Glue Poisoning - Symptoms, First Aid, Treatment, Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Glue poisoning

The bulk of the adhesives is a mixture based on synthetic resins, which are transformed under the influence of hardeners into infusible adhesives. They include a number of components: film formers, solvents, hardeners, fillers, plasticizers, etc.

Source: depositphotos.com

The number of adhesives on the modern market exceeds 10,000. The most common polymers, acting in combination with solvents as adhesives: polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylates, polyamides, phenol and formaldehyde resins, polyurethanes, epoxy resins, rubbers, organosilicon compounds and others.

The following adhesives are most commonly used in various household and specialized areas:

• clerical, or office (aqueous solution of sodium and / or potassium silicates);
• PVA (emulsion of water and polyvinyl acetate);
• glue "Moment" (a mixture of phenol-formaldehyde resins, ethyl acetate, acetone and other components);
• Super-glue (cyanoacrylate);
• glue "Liquid nails" (synthetic rubber, various polymers, titanium dioxide, toluene and acetone);
• epoxy adhesive;
• BF.

The toxicity of adhesives is caused by the release of toxic vapors or direct exposure (in contact with the skin and mucous membranes), including the solvents included in their composition.

How does glue poisoning occur?

Most often, glue poisoning occurs under the following circumstances:

• violation of the technological process in production;
• professional contact with vapors of adhesive without personal protective equipment (respirator, mask, gloves, goggles);
• prolonged contact with unprotected skin of the hands, both in the industrial field and at home;
• working with glue indoors without adequate ventilation;
• accidental use of glue inside (including children);
• deliberate use for suicidal purposes;
• inhalation of glue vapors for the purpose of intoxication (substance abuse).

Despite the ability of adhesives to have a toxic effect when absorbed through intact skin, the main method of poisoning is respiratory (respiratory).

Poisoning symptoms

Poisoning with adhesive compounds can occur both in acute and chronic forms, with prolonged exposure to small doses of the toxin.

Acute poisoning is characterized by:

• dizziness, headache;
• feeling of "stale head", similar to the feeling of intoxication;
• weakness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• increased heart rate, interruptions in work, a feeling of heart sinking;
• visual disturbances (double vision, defocusing, flashing "flies");
• watery eyes, nasal discharge;
• unsteadiness of gait, lack of coordination;
• chemical taste in the mouth;
• with a high concentration of toxin - euphoria, alternating with a state of stunning, loss of orientation in place and time, delirium, hallucinations.

The reverse development of intoxication quickly occurs after the termination of contact with poisonous vapors: after 1-1.5 minutes, hallucinatory images disappear, orientation in space and time is restored, the ability to assess the environment resumes, headache, dizziness, lethargy, weakness, nausea, vomiting appear.

Objectively, the victim has:

• hyperemia of the skin, sclera;
• dilated pupils;
• cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle of varying severity;
• tachycardia;
• lowering blood pressure;
• dyspnea;
• small tremor of the fingers.

With prolonged professional contact with the substances that make up the glue, chronic intoxication is possible due to damage to various organs and systems:

• epichlorohydrin and toluene (contained in epoxy glue) have a negative effect on the nervous system and the liver, and on contact with the skin of the hands cause eczema and dermatitis;
• hexamethylenediamine (a component of polyurethanes and epoxy resins) is able to change the blood formula;
• diameter X (a component of polyurethanes and epoxy resins) has a carcinogenic effect, causes damage to the respiratory system;
• free phenol and formaldehyde (contained in phenol-formaldehyde resins) cause diseases of the respiratory and nervous systems, dermatitis;
• toluene diisocyanate (present in polyurethane adhesives) affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, disrupts metabolic processes, has a powerful cauterizing effect;
• vapors of cyanoacrylate compounds irritate the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes.

Complaints presented in chronic poisoning with adhesive vapors are non-specific:

• decreased performance, fatigue;
• decreased physical activity;
• interruptions in the work of the heart;
• decrease (less often increase) blood pressure;
• frequent headaches, sleep disturbances;
• digestive disorders: pain in the projection of the stomach, loss of appetite, tendency to constipation or diarrhea, cramping pain in the abdomen;
• chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary zone;
• decreased immunity, high susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for glue poisoning

1. Remove the victim from the site of exposure to the toxin.
2. Provide access to fresh air (unfasten tight clothing, open windows, doors).
3. Carry out gastric lavage (drink 1-1.5 liters of warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate and induce a gag reflex by pressing on the root of the tongue).
4. Take a saline laxative (magnesium sulfate).
5. Take enterosorbent (Atoxil, Enterosgel, Polyphepan, Polysorb).
6. If glue gets on the skin or mucous membranes, rinse them abundantly under running water and soap. Quick-drying adhesives are washed off with special neutralizing agents.

When is medical attention required?

Medical assistance is needed if:

• against the background of emergency measures, the condition of the victim remains stably severe or negative dynamics is noted;
• a child, pregnant woman or elderly person is injured;
• developed indomitable vomiting;
• vomit or stool contains traces of blood;
• the victim presents active cardiac complaints (pain, interruptions in the work of the heart, palpitations, rhythm disturbances, a sharp increase or decrease in blood pressure);
• intensive neurological symptoms developed: a state of altered consciousness, convulsions, loss of consciousness.

The victim is hospitalized in the toxicology department, where he receives detoxification therapy:

1. Forced diuresis (taking diuretics in combination with water load - abundant alkaline drink (up to 3-5 liters per day) to activate the excretion of toxins by the kidneys).
2. With the ineffectiveness of forced diuresis, hemodialysis, apparatus blood filtration ("artificial kidney") are used.
3. Hemisorption, distillation of blood through a column with an adsorbent in order to bind and remove toxins.

In addition to the specific, the victim receives symptomatic treatment depending on the developed or threatening complications:

• antibacterial drugs and glucocorticosteroid hormones for pulmonary edema;
• intravenous drip administration of plasma-substituting fluids;
• hormonal and cardiovascular agents for cardiac symptoms;
• haemostatic agents for gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.

Possible consequences

When vapors are inhaled or episodes of glue getting on the skin and mucous membranes, local complications often develop: conjunctivitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, bronchitis, dermatitis, eczema.

At high concentrations of toxin vapors in the air, with prolonged contact with the skin or the use of glue inside, more severe complications may develop:

• renal failure;
• liver failure;
• acute heart failure;
• pulmonary edema;
• coma, death.

Prevention

Compliance with the following rules will avoid glue poisoning:

• work with adhesives should be carried out in rooms equipped with adequate supply and exhaust ventilation;
• when using highly toxic adhesives, production areas should be additionally equipped with local exhaust devices;
• use of personal protective equipment is mandatory: respirators, rubber gloves, safety glasses;
• it is unacceptable to independently change or disrupt the technological process when working in a specialized production;
• at home - store glue out of the reach of children;
• independent work of young children with glue is unacceptable, supervision by an adult is required.

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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author

Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!