Fatal Chlorine Gas Exposure at a Metal Recycling Facility: Case Report

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bailey, Rachel L. ; Boylstein, Randy J. ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Harvey, R. Reid ; McCullough, Joel E. ; Shumate A ; Yeoman, Kristin
• Description:
  At least four workers at a metal recycling facility were hospitalized and one died after exposure to chlorine gas when it was accidentally released from an intact, closed-valved cylinder being processed for scrap metal. This unintentional chlorine gas release marks at least the third such incident at a metal recycling facility in the United States since 2010. We describe the fatal case of the worker whose clinical course was consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following exposure to high concentrations of chlorine gas. This case report emphasizes the potential risk of chlorine gas exposure to metal recycling workers by accepting and processing intact, closed-valved containers. The metal recycling industry should take steps to increase awareness of this established risk to prevent future chlorine gas releases. Additionally, public health practitioners and clinicians should be aware that metal recycling workers are at risk for chlorine gas exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Chlorine Hazardous Substances Mortality Occupational Health Recycling Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Case Reports Chlorine Gas Fatalities HHE-2015-0151-3281 Metal Recycling Metal Workers Post-traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome Respiratory System Disorders Toxic Gases

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Washington ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division ; WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051316
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2018 Jun; 61(6):538-542
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert R. Harvey, DVM, MPH, Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd, MS H-2800, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  iez1@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chlorine (CAS RN 7782-50-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c5eb0f36c0df75de8b443851899503a58030c04e9ef3d35ebcaf8967247476dcf7de8415f80eb8574a748458247167c7c62a32ea0da47ada58fb325dc9e54a1a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211345/cdc_211345_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 252.00 KB ]