An Unusual Cause of Burn Injury: Skin Exposure to Monochloroacetic Acid

Abstract Paraquat is used throughout the world as an herbicide due to efficacy and relative safety with proper handling. Accidents and misuse still occur, leading to countries banning its use or employing extra safeguards and special handling certifications. Severe toxicity is primarily associated with ingestion, but skin exposure leads to corrosive injury to the dermis, occurs rapidly, and progresses for up to 24 hours. Prolonged skin exposure or the presence of open wounds can lead to systemic absorption. This is the first known report of burn injury and treatment due to secondary exposure to the urine of a patient who had accidental ingestion of paraquat. A 50-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency room after accidental ingestion of eight ounces of Gramoxone extra (Paraquat 30% concentration). During initial care of the patient, the bedside registered nurse was placing an indwelling foley catheter when her forearms were contaminated with urine, while wearing basic personal protective equipment (gloves). The registered nurse noticed bullae to bilateral forearms a short time after exposure to the urine. She presented to the burn center for evaluation and treatment. Poison Control was contacted but was unable to offer advise due to lack of supportive literature. The risk and effects of primary exposure to Paraquat is described throughout the literature and documented in MSDS, but data regarding risk and treatment of secondary exposure is lacking. This case will aid outreach efforts for prevention and treatment of burn injuries from secondary exposure to paraquat.

Download Full-text

Fatal Systemic Poisoning After Skin Exposure to Monochloroacetic Acid

Journal of Toxicology Clinical Toxicology ◽

10.3109/15563659209017948 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 643-652 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Per Kulling ◽

Hans Andersson ◽

Kerstin Boström ◽

Lars Åke Johansson ◽

Björn Lindström ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monochloroacetic Acid ◽

Skin Exposure

Download Full-text

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: A Rare Entity in Burn Injury

Yearbook of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery ◽

10.1016/s1535-1513(08)70098-5 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

R.E. Salisbury

Keyword(s):

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Rare Entity ◽

Intravascular Coagulation

Download Full-text

Supplemental Material for Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology and Appearance Distress Following Burn Injury: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/hea0000391.supp ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Phenomenological Analysis

Download Full-text

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OUTCOMES OF ELECTRIC BURN INJURY AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN

International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies ◽

10.32553/ijmbs.v3i6.298 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Bharti Saraswat ◽

Ashok Yadav ◽

Krishna Kumar Maheshwari

Keyword(s):

Burn Injury ◽

Low Voltage ◽

Care Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

The Body ◽

Electrical Injury ◽

Age Group ◽

Electric Circuits ◽

Medical College ◽

Social Burden

Background- Electric burns and injuries are the result of electric current passing through the body. Temporary or permanent damage can occur to the skin, tissues, and major organs. Methods- This prospective study was carried out on patients admitted in burn unit of department of surgery M.G. Hospital associated with Dr. S.N. Medical College Jodhpur. Records of the patients admitted from January 2018 to December 2018 were studied. Bed head tickets of the patients evaluated in detail. Results- In our study out of 113 patients maximum no. of patients were in age group of 21-30 years 44 (38.94%) followed by age group <11 years in 21 (18.58%) patients and age group of > 60 years in only 3 (2.65%).39 (34.51%) patients were farmer and 15 (13.27%) were electrician in out of 113 total patients, while 37 (32.74%) were without any occupation. 65 (57.52%) cases of high voltage (HV) electrical injury and 48 (42.48%) cases were of low voltage (LV) electrical injury. Conclusion- Morbidity leading to permanent disabilities make the person physically dependent on others. It can be prevented by educating the people about the proper handling to electric circuits & devices. Proper communication among the electricians may help in lowering such accidents. Proper rehabilitation of the handicapped person & employment to the member of the affected family may reduce the social burden caused by such electricity concerned accidents.

Download Full-text

279. Contamination and Skin Exposure

10.3320/1.2763126 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

R. Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Skin Exposure

Download Full-text

183. Effectiveness of Decontamination Products and Nitrile Gloves in Reducing Isocyanate Skin Exposure in Auto Body Shops: A Pilot Assessment

10.3320/1.2766105 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Y. Liu ◽

M. Stowe ◽

M. Cullen ◽

F. Walsh ◽

J. Sparer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Exposure ◽

Auto Body

Download Full-text

Skin Cooling on Breath-Hold Duration and Predicted Emergency Air Supply Duration During Immersion

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.5433.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (7) ◽

pp. 578-585

Author(s):

Victory C. Madu ◽

Heather Carnahan ◽

Robert Brown ◽

Kerri-Ann Ennis ◽

Kaitlyn S. Tymko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Minute Ventilation ◽

Hold Time ◽

Whole Body ◽

Breath Hold ◽

Endurance Time ◽

Skin Exposure ◽

Breathing Apparatus ◽

Air Supply ◽

Skin Cooling ◽

Breath Hold Duration

PURPOSE: This study was intended to determine the effect of skin cooling on breath-hold duration and predicted emergency air supply duration during immersion.METHODS: While wearing a helicopter transport suit with a dive mask, 12 subjects (29 ± 10 yr, 78 ± 14 kg, 177 ± 7 cm, 2 women) were studied in 8 and 20°C water. Subjects performed a maximum breath-hold, then breathed for 90 s (through a mouthpiece connected to room air) in five skin-exposure conditions. The first trial was out of water for Control (suit zipped, hood on, mask off). Four submersion conditions included exposure of the: Partial Face (hood and mask on); Face (hood on, mask off); Head (hood and mask off); and Whole Body (suit unzipped, hood and mask off).RESULTS: Decreasing temperature and increasing skin exposure reduced breath-hold time (to as low as 10 ± 4 s), generally increased minute ventilation (up to 40 ± 15 L · min−1), and decreased predicted endurance time (PET) of a 55-L helicopter underwater emergency breathing apparatus. In 8°C water, PET decreased from 2 min 39 s (Partial Face) to 1 min 11 s (Whole Body).CONCLUSION: The most significant factor increasing breath-hold and predicted survival time was zipping up the suit. Face masks and suit hoods increased thermal comfort. Therefore, wearing the suits zipped with hoods on and, if possible, donning the dive mask prior to crashing, may increase survivability. The results have important applications for the education and preparation of helicopter occupants. Thermal protective suits and dive masks should be provided.Madu VC, Carnahan H, Brown R, Ennis K-A, Tymko KS, Hurrie DMG, McDonald GK, Cornish SM, Giesbrecht GG. Skin cooling on breath-hold duration and predicted emergency air supply duration during immersion. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(7):578–585.

Download Full-text