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ir.Oustria. Hygiene Digest
June. I
564 Oaone Poisoning. Serious Human Intoxication. F.J. Kelly end W.E. Gill. Arch. Environmental Health 10, >17.519 (March, 196J).
A case of serious human oaone poisoning it presented. The inadequacy of relying
on detection by odor on the part of even an experienced worker is well illustrated. After the
onset of clinical manifestations progression to loss of consciousness can be alarmingly rapid
The response to inhalation oxygen may be of considerable diagnostic help as well as an effective
therapeutic measure. Ten references are given.
.. Authors' summarv
565 Determination of Subtoxic Concentrations of Phosgene in Air by Elscton Capture Gas Chromato-
graphy. L.J. Priestley, Jr., et al. Anal. Chem. 37, 70-71 (Jan. 1965).
The increasing use of phosgene as an industrial chemical demands instrumentation
to monitor air continuously for this contaminant. A gas chromatographic method for measuring
subtoxic concentrations of phosgene in air is described. The method utilises an electron capture
detector that is extremely sensitive to phosgene. The combination of a gas chromatographic
column and the electron capture detector provides a high degree of specificity for phosgene.
Hydrogen chloride concentrations as high as 1% in air do not interfere. This method could
possibly be used as the basis for developing a continuous monitoring system for detecting
and measuring phosgene in the atmosphere.
- - Public Health Eng. Abtts
566 Physiologic Effects of Chronic Exposure to Phosgene in Dogs. R.G. Rossing. Am. J. Physiol. 2CT 265-272 (July, 1964).
Recurrent exposure of dogs to phosgene gas (carbonyl chloride, COC12) produced a
chronic obliterative bronchiolitis with a characteristic physiologic picture. Peak concentrations
of the gas in the exposure chamber, at the flow rates used was calculated to be from 0.097
to 0. 162 mg. /liter (24-40 ppm). It was found that after an acute phase, in which changes in
elastic behavior predominated, a definite increase in lower airway resistance was seen which
persisted throughout the period of exposure. Accompanying this change the uniformity of
distribution of inspired air was progressively disturbed as evidenced by nitrogen wash-out
curves! In addition, microscopic changes suggestive of early peribronchiolar emphysema
were seen.
APCA Absts
567 Chelation by Calcium Trisodium Pentetate (DTPA) in Workers Exposed to Lead. H.G. Brugsch, N.J. Colombo, and L.d! Pagnotto. New Engl. J. Med. 272, 993-996 (May 13. 19651
The goal of the industrial physician-- to protect workers against lead poisoning throug.*. such measures as approved respirators, adequate plant ventilation and good personal hygiene -- is not always obtainable. Even effective measures may be inadequate in the presence of ur.us .a;:-, heavy exposures. In Massachusetts lead poisoning still occurs among workers employed in storage-battery plants, smelting plants, demolition work and painting, not to mention the nigh incidence of lead poisoning among children. L'se of a chelating agent to remove lead from those . suffering from or.threatened by lead poisoning, t.-.erefore, still has a place in the therapeutic armamentarium. Data obtained on 12 workers exposed to lead given DTPA intramuscularly o.* an ambulatory basis over a short period indicates that this chelating agent adequately mob'.l-.ces lead and can be given without technical difficulty at tne place of work. The second injection . consistently produced a higher mobilisation ot lead. When injections were continued at snort intervals a general drop-off in lead excretion was noted. Further investigation of the. usefu.res? of such an ambulatory program in the management of workers exposed to lead or cases o: mi.: lead intoxication seems warranted.
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