Organophosphate poisoning from wearing a laundered uniform previously contaminated with parathion

Article Abstract:

Organochlorine pesticides such as DDT have been banned in the United States. The organophosphate pesticides which have replaced them are much more toxic, but they are more rapidly broken down and do not persist in areas where they are used. The following case report demonstrates the toxicity of these agents to humans and describes their persistence. A 25-year-old pesticide worker was contaminated after accidentally spilling a 76 percent solution of parathion on his groin and scrotal areas. He showered and changed clothes immediately. He was seen at the emergency room two days later with complaints of nausea and diarrhea; he did not reveal his contamination. Four days after the accident, he returned suffering from weakness, nausea and sweating. At this time, he admitted his contamination with parathion. His poisoning was confirmed by laboratory findings and he was successfully treated, hospitalized overnight and released. Two other workers from the plant were seen for toxic reaction to insecticide and were successfully treated. The safety officer at the plant was concerned with the appearance of three poisonings within a short period of time when none had occurred in the previous several years. His investigation ultimately uncovered that the first worker placed his saturated uniform in a plastic bag to be burned, but it was laundered instead. The uniform then passed in succession to the second worker, who wore it until he became ill, and then the coveralls were again laundered and passed to the third stricken worker. This case shows the toxic nature of this class of insecticides and their persistence on clothing even after successive laundering.

Pesticides, Parathion

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Atropine poisoning in children during the Persian Gulf crisis: a national survey in Israel

Article Abstract:

Israeli children who accidentally injected themselves with atropine during the Persian Gulf crisis did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. The Israel government distributed injection kits with atropine, an antidote to nerve gas, to Israeli civilians in case of a chemical warfare attack. Among 240 Israeli children who were accidentally injected with atropine, 181 (75%) were injected in the hand. Most of the children accidentally injected themselves, although a few were injected by a parent who thought a chemical warfare attack was occurring. More boys were injected than girls, and more injections occurred during the 43 days of the Persian Gulf War than before the war. None of the children who were injected died, but 116 (48%) experienced two or more pharmacological effects of atropine. Ninety-one experienced a slightly increased heart beat, and 22 had a severely increased heart beat.

Israel, Accidents, Children's accidents, Persian Gulf War, 1991, Iraq-Kuwait Crisis, 1990-1991, Atropine

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Nosocomial Poisoning Associated With Emergency Department Treatment of Organophosphate Toxicity--Georgia, 2000

Article Abstract:

Emergency personnel who treat patients exposed to toxic chemicals may become contaminated themselves. For this reason, they should wear protective clothing and follow all necessary decontamination procedures.

Management, Occupational diseases, Hazardous substances, Organophosphorus compounds, Organic phosphorus compounds

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