Hydrogen sulfide poisoning: Clarification of some controversial issues

✍ Scribed by Thomas H. Milby; Randall C. Baselt

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 60 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199902)35:2<192::aid-ajim11>3.0.co;2-c

✦ Synopsis

Background Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas about which much has been written. We discuss here several issues we believe would benefit from further clarification. Conclusions We conclude that: 1) Certain neurotoxic effects of exposure are probably due to a direct toxic effect on the brain, while others are almost certainly a result of hypoxia secondary to H 2 S-induced respiratory insuffıciency; 2) pulmonary edema is a common consequence of poisoning and there is suggestive evidence of hyperactive airway responses in some individuals following brief H 2 S-induced unconsciousness (knockdown); 3) criteria for acceptable community levels are very different than those governing occupational standards; 4) urinary thiosulfate determinations can be useful for monitoring occupational exposure; and 5) determination of sulfide ion concentrations in blood or major organs can be useful in corroborating a diagnosis of fatal H 2 S toxicity, but there are many pitfalls in collecting, storing, and analyzing tissue and fluid samples. Am. J. Ind. Med.