Phenol vapor poisoning

Phenol (carbolic acid) is an organic multi-component substance. It looks like transparent crystals that turn pink in the open air. Phenol refers to volatile substances with a pungent odor. Its aroma is felt when the concentration of the toxin is highly elevated. On contact with the skin, the vapors leave severe burns. Phenol is used in the chemical industry, as an antiseptic and other areas.

Causes of the phenol poisoning

Causes of intoxication:

• Accidents at industrial enterprises.
• Consumption of contaminated water.
• Toxin ingestion in food.
• Fires (inhalation of smoke from burning chipboard, plastics).
• Use in medicine (antiseptic undiluted phenols large area of the body causes acute damage to the body).
• Cosmetologic procedures (peels with carbolic acid and its derivatives).

The effects of phenol on the body are diverse and depend on the route of entry into the body, duration of exposure and a number of other factors. Most often the toxin enters the body by inhalation and transdermal routes. If the poison comes in contact with more than 25-50% of the body surface, it is a lethal risk.

Symptoms of the phenol poisoning

There are several stages of phenol damage to the body:

1. Lung

• Eye and respiratory irritation.
• Deterioration of general well-being.
• Headache and weakness.
• Feeling short of breath.
• A slight burning sensation in the mouth.

2. Acute

• Heart failure.
• Shortness of breath and respiratory arrest.
• Kidney dysfunction.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Burning in the oral cavity.
• Hypothermia.
• Coma.
• Swelling and hyperemia of the upper respiratory tract.
• Seizures.
• Movement disorder.

3. Chronic

• GI disorders (vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing).
• Nervous disorders.
• Headaches and dizziness.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Mental disorders.
• Skin rashes.

Regular inhalation of vapors provokes pathological full blood vessels of internal organs and their inflammatory infiltration. Areas of hemorrhages are formed around the affected vessels. Lungs, liver, kidneys fall under the scope. Victims are diagnosed with proteinuria, metabolic acidosis.

If phenol gets on the skin, it causes a chemical burn. The degree of damage depends on the concentration of the solution and the time of its exposure. So, even 2-3% carbolic acid can cause gangrene if it was not removed from living tissues within 2-3 hours. Preparations with a concentration of 70-80% burn tissues instantly. If liquid forms of the toxin penetrate the body or its crystals get into the stomach, it leads to ulceration, inflammation, bleeding.

Treatment of the phenol poisoning

First aid to the victim is to call for emergency medical assistance. To bind the toxin, medics administer intravenous 8-10 ml of sodium thiosulfate, wash the stomach, conduct alkaline inhalations. Further therapy depends on the symptomatology. If the patient's breathing is impaired, an oxygen mask is indicated, and in particularly severe cases - tracheal intubation.

Lack of timely medical attention or improper treatment is a risk of developing various consequences. Early complications include lesions of the respiratory apparatus. In 50% of victims, toxic alveolar pulmonary edema and other inhalation injuries are diagnosed. Oral administration of phenol can provoke GI perforation, bleeding, and esophageal stenosis. Contact of the toxin with skin leaves behind areas of deep tissue necrosis, gangrene, multi-organ failure.