Gasoline vapor poisoning: signs, consequences, treatment

Doctors often encounter patients' requests for gasoline poisoning. Potential victims may include service station and gas station workers, as well as car drivers themselves. Children are also rarely poisoned - due to carelessness or parental negligence.

You can get poisoned not only by consuming petroleum products internally: gasoline vapors are also considered dangerous, causing signs of internal intoxication when inhaled. How to avoid poisoning, how to treat it? How dangerous is gasoline getting into the body? Let's try to answer these and some other questions in an accessible way.

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Epidemiology

Chemical and petroleum poisoning is a serious global public health issue. According to the WHO, at least 350,000 people die from unintentional poisoning every year. More than 90% of such cases occur in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, accidental poisoning causes the loss of about 7.5 million healthy life years (years of life lost due to disability) every year.

There are no exact statistics showing the frequency of gasoline poisoning. However, it can be noted that intoxication with petroleum products ranks among the top domestic and industrial chemical poisonings.

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Causes gasoline poisoning

Gasoline poisoning is considered a severe form of intoxication, and the danger comes from both internal consumption of the product and the inhalation of gasoline vapors.

The toxic amount of gasoline for the human body is 20-50 ml. Poisoning can occur in domestic conditions (in a car garage, in transport), or in the workplace (service stations, gas stations, oil refineries, etc.).

The quality of the air that a person breathes (especially in industrial areas and near major highways) is no less important for health and can pose a serious danger. The air environment contains a huge number of hydrocarbon compounds: the most dangerous of them are considered to be hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, benzene, sulfurous substances. In combination with each other, the listed compounds can have a pronounced intoxicating effect on the human body.

Gasoline can cause both acute and chronic poisoning, depending on the dosage and time of exposure to the toxic agent.

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Risk factors

The following categories of the population are at high risk of gasoline poisoning:

• among employees of gas stations;
• for workers in the field of oil refining and transportation of petroleum products;
• for builders, repairmen and representatives of other professions whose work involves the use of gasoline as a solvent and cleaning agent;
• for motorists;
• for workers in the field of automobile repair and vehicle maintenance.

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Pathogenesis

Gasoline is an extremely volatile substance that easily turns into a vapor state, easily enters the lungs when inhaled, causing a toxic and narcotic effect on the body. In the mechanism of development of the toxic effect, the rate of saturation of the central nervous system and bloodstream with toxic agents plays a primary role. This factor is recognized as the main one in rapidly developing intoxications. Gasoline can enter the circulatory system even through the skin, but this penetration scheme is not significant in poisoning.

Gasoline vapors leave the body relatively quickly, as they are eliminated through the respiratory system.

After gasoline enters the body, the functional capacity of the central nervous system is disrupted. The centers responsible for higher nervous activity suffer the most. In moderate cases, conditioned reflexes are disrupted. In severe gasoline poisoning, damage to the cerebellum and brain stem is observed. Respiratory paralysis often occurs.

The exact mechanism of the effect of gasoline on the central nervous system has not been determined. There are theories about the predominant damage to the neurovascular system, about the disruption of lipid metabolism in the nervous system.

Harm of gasoline to the human body: pathological anatomy

The pathomorphology of gasoline poisoning has not been sufficiently studied. It has been found that with acute intoxication, hyperemia of the respiratory tract increases, small hemorrhages appear in the lung tissue and various brain areas, changes in the meninges are observed, and cerebral edema develops.

It has been experimentally proven that chronic gasoline intoxication causes pathological changes in the pulmonary vessels, in the vascular network of the urinary system, and in the liver. Damage to the cellular structures of the brain is observed.

The most life-threatening are lightning-fast poisonings with significant concentrations of gasoline: most often, a person immediately loses consciousness, develops a coma, and reflexively stops breathing.

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Harm from inhaling gasoline vapors

How dangerous can gasoline poisoning be? Check out the main symptoms of intoxication:

• impaired consciousness, convulsions and even partial paralysis;
• pain in the abdomen, bouts of nausea, bloody vomiting (the liver and kidneys are disrupted, urobilin appears in the urine, and toxic hepatopathy begins to develop);
• chest pain, formation of bloody sputum, difficulty breathing, change in body temperature, development of toxic pneumonia.

Mild or moderate poisoning is recorded with unintentional inhalation of gasoline vapors contained in the air (for example, when pouring petroleum products into other containers, when using solvents, or when manufacturing rubber products). There are descriptions of cases of group intoxication.

In case of group lesions, characteristic symptoms are:

• state of intoxication;
• fits of hysterical laughter;
• tearfulness;
• hyperarousal.

Most of these manifestations are reversible, but some individuals prone to neurotic reactions may experience prolonged attacks.

Symptoms gasoline poisoning

If you inhale gasoline vapors for a short period of time, mild or moderate poisoning may develop. The clinical picture is similar to alcohol intoxication. For example, the first signs may be as follows:

• a state of weakness, a rush of blood, redness of the face;
• dizziness of varying intensity;
• unsteadiness when walking;
• the appearance of hyper-excitement, irritability, or causeless joy;
• increased heart rate;
• nausea to the point of vomiting;
• sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing.

Mild gasoline poisoning may manifest itself only as slight dizziness and nausea, loss of appetite. More severe gasoline vapor poisoning may be accompanied by other symptoms. For example, the patient may lose consciousness, his temperature may rise (up to 39-40° C), convulsions and hallucinogenic states are possible.

A sharp inhalation of highly concentrated gasoline vapor is accompanied by a sudden loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest. Such a development of events is possible in the case of large-scale gasoline leaks, emergency damage to fuel trucks, etc.

Gasoline poisoning through the mouth (swallowing the product) is accompanied by multiple profuse vomiting attacks, profuse loose stools. Patients often feel colic and pain in the abdomen. In addition, the clinical picture is supplemented by liver dysfunction, which resembles the symptoms of non-infectious hepatitis. The enlarged liver begins to be palpated, pain appears in the right hypochondrium. Yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, severe weakness are observed.

Chronic gasoline poisoning occurs with frequent and prolonged contact with the toxic substance - for example, if a person works in the oil refining industry. Chronic intoxication is characterized by the following symptoms:

• disruption of the nervous system (aggression, irritability, neurasthenia, hysterical states);
• constant feeling of fatigue, decreased performance, loss of strength;
• problems with the digestive system, frequent digestive disorders (for example, constipation alternates with diarrhea);
• sexual dysfunction, infertility, decreased libido.

In addition, prolonged contact of the skin with gasoline can cause the development of eczema, non-healing cracks and ulcers.

Signs of leaded gasoline poisoning

Leaded gasoline is even more dangerous than the usual petroleum product we know. We are talking about gasoline, which is mixed with ethyl liquid - a mixture of tetraethyl lead and organic solvents. This gives the product anti-knock properties.

Leaded gasoline poisoning is common among blending station workers and haulers who transport and store the toxic fuel.

How can you recognize poisoning from gasoline with tetraethyl lead?

The initial (latent) period of intoxication can last from a couple of hours to several days. Often, vegetative disorders (slow heartbeat, lower temperature and blood pressure, increased salivation) are detected simultaneously with psychopathologies and general cerebral disorders (sleep disorders, headaches, hallucinations, etc.).

Mild cases of poisoning are manifested by headache, a feeling of pressure in the chest, a state of stupor and confusion, apathy. A vegetative pathological triad of symptoms is characteristic: slowing of the heartbeat, lowering of temperature, drop in blood pressure. Often there is a tremor of the fingers on outstretched arms, ataxia, dysarthria.

In severe intoxications, the symptoms are more pronounced: loss of orientation, increased anxiety, a state of hyper-excitation, delusional disorders are observed. Some patients try to hide, resist their delivery to a medical institution (persecution mania is manifested). Psychomotor agitation can transform into a collapse-like state, which is characterized by heart failure, difficulty breathing. Mental disorders often become protracted and persistent.

Chronic poisoning with leaded gasoline typically involves the development of asthenovegetative syndrome. Victims report constant weakness, fatigue, lack of concentration, and sleep disturbances (unstable sleep, with frequent dreams of negative content). Patients sleep poorly and little - usually 2-3 hours a day. Headache is not localized, accompanied by a persistent feeling of heaviness.

Other signs of chronic intoxication may include:

• emotional instability;
• erectile dysfunction;
• increased sweating, dermographism;
• general lethargy, trembling of fingers and eyelids.

More severe cases are characterized by the development of toxic encephalopathy, with clinical signs of organic CNS disorder.

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Gasoline poisoning in children

Gasoline poisoning in pediatric patients occurs relatively often. This can be explained by the widespread use of gasoline for refueling cars, dissolving and purifying liquids, getting rid of insects, etc. If gasoline reserves are stored carelessly, in the open, then children can accidentally sniff the petroleum product or even drink it. Depending on the concentration of the toxic substance that has entered the body, varying degrees of poisoning develop: mild, moderate and severe intoxication.

Poisoning in children is characterized by irritation of the mucous membrane of the digestive and/or respiratory system, nausea, vomiting. The higher the dose of the substance taken, the more pronounced the symptoms will be.

In children under one year of age, vomiting occurs in every second child poisoned by gasoline. In children aged 1-4, vomiting may occur in every third child. In older children, this symptom is found even less often - in about every fourth patient. Other signs include:

• cough;
• difficulty breathing;
• tachypnea.

When performing radiography, painful changes in the lung tissue are detected in almost 90% of cases. Symptoms of kidney damage gradually increase: hematuria, oliguria are observed, and protein appears in the urine. In severe poisoning, there is a risk of developing anuria and uremia.

When more than 30 ml of gasoline is consumed internally, the functionality of the central nervous system may be impaired, which manifests itself as lethargy, the development of semi-coma or coma. Convulsions rarely occur.

Complications and consequences

The most dangerous complication that can develop from gasoline poisoning is toxic pneumonia. This is an acute pathological condition that develops in response to the ingestion of a toxic substance – in this case, gasoline – into the human body.

Toxic pneumonia can develop quite quickly – within 24-48 hours from the moment of poisoning. After gasoline vapors get on the mucous tissue of the respiratory system, bronchial spasm occurs, the inflammatory process begins. Edema forms, exudate is produced and accumulates, which becomes a favorable basis for the development of toxic pneumonia with subsequent infection.

It is important to understand that exposure to a toxic substance can cause respiratory paralysis, and even death. Therefore, it is necessary to seek medical help at the first signs of gasoline poisoning and undergo all necessary diagnostic procedures. This will help avoid negative and very dangerous consequences, such as:

• neurological disorders;
• complications of the heart and vascular network;
• toxic pneumonia;
• autolysis of the pancreas;
• ulcerative processes in the stomach and/or duodenum;
• renal and/or hepatic insufficiency;
• chronic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome;
• chronic skin lesion.

In particularly severe cases of poisoning, the development of multiple organ failure is observed.

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Diagnostics gasoline poisoning

To prescribe effective therapy, it is necessary to clearly determine the cause of poisoning. Despite the fact that toxic manifestations when exposed to many chemicals are largely similar, some typical features can be identified.

In some cases, complex toxicological diagnostics are required to identify the toxic agent. The tests are high-resolution gas or liquid chromatography, which can only be done in specialized laboratories. In other cases, the following are taken into account:

• analysis of vomit samples;
• aspiration of gastric fluid;
• blood, urine, feces.

Chemical analysis of these materials is particularly important for determining and assessing the severity of chronic poisoning.

Instrumental diagnostics are necessary to assess the severity of damage to internal organs. Thus, ultrasound examination, radiography, electrocardiography, gastroduodenoscopy, spirometry, encephalography, etc. are often required.

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Differential diagnosis

In case of gasoline poisoning, a large-scale differential diagnosis is carried out with comatose states, convulsive syndromes, acute liver and kidney failure, bone marrow suppression. As a rule, with the listed disorders, psychoneurological disorders, abdominal pain, internal bleeding, fever, decreased blood pressure, signs of congestion in the lungs come to the fore.

Diesel fuel poisoning and gasoline poisoning are similar in many ways, because both of these types of fuel are petroleum products. In fact, there are no differences in the treatment of these types of intoxication. Therefore, precise identification is not required in most cases.

In many cases, the victim himself may not know the cause of the poisoning. This happens with chronic, latent intoxication. Therefore, the diagnosing doctor must pay attention to absolutely all manifestations and malfunctions, excluding or confirming one or another pathology.

Acute accidental gasoline poisoning is usually identified after careful questioning of the patient, his relatives and friends. Sometimes it is necessary to carefully examine the containers found at the site of the probable poisoning.

Chronic poisoning is determined after collecting information about the professional activities of the victim, his lifestyle, hobbies, habits, and living conditions.

Often, during the examination of the patient, a characteristic smell of gasoline is detected - however, in most such situations, the patient himself is able to indicate the cause of the poisoning.

Treatment gasoline poisoning

In case of gasoline poisoning, treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a medical specialist: self-medication in this case is inappropriate. In no case should you take medications without first consulting a doctor.

In case of severe poisoning, the victim is placed in a hospital for diagnosis and treatment, where the following rules will be observed:

• strict bed rest;
• symptomatic therapy;
• therapy aimed at cleansing the body of a toxic agent;
• dietary nutrition to improve the functioning of the liver and other vital organs.

What to do in case of gasoline poisoning?

This kind of intoxication requires mandatory intervention of a doctor - whether it is mild poisoning or serious. It is important to normalize the condition of the victim, prevent the development of complications.

There is no specific antidote that can neutralize the toxic effects of gasoline.

In order to bind and remove toxic compounds from the body, it is necessary to use sorbent preparations. Physiological solution or 5% glucose solution is infused intravenously.

It is necessary to constantly monitor the function of the body's internal systems - especially the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. If there are breathing problems, this may be an indication for the use of artificial ventilation of the lungs, and sometimes for tracheal intubation.

To prevent cerebral circulatory disorders, the patient is offered nootropic drugs. These may be Phenibut, Thiocetam, Piracetam.

After the victim's condition has stabilized, he can be transferred to outpatient treatment, while maintaining bed rest.

First aid

If the victim shows any signs of gasoline poisoning, the following measures must be taken:

• take the person out of the room into the open air;
• ensure maximum air flow by loosening the collar, belt, tie, etc.;
• throw a blanket or jacket over the victim, preventing a sharp drop in temperature;
• if consciousness is impaired, place a cotton swab soaked in ammonia under the patient’s nasal passages;
• If gasoline has been ingested by a person, then it is prohibited to induce a gag reflex on your own;
• You need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

The victim's stomach is washed using a probe, petroleum jelly or an absorbent substance.

Whether it is inhalation of gasoline vapor or aspiration of the product, in the hospital they perform oxygen inhalation, and also administer the following medications:

• antibiotics (to prevent the development of pneumonia): 10,000,000 IU of penicillin with 1 g of streptomycin as an intramuscular injection;
• subcutaneous injections of 20% camphor, 2 ml of cordiamine, 2 ml of 10% caffeine;
• intravenous administration of up to 50 ml of 40% glucose with 1 ml of 0.06% corglycon or 0.5 ml of 0.05% strophanthin;
• for pain – subcutaneous injection of 1 ml of 1% promedol or 0.1% atropine.

Throughout the therapy, temperature and blood pressure are monitored, and the functional capacity of all vital organs is observed in order to take appropriate measures in advance if side effects develop, for example, if allergies or other hypersensitivity reactions occur.

In case of chronic poisoning, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy are prescribed, symptomatic and general strengthening drugs, physiotherapeutic treatment (hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, treatment with mineral waters, spa treatment) are prescribed.

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Vitamins and diet

To speed up the recovery of the body after gasoline poisoning, it is necessary to make some adjustments to the diet. For example, in case of chronic intoxication, it is necessary to diversify the diet with products rich in proteins, pectin, calcium, iron, selenium, cobalt, copper. It is necessary to ensure sufficient intake of vitamins B, PP, ascorbic and pantothenic acid. The menu is supplemented with a large number of vegetables, fruits, greens, and dairy products. It is recommended to reduce the presence of fats in food, minimizing the consumption of fatty meat and fish, sausages, canned goods, confectionery. It is advisable to give up coffee and chocolate.

Additional intake of vitamins in the form of special vitamin-mineral complexes may be recommended by the attending physician to strengthen the immune defense and stabilize metabolism. Usually, such complexes are taken for 2-3 months during the recovery stage of the body after poisoning. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of ascorbic acid in such preparations, which improves appetite, optimizes immunity and accelerates recovery.

Folk remedies

The best way to recover from gasoline poisoning is to spend more time outdoors and drink enough fluids. In addition, folk remedies can help - in particular, the following recipes:

• Drink about a liter of fresh milk, then induce vomiting. Repeat this several times. This procedure helps remove toxic substances from the body.
• Brew a teaspoon of dry chicory in 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 4 hours in a thermos, filter. Drink the infusion three times: 30 minutes before meals.
• Take 10 g of grated ginger root, pour 600 ml of boiling water, and leave to cool. Drink this infusion warm, a quarter of a glass throughout the day.
• Pour boiling water (300-400 ml) over 10 anise seeds, leave for half an hour. Filter. Drink the infusion and immediately induce vomiting. Repeat this several times. This procedure helps detoxify the body.

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Herbal treatment

• In case of gasoline poisoning, grind dried cranberries (100 g) and lingonberries (200 g), pour 300 ml of boiling water, and leave for 2 hours. Take the mixture 50 ml 6 times a day.
• Prepare a mixture of flaxseed and birch buds (2 tablespoons each), creeping wheatgrass and orchis (3 tablespoons each) and nightshade (1 tablespoon). Pour 3 tablespoons of this mixture into 1 liter of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink 50 ml of the infusion every 30 minutes.
• Take 20 g of ground elecampane rhizome, pour 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 25 minutes. Take one tablespoon before meals 4 times a day.
• Prepare a mixture of oak bark (2 tbsp), clover (5 tbsp) and horsetail (5 tbsp). Pour 3 tbsp of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water and drink 100 ml 6-7 times a day.
• Pour 10 g of dry nettle leaves with 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and filter. Take 1-2 tbsp. three times a day.

Homeopathy

A competent selection of classic homeopathic remedies will help to quickly eliminate all signs of gasoline poisoning: in case of mild and moderate intoxication, improvement will be observed within a few hours. In addition, homeopathic preparations will significantly strengthen the immune system and potentiate recovery processes.

The basic drugs that can be prescribed for gasoline poisoning are:

Arsenicum album - prescribed for digestive disorders, vomiting attacks and spasms;

Quinine - used for vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, body aches. The use of quinine is especially relevant in cases of severe intoxication.

Carbo vegetabilis - suitable for the presence of symptoms of poisoning such as bloating, foul-smelling diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing.

Lycopodium is prescribed in cases where gasoline poisoning is accompanied by apathy, depression, and digestive disorders.

Nux vomica – helps with abdominal cramps, nausea, irritability, and impaired thermoregulation.

Homeopathic treatment is not accompanied by the development of side effects, so it can be used even by pregnant women and children. The dosage of these drugs is determined individually.

Prevention

Gasoline poisoning is a serious intoxication, so it is necessary to take all possible measures to prevent the problem. It is very important to follow basic safety precautions.

• Gasoline and any other petroleum products must be stored in places that are absolutely inaccessible to children and mentally ill people. Enterprises whose activities involve the use of gasoline must be equipped with a high-quality ventilation system.
• When working with gasoline products, it is essential to use personal protective equipment: a respirator or gas mask, gasoline-resistant gloves, a mask, and glasses.
• People whose professional activities involve the use of gasoline should regularly visit doctors for medical examinations and preventive testing. This will help to exclude chronic gasoline poisoning.
• If an employee of the enterprise has already had episodes of gasoline poisoning, then he is prohibited from working further in hazardous production. He must be transferred to another job not related to the use of petroleum products.

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Forecast

Petroleum products are used in a variety of areas of our daily lives today. But these substances can cause poisoning if the rules for handling them are ignored.

If gasoline poisoning does occur, you should never rely on the condition to normalize on its own: contacting a medical specialist is mandatory and immediate. Only timely qualified assistance can improve the prognosis of the toxic condition. Otherwise, gasoline poisoning is fraught with serious and threatening consequences.

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