Update: Hydrogen Cyanamide–Related Illnesses – Italy, 2002–2004

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Calvert, Geoffrey M. ; Davanzo, F. ; Faraoni, L. ; Marcello, I. ; Miceli, G. ; Richmond, D. ; Settimi, L.
• Description:
  Hydrogen cyanamide (CAS No. 420-04-2) is used in agriculture as a plant growth regulator and is applied to many deciduous plants to stimulate uniform budbreak after dormancy, resulting in uniform flowering and maturity. Hydrogen cyanamide is highly toxic, and adverse health effects from contact include severe irritation and ulceration of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. The substance also inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase and can produce acetaldehyde syndrome (e.g., vomiting, parasympathetic hyperactivity, dyspnea, hypotension, and confusion) when exposure coincides with alcohol use. After Dormex (Degussa AG, Trostberg, Germany), a pesticide product containing hydrogen cyanamide (49% by weight), was introduced in Italy in 2000, a total of 23 cases of acute illness associated with exposure to this chemical were identified in early 2001. This led to a temporary suspension of sales and usage of Dormex on February 23, 2002, and strengthening of protective measures, as specified on the pesticide label when sales were resumed on June 20, 2003. This report describes 28 additional cases of hydrogen cyanamide-related illness that occurred during 2002-2004, 14 of which occurred after sales resumed. These illnesses suggest that the preventive measures adopted in Italy in 2003 to protect workers using hydrogen cyanamide are inadequate. Workers exposed to hydrogen cyanamide should be provided adequate information, training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and engineering controls. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Amides Insecticides Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paint Personal Protective Equipment Poisoning Preventive Medicine Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural-chemicals Agricultural-workers Occupational-exposure Personal-protective-equipment Pesticides Pesticides-and-agricultural-chemicals Poison-control Poisons Preventive-medicine Spraying-equipment Surveillance-programs

  More +
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Italy
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  5 pdf pages
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026605
• Citation:
  MMWR 2005 Apr; 54(16):405-408
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cyanamide (CAS RN 420-04-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3b7fd3a0218cea7038603d0e5bf8b6c53cbf52a4afa159c3da54815f5662534ca0fb254eec2939915a66e1806cebfc46b52ac5261cc42ad68bf60c409c213005
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183320/cdc_183320_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 109.52 KB ]