use: an epidemiological investigation

“…However, the vast majority of chemicals have not been tested for toxicity in humans. Most chemical inhalation injuries are reported after occupational or accidental exposures 1 2. However, household chemicals are often used frequently or continuously; over time, this can result in considerable cumulative exposure, even though only a small amount is used at each time.…”

Evaluation of Air Quality inside Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Used by Firefighters

“…Both of these can pose a risk to the respiratory system during a fire. The last category is not related to fire but can affect the respiratory system, and includes asbestos, polyvinyl chloride (PCB), hazardous materials, biological and medical pathogens, and weapons of mass destruction [35][36][37].…”