Document 91m8wn3p5LEBZK80D1nJMdJRp

Subject Physical Res arch Laboratory THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY BENZENE P01BONING T* Dr. Irish Fran K.W.Linsenmann n i ' U jiC-___ / T/6./- v File ^44 Cif. 223 Ree'd. 12-27-34 Fin'd. 12-23-34 By KL Mode of Entry 1. Oral Ingestion - suloldal or medloal purposes.1 2. Inhalation of vapors - common industrially as In re pairing tanks or pipes. Hamilton - J.A.M.A., 1922, 73, 627.1 Symptoms Oral ingestion1. burning sensation in stomach, gastric cramps. 2. dizziness, flushing, restlessness, exoitment fol lowed by narcosis, cyanosis of the extremities. 3* dialated pupils. 4. fever 5* hallucinations and delirium often followed by convulsions. 6. narcosis and coma, and death from respiratory failure. Inhalation of vapor14 high concentration - immediate unconsciousness, possibly death,in a few minutes. Heffter, Deut. med. Work.,1915, 4l, 132. Hamilton, J. Ind. Hyg., 1919, 1, 200. 2. lower concentration - dizziness, flushing, roaring in ears, a condition resembling alcoholic intox ication and unconsciousness. General Aotlon 1. As a narootlo about equal to chloroform. Ftthner Bioohem. Zeitsch., 1921, 115, 235. 2. As a O.N.S. stimulator resulting in muscular tremor and convulsions. 3. As a W.B.C. and R.B.C. destroyer, especially the former.1 Speolflo Physiological Action Mild poisoning 1. tow wTb. count - 1200 *, the first and sometimes the only effect. Acute poisoning 1. Affeots O.N.S. causing muscular tremor and convulsions accompanied by great muscular weakness, followed by narcosis . 2. Heart action weak and rapid - animals. 3* Combined central and peripheral vasomotor paralysis. DO 1.36623 CONFIDENTIAL. Chronic or subacute poisoning 1. Purpuric eruptions, or dermatitis. 2. Possible abscess formation by localized penetration. 3. Hemorrhage from gums and nose. 4. Diminished antibody production - rabbits. Hektoen, J. Infect. Die., 1916, 19, 69, 5* Lighting up of latent Infectious processes. Weisskotton, Schwartz, Steensland, J. Med. Res., 1915, 33, 127, 1916-17, 2, 6j, 71 1917-16, 37, 2l 191S-19, 39, 6. Various degrees of destruction of the whole hematopoeltic system, capillaries, and lymph glands. 7* Blood picture changes.' a. progressive anemia, cells showing anisocytosis, polkllooytools, achromia, no nucleated R.B.C's. (aplastic anemia with destruction of hemoplastic tissue) b. Lowered Hb values. c. Leucopenia profound, especially the polymorpho nuclear. neutrophilts d. Relative lymphocytosis with relative leucopenia. Teleky, Weiner, Klin.Wehnschr., Berlin, 3, 226, 265, 1924. e. Platelets diminished. f. Coagulation and bleeding time increased. Dosage Data Individual susceptibility plays an important role. 1. Nine to twelve grams have caused serious collape -Lewin 2. Death in 12 hours by swallowing 30 cc. of nearly pure benzene. Kelynack, Gas. Med. de Paris, 1893, 5^1* Med. Chronick, 1393-94, 19, 112. 3* Four minutes exposure to vapor resulted in death. Mflnch. Med. Wehnschr., 1912, 59, 2286. 4. No definite figures for chronic poisoning, Noxious Gases, New York, 1927, P* 165* 5. Bureau of Mines figures1570-3130 p.p*n. of air - slight symptoms after several hours exposure. 3130-4700 p.p.m. of air - maximum concentration that can be inspired for 1 hr. without serious results. 200 p.p.m, of air - has oaused poisoning. U.S. Dept. Int., Bureau of Mines, Technical paper 272, 1921. no 1366?4 CONFIDENTIAL Absorption 1. More than one half of the amount contained In air may be retained and gradually given off* 2* Taken up very slowly by hypodermic Injections. 3* Poorly absorbed when taken orally. Storage 1. Chiefly in the brain and cord - 70 mgm per 100 gm. 2. Also In the liver- 25 mgm per 100 gm. 3. Less so In the blood- 12 mgm per 100 gm. 4. In the kidneys- no figures available. Excretion 1. Half is excreted unchanged by the lungs when inspired, the rest being converted to phenols, etc., then eliminated as sulphonates in the urine together with some which haB been converted to muconic acid. 2. That taken orally is chiefly eliminated in the stools. Isolation. Quantitative determination and tests Refer to Peterson, Haines, Webster, Legal Med. & Tox. Vol.2, pg. 693* 00 136675 CONFIDENTIAL REFERENCES Legal Medicine & Toxicology - Peterson, Haines, WebBter; Vol.2, 691. Legal Medicine A Toxicology - Webster, 7$6. Pharmaco-Therapeutics - Solis-Cohen, 741* Med. Klin., Berlin - Schneider, 29; II63-96, Aug. 25, 1933* (accidental aspiration of a small amount of benzene) Prease Med. Paris - Heim, 32; 497"508 June 7 1924. (acute poisoning by benzene) Am. J. Pub. Health - Hogan, Schrader, 13; 279 April 1923* (benzene poisoning) Canadian M. A. J. - Anderson, 13; 395, June 1923* (Purpura hemorrhagica, aplastic anemia) J.A.M.A. - Hamilton, Mar. 4, 1922, 627* Klin. Wehnschr - Nick, 1;6S, Jan. g, 1922.' J. Ind. Hyg. - Legge, 1: 539, Mar., 1920. J.A.M.A. - Newton, Apr. 24, 1920, 1149. J. Ind. Hyg. - Hamilton, 1:200, Aug., 1919* Mod. Med. - Albaugh, 1;670, Dec. 1919. Boston M.& S. J. - Harrington, 177 > 203, Aug. 16, 1917* J. A. M. A. - McClure, Sept. 9, 1916, 793* Med. Klin. - Ziel, 21; 93 Jan. IS, 1925. Northwest Med. - Speidel, 24: 1S2, April, 1925* Boston M. A S. J. - Chronin, 191: 1164, Deo. IS, 1924. Ann. de mid. - Faure-Beaulleu, 15:97* Feb., 1924. OQ 136676 OONFTDFNTTAl