Fatal chlorine gas exposure at a metal recycling facility: Case report |
| |
| Authors: | Robert R. Harvey DVM MPH Randy Boylstein MS Joel McCullough MD MPH MS Alice Shumate PhD Kristin Yeoman MD MPH Rachel L. Bailey DO MPH Kristin J. Cummings MD MPH |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia;2. Spokane Regional Health District, Spokane, Washington;3. Western States Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane, Washington |
| |
| Abstract: | 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. |
| |
| Keywords: | acute respiratory distress syndrome chlorine gas metal recycling post‐traumatic stress disorder reactive airway dysfunction syndrome |
|
|
