Oxalyl dichloride

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Acceptable, publication which meets basic scientific principles. Workers were poisoned with a mixture of five gases without detailed concentrations.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Poisoning Caused by Inhalation of Hydrogen Chloride, Phosphorus Oxychloride, Phosphorus Pentachloride, Oxalyl Chloride, and Oxalic Acid

Author:

R. Rosenthal et al.

Year:

1978

Bibliographic source:

Chest, 73 (5): 623-626

Materials and methods

Study type:

poisoning incident

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Oxalyl dichloride

EC Number:

201-200-2

EC Name:

Oxalyl dichloride

Cas Number:

79-37-8

Molecular formula:

C2Cl2O2

IUPAC Name:

ethanedioyl dichloride

Constituent 2

Reference substance name:

Hydrogen chloride

EC Number:

231-595-7

EC Name:

Hydrogen chloride

Cas Number:

7647-01-0

IUPAC Name:

chloride

Constituent 3

Reference substance name:

Phosphoryl trichloride

EC Number:

233-046-7

EC Name:

Phosphoryl trichloride

Cas Number:

10025-87-3

IUPAC Name:

phosphoric trichloride

Constituent 4

Reference substance name:

Phosphorus pentachloride

EC Number:

233-060-3

EC Name:

Phosphorus pentachloride

Cas Number:

10026-13-8

IUPAC Name:

pentachlorophosphorane

Constituent 5

Reference substance name:

Oxalic acid

EC Number:

205-634-3

EC Name:

Oxalic acid

Cas Number:

144-62-7

IUPAC Name:

oxalic acid

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Subjects:

- Number of subjects exposed: 11
- Sex: 8 male and 3 female
- Age: 22 to 56
- Known diseases: had been in good health prior to the accident

Ethical approval:

not specified

Route of exposure:

inhalation

Reason of exposure:

accidental

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

Eleven workers inhaled accidentially a gaseous mixture of hydrogen chloride, phosphorus oxychloride, phosphorus pentachloride, oxalyl chloride, and oxalic acid. The accident was a result of an explosion in an enclosed area of a factory where these gases are prepared for industrial use. The eleven victims reported that they had inhaled a sufficient amount to produce mucosal irritation during the period of one-half to two minutes required for their escape.

Examinations:

- Urine analysis: yes
- Haematology: yes
- Lung function parameters: yes
- Other: electrocardiogram, chest x-ray film

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

The major symptoms were hoarseness, wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. On physical examination, there were fine crepitations and scattered rhonchi heard diffusely over the lungs; and in a few patients, there was moderately severe conjunctivitis.

Results of examinations:

- Urine analysis: a trace of albumine in 1/11, and a few erythrocytes in the urine at the time of admission only in two others.
- Haematology: leukocytosis in 4/11 patients, a slight evlevated concentration of lactic dehydrogenase in 3/11,
- Lung function parameters: In four patients, the vital capacity (VC) was low, the lowest recored at 53% of normal. Four patients had increased residual volume and a reduced forced expiration volume in one second (FEV) and ratio of FEV/VC. After administration of albuterol (salbutamol: 2.5 mg) the FEV increased, suggesting a bronchospastic element. The carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (Dss) was reduced in two patients wiht levels of 60% and 69%, respecitively, of the predicted values at rest. In one other patient a reduced Dss was detected only during exercise. Follow-up data on pulmonary function were available in three patients and follow-up data on blood gas levels in eight. All patients with initial abnormalities had follow-up studies done, and only in one patient was no improvement seen.
- Other: The arterial oxygen pressure at rest was reduced in 7/11 patients at the time of admission. In each one of them, the alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference and the end-tidal end-forced-expiratory carbon dioxide pressure gradient were raised, and the mixing efficiency was impaired, suggesting disturbances in ventilation and perfusion. In one patient, hypoxemia was found without associated symptoms or abnormal physical findings, and this hypoxemia disappeared within a short period of time.

In two patients, there were clinical symptoms and auscultatory findings which disappeared within a few days. Both patients had normal blood gas levels. Finally, in two patients, there were no abnormal physical findings or disturbances in tests of pulmonary function.