Multi-organ toxicity and death following acute unintentional inhalation of paint thinner fumes

Paint thinners containing a mixture of volatile organic solvents have considerable potential for solvent abuse. Deaths from solvent inhalation have been reported but most of them relate to intentional solvent abuse and occur soon after exposure. Accidental death due to unintentional inhalation of so...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2007-01, Vol.45 (3), p.287-289
Main Authors: ZAIDI, Shakeel A, SHAW, Asha N, PATEL, Monila N, SHAH, Vipul V, RAJENDRAN, Dipa, SHAH, Bhaumik P, SINHA, Sukesh N, GANDHI, Sumitra J, SAIYED, Habibullah N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Air Pollutants - poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Diseases, Metabolic - chemically induced
Brain Diseases, Metabolic - pathology
Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced
Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Fatal Outcome
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects
Kidney Diseases - chemically induced
Kidney Diseases - pathology
Lung Diseases - chemically induced
Lung Diseases - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Organic Chemicals - chemistry
Organic Chemicals - poisoning
Paint
Pneumology
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
Solvents
Solvents - chemistry
Solvents - poisoning
Toxicology
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Summary:Paint thinners containing a mixture of volatile organic solvents have considerable potential for solvent abuse. Deaths from solvent inhalation have been reported but most of them relate to intentional solvent abuse and occur soon after exposure. Accidental death due to unintentional inhalation of solvent vapors can also occur suddenly but more often, death results from late complications secondary to multi-organ toxicity. Malfunctioning of the cardiorespiratory, renal, and central nervous systems as a result of latent-toxic effects of solvent exposure has received little attention. An adult male unintentionally inhaled an excessive amount of paint thinner vapors and immediately developed central nervous system effects, followed by severe cardiorespiratory and renal pathologies that ultimately led to death 11 days after exposure. Acute unintentional inhalation of paint thinner fumes resulted in serious multi-organ toxicity and death. This case strongly suggests the need to employ suitable precautionary measures while handling volatile organic solvents in a confined area.
ISSN:1556-3650
1556-9519
DOI:10.1080/15563650601031791