Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis induced by hydrofluoric acid exposure during fire extinguisher testing
- PDF / 855,238 Bytes
- 3 Pages / 595.276 x 793.701 pts Page_size
- 43 Downloads / 155 Views
CASE REPORT
Open Access
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis induced by hydrofluoric acid exposure during fire extinguisher testing YuJin Kim, JiYoung Shin, ShinMyung Kang, SunYoung Kyung, Jeong-Woong Park, SangPyo Lee, SangMin Lee and Sung Hwan Jeong*
Abstract Introduction: Automatic fire suppression systems use hydrofluorocarbons (HF) to extinguish fires chemically. At high temperatures, HF can release hydrofluoric acid (HFA), a toxic, potentially lethal gas. Case report: A 52-year-old male visited our Pulmonary Division with dyspnea of 8-months duration. He had been working at a facility that manufactured fire extinguishers. Bronchoscopy was performed and a transbronchial lung biopsy was taken from the right lower lobe. After the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), whole-lung lavage was performed. In this case, fire extinguisher gas induced pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. This material should be used with care and investigated further. Discussion: HFA is corrosive and penetrates organic materials, including body tissues. Depending on the mode of exposure, skin ulceration, pulmonary injury, or even systemic shock can result. This report describes PAP that developed after chronic, repeated exposure to fire extinguisher spray. Hydrofluoric acid can induce pulmonary disorders such as PAP. Keywords: Hydrofluorocarbons (HF), Hydrofluoric acid (HFA), Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP)
Background Hydrofluorocarbons (HF) are used as extinguishing agents [1]. The most frequently used HF is 1,1,1,2,3,3,3hepatofluoropropane, which is generally non-toxic and stable [1]. However, it can decompose over time, when exposed to high temperature or under certain environmental conditions [1]. Hydrofluoric acid (HFA), an aqueous form of HF, is highly water-soluble and a weak acid [2]. Exposure to HFA might not cause symptoms initially. Over time, however, fluoride ions bind to intracellular calcium or magnesium, causing liquefactive tissue necrosis or systemic electrolyte disturbance [3,4]. Tracheobronchitis, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, bronchospasm, and acute respiratory failure syndrome have been reported after HFA exposure [1,4-6]. However, there are no reports of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) secondary to HF extinguishing agents. We report the * Correspondence: [email protected] Division of pulmonary, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 1198 Guwol-dong, Incheon, Namdong-gu 405-760, ROK
diagnosis and successful treatment of PAP that developed after fire extinguisher testing. PAP has been reported in workers exposed to aluminum dust, paint, sawdust, silica, synthetic plastic fumes, and indium-tin oxide. However, there are no reports of PAP after repeated fire extinguisher use.
Case presentation A 52-year-old male visited our Pulmonary Division with dyspnea of 8-months duration. He had smoked for 30 years and had a 5-year history of hypertension for which he was prescribed medication. For 20 years, he had a desk job at a facility that manufactured fire exting
Data Loading...
