In February 2022,

theCareer girlVeterinary continuing education onlinenews, Ph.D.Justin lee,, DACVECC DABT of vinyl chloride toxic dangerous, and you need to know about your veterinary patients exposed to the recent Ohio Ohio east of train derailment accident release of dangerous chemicals.

By Dr.Justin lee,Bits, vic, mike
VETgirl medical director/chief executive

The toxicity of vinyl chloride

3 years on 3500 2023, a bus carrying a variety of potentially toxic chemicals train derailed in Ohio east Jerusalem.So, which released toxic chemicals, these chemicals for our veterinary patients, farm animals, wild animals and insects constitute what dangerous?????Presumably, XNUMX fish died from a nearby stream, for me, this is usually the canary in the coal mine.

Some of the toxic chemicals in derailment during combustion or leak, including (listed in alphabetical order) :

    • benzene
    • Butyl acrylate
    • Acrylic acid ethyl ester
    • Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
    • Propylene glycol *
    • Vinyl chloride

So, about these, we need to know what, vinyl chloride and benzene is what I'm concerned about most?

* propylene glycol is often used in cosmetics, lotions, as the carrier of diazepam, I wouldn't worry about it.

Vinyl chloride is highly flammable.The biggest danger is vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) gas, it may be the main cause of the central nervous system (CNS) signs, severe respiratory signs and stimulus (such as eye, skin, mucous membrane, etc.).Unfortunately, "exposed between symptom onset and a long incubation period".

Vinyl chloride in humans and animals clinical symptoms include:

    • CNS
      • Drowsiness/weak
      • ataxia
      • Headache (human)
      • Sleep onset disease (human)
      • Limb numbness/tingling
      • A seizure
      • death
    • Cardiovascular/respiratory system
      • Arrhythmia.
      • Difficulty in breathing
      • asthma
    • Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms
      • Abdominal pain
      • vomiting
      • diarrhea
      • Gastrointestinal bleeding

To cultivate

In humans, long-term exposure to vinyl chloride and the following factors:

    • Organ change (such as, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, liver fibrosis)
    • Lung (for example, chronic pulmonary interstitial change)
    • CNS changes (for example, neuropathy, multiple neuropathy),
    • The skin changes (skin thickening, collagen deposition)
    • Bone marrow changes (such as thrombocytopenia)
    • Cancer (because of vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen, by the international agency for research on cancer classified as group 1 (cancer) in humans, and has set up a report cause serious exposed workers with hepatic angiosarcoma)
    • Reproductive (for example, / sexual desire to reduce the number of sperm, animal congenital malformation

As for benzene, this is a kind of commonly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, adhesives and polymer chemicals.I must be under the chemical hood to undergraduate study of benzene, and always have healthy respect for it, because it smells carcinogenic (also be classified as class 1 carcinogen).Benzene is how toxic?Benzene metabolites (e.g., phenol, hydroquinone, catechol, etc.) cause systemic poisoning, including bone marrow suppression and potential mutation.It may also affect the central nervous system.To be honest, acute exposed to benzene, such as the train derailment research may not be much, because usually by chronic exposure;The content of benzene in smokers is higher, and were also found to be an air pollutant.

Clinical symptoms of benzene in people and animals similar to the above:

    • Local stimulus (such as oral cavity, skin, eye)
    • CNS
      • Drowsiness/weak or excitement
      • ataxia
      • euphoria
      • Headache (human)
      • A seizure
      • In a coma
      • death
    • Cardiovascular/respiratory system
      • tachycardia
      • cough
      • pale
      • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
      • hoarseness
      • Bronchial response
      • Chemical pneumonia
      • Pulmonary edema
    • Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms
      • The mucosa has a burning sensation
      • nausea
      • vomiting
      • Abdominal pain

In humans, long-term exposure to benzene and the following factors:

    • Bone marrow changes (bone marrow hypoplasia, anemia, leukemia, for example)
    • Reproductive change (e.g., stillbirth, abortion/abortion, irregular cycle)

As a toxicologist and vet, I worry about is not only to humans and animals/pets secondary contact, to wild animals and the environment are also worried about the secondary contact.If in doubt, dealing with symptoms are supportive and symptomatic treatment, because it is too late, could not be decontamination.As for diagnostic work, I will start from thorough physical examination and medical history, and routine blood test (CBC, biochemistry, for example).According to the patient's symptoms, and may need an X-ray.

To be on the safe side, I suggest that education pet owners use the following safety precautions.Unfortunately, who knows how long it will last - if it is my personal, I will implement these proposals for at least a few months:

    • If you can get you, I would suggest you legs and four legs for a long time away from the environment (for example, in other places outside the asylum, moved as far away as possible different pasture) possible)
    • Use only bottled water
    • Do not eat gardening items, fish or meat source (for example, deer, etc.)
    • Don't use rainwater collection on the food source of the garden (such as rain barrels)
    • Keep the house closed (for example, don't open the Windows)
    • The use of aHigh efficiency air purifier
    • As far as possible to avoid going out your cat/pet
    • A few weeks to avoid the dog for a walk in the outdoor time more than necessary
    • Outdoor fish (from koi pond) moved to the appropriate tank in a few weeks

If you have any questions, please contactThe ASPCA animal poison control centerOr the national poison control center for more information.

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