Gas poisoning

“ The gases serve partly for the heating of the blast for the furnace itself, and partly for driving the gas engines which serve the electrical power apparatus, electric lighting, &c., in the works. Through the rational utilisation of the blast furnace gases, the workers are protected from their injurious action during the working of the furnace. Serious gas poisoning, however, occurs not infrequently to workers who have to enter the gas mains for cleaning purposes. ”

“ Effects on Health.—Injury to health from work at coke ovens is similar to that in the manufacture of illuminating gas. There is the possibility of carbonic oxide poisoning from escape of gas from leakage in the apparatus. As further possible sources of danger ammonia, cyanogen and sulpho-cyanogen compounds, and benzene have to be borne in mind. ”

“ Those who are constantly engaged in burning the lead sheets and pipes of the chambers suffer not infrequently from severe symptoms. Unfortunately, the work requires skill and experience, and hence alternation of employment is hardly possible.
Finally, mention should be made of poisoning by arseniuretted hydrogen gas from vessels filled with sulphuric acid containing arsenic as an impurity, and by sulphuretted hydrogen gas in purifying the acid itself. In the manufacture of liquid sulphur dioxide, injury to health can arise from inhalation of the acid escaping from the apparatus. ”

“ In the sulphuring of hops, wine, &c., the workers may run risk from the injurious action of sulphur dioxide. Arsenic in the sulphuric acid used for the production of dextrine may set up industrial poisoning. Poisoning from ammonia gas can occur in cold storage premises. Industrial poisoning from tobacco is not proved, but the injurious effect of the aroma and dust of tobacco—especially in women—in badly arranged tobacco factories is probable. ”

“ Chronic carbonic oxide poisoning, arising from continued inhalation of small quantities of the gas, sets in usually with symptoms similar to those of acute carbonic oxide poisoning; if the worker continues exposed to danger, severe symptoms may arise which point to marked alteration of the blood and later also of the digestion and bodily functions. ”

“ Poisoning by coal gas is practically poisoning by carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is also the chief constituent in water gas.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs far more frequently in France and Germany than in England; in those countries the vapour evolved from burning charcoal is a favourite method of suicide, on account of the supposed painlessness of the death. It has also occasionally been used as an instrument of murder. In this country carbon monoxide poisoning mainly takes place accidentally as the effect of breathing coal gas ”

“ And, on the other hand, M. Collard de Martigny has found that, if the human body be enclosed in an atmosphere of the gas, due precautions being taken to preserve the free access of common air to the lungs, the usual symptoms of poisoning with carbonic acid are produced, such as weight in the head, obscurity of sight, pain in the temples, ringing in the ears, giddiness, and an undefinable feeling of terror; and that if the same experiment be made on animals and continued long enough, death will be the consequence. ”

“ Effects on Health.—From what has been said of the manufacture of coal-tar dyes it is evident that poisoning can arise from the initial substances used (benzene, toluene, &c.) , from the elements or compounds employed in carrying out the reactions (such as chlorine, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, arsenious acid, sodium sulphide, and sulphuretted hydrogen gas) , from the intermediate bodies formed (nitro and amido compounds, such as nitrobenzene, dinitrobenzene, aniline, &c.) , and that, finally, the end products (the dyes themselves) can act as poisons. ”

“ The gas has the curious power of combining with the blood and refusing to let go, thus keeping out the oxygen necessary for life. It may be that that is what accounts for what we've seen—that it is actual poisoning to death of men not killed by the immediate explosion. ”

“ It owes its dangerous properties to the first-named gas. When water gas, pure and simple, is supplied for heating purposes, its leakage cannot be detected, as the gas possesses no odour. When used for lighting and carburetted, its escape is more readily detected by the smell, but even then it is more dangerous than coal gas as the proportion of CO is higher. Several deaths have resulted from the use of water gas for heating and lighting purposes, and also for steel smelting in Leeds. The symptoms of poisoning are those of carbon monoxide. ”

“ Naturally, poisonous gases escaping from the furnace such as sulphur dioxide, carbonic oxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons require to be drawn away and rendered harmless. This can often be done by merely conducting them into the main flue. Gases containing carbonic oxide possess high heating capacity, and their escape can usually be prevented by suitable cupola bells. They can be led away in impervious conduits and utilised for heating purposes or for driving gas [289] engines. Entering the flues for cleaning or repairing purposes is especially dangerous ”

“ The conclusion is drawn that the health conditions of gas workers is favourable. It is pointed out, however, that diseases of the respiratory and digestive organs (12·8 and 10·16 per cent. of the persons employed) are relatively high, and that the mortality (1·56 per cent.) of gas-workers is higher than that of other workers. This is attributed to the constant inhalation of air charged with injurious gases. Work at the retorts, coke quenching, and attending to the purifying plant are considered especially unhealthy. ”

“ Of Poisoning with Oxygen Gas.—Of all the narcotic gases, none is more singular in its effects than oxygen. When breathed in a state of purity by animals, they live much longer than in the same volume of atmospheric air. But if the experiment be kept up for a sufficient length of time, symptoms of narcotic poisoning begin to manifest themselves. For an hour no inconvenience seems to be felt; but the breathing and pulse then become accelerated; a state of debility next ensues; at length insensibility gradually comes on, with glazing of the eyes, slow respiration and gasping ”

“ Flushing out shall only be done after the workmen have got out.
Workmen are to be warned every time cleaning is undertaken that poisonous gases are developed when the deposit on the floor is diluted.
Acid eggs, further, are to be provided with a waste pipe and manhole to enable cleaning to be done from outside.
The poisoning likely to arise is partly due to arsenic impurity (development of arseniuretted hydrogen gas) in the sulphuric acid used. Unfortunately arsenic free acid is very difficult to obtain. ”

“ The poisonous properties of coal gas are due to the carbon monoxide, 7.5 per cent. being present in ordinary gas as supplied for illuminating purposes. It can be detected by passing the coal gas through an acid solution of cuprous chloride, which [Pg 401] becomes black by the formation of a compound CuCOCl. A dangerous explosive compound is formed when the gas reaches the proportion of 1 in 10 of the atmosphere. Poisoning by this gas is, as a rule, accidental.
Symptoms.—Headache, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, ending in coma. Stertorous breathing is noticed in some cases. ”

“ The motor was thought to be at fault, and the fan was worked so vigorously that the gas forced its way out through the packing of the flange connections and produced symptoms of poisoning in the persons employed.
More dangerous than suction gas plants, in which normally no escape takes place, are installations depending on gas under pressure. Such an installation was used for heating gas irons in a Berlin laundry. The arrangements were considered excellent. The gas jets were in stoves from which the fumes were exhausted. The gas was made from charcoal and contained 13 per cent. of hydrogen. ”

“ The morbid appearances left on the body after poisoning with carbonic acid gas have been chiefly observed in persons killed by charcoal vapour. According to Portal the vessels of the brain are congested, and the ventricles contain serum; the lungs are distended, as if emphysematous; the heart and great veins are gorged with black fluid blood; the eyes are generally glistening and prominent, the face red, and the tongue protruded and black. ”

“ Sulphuretted hydrogen and other sulphur compounds are present in small quantities, averaging 12 grains of sulphur per 100 cubic feet of London gas.
The inhalation of coal-gas, even in small quantities, is liable to produce headache, and may lead to chronic poisoning if allowed to continue. Where the escape of gas is more extensive, as when a tap is left turned on accidentally during the night, two dangers may arise. If a light is struck in the room an explosion occurs; or persons may be poisoned in their sleep by inhalation of the gas. ”

“ Nevertheless, he admits with Layet that the men employed in the condensing and purifying processes are constantly in an atmosphere contaminated by gas, and that the cleaning and regeneration of the purifying mass is associated with inflammation of the eyes, violent catarrh, and inflammation of the respiratory passages, since, on contact of the purifying mass with the air, hydrocyanic acid gas, sulphocyanic acid gas, and fumes containing carbolic, butyric, and valerianic acids are generated. ”

“ In the first place, if, instead of the nitrogen contained in atmospheric air, carbonic acid gas be mixed with oxygen in the same proportion, animals cannot breathe this atmosphere for two minutes without being seized with symptoms of poisoning. [2050] Even a much less proportion has the same effect. Five per cent. in the air will affect small birds in two minutes, and kill them in half an hour. [2051] Persons have become apoplectic in an atmosphere of carbonic acid gas, which to those who entered it appeared at first quite respirable. ”

“ Microscopic sections exhibit a diphtheritic appearance of the mucous membrane, and inflammation of the lungs. The effects upon the central nervous system (irritation of the medulla and spinal cord) which are peculiar to ammonia compounds need not be considered, as the corrosion of the respiratory passage is sufficient alone to cause death. When the action of the gas is less intense, the patient rallies from the first stage, but often severe symptoms come on later affecting the lungs. ”

“ The most common cause of death due to accidental poisoning results from exposure to carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by products such as grills, gas stoves, water heaters, and automobiles. Every year, more than 500 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning, usually during winter months. Knowledge is the key to preventing this kind of poisoning. Placing a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of a home, and especially near bedrooms, is a good way to monitor air quality and remain alert to potentially high levels of carbon monoxide. ”

“ The sickness frequency in sick clubs is about 50 per cent., and even in well-managed chemical works Leymann has shown it to be from 65 to 80 per cent. The recently published elaborate statistics of sickness and mortality of the Leipzig local sickness clubs7 contain the following figures for gas workers: Among 3028 gas workers there were on an average yearly 2046 cases of sickness, twenty deaths, and four cases of poisoning. The total morbidity, therefore, was 67·57 per cent., mortality 0·66 per cent., and the morbidity from poisoning 0·13 per cent. ”

“ Effects on Health.—Industrial ammonia poisoning is rare. It occurs most frequently in gas works and occasionally in its use, especially the manufacture of ammonium salts. Those engaged in subliming ammonium carbonate incur special risk, but often it is not the ammonia vapour so much as the escaping evil-smelling gases containing carbon bisulphide and cyanogen compounds which are the source of trouble. ”

“ It appears to form one of the gases disengaged from the soil of necessaries, as will be noticed presently, and excites inflammation in the eyes of workmen who are incautiously exposed to it. [2024]
Of Poisoning with Hydrochloric Acid Gas.—I have not met with any account of the effects of hydrochloric acid gas on man. But no doubt can be entertained that it will likewise act as a violent and pure irritant.
It is exceedingly hurtful to vegetable life. In the course of some experiments performed in 1827 by Dr. ”

“ Later severe symptoms supervene—often rather suddenly—difficulty of breathing, fits of suffocation, cyanosis, and copious frothy blood-stained expectoration with symptoms of inflammation of the bronchial tubes and lungs. These attacks may last a longer or shorter time, and in severe cases can lead to death; slight cases end in recovery, without any sequelæ.
In poisoning by nitrous acid fumes, oxygen inhalation, if applied in time, undoubtedly holds out hope of success, and should always be tried. Chloroform has been repeatedly recommended as a remedy. ”

“ Such insidious industrial poisoning arises through the continual absorption into the lungs or stomach of small quantities of poisonous dust, gases, and vapours, during [161] constant or frequent work in an atmosphere containing such gases; poisonous liquids also, by soiling hands and food, or by penetrating the skin, can produce slow industrial poisoning. ”

“ Speaking, singing, or whistling during work favours inhalation of the fumes and is, therefore, to be avoided. Indulgence in spirits, especially during working hours, increases the danger of poisoning. Habitual drinkers should not be allowed to work at all with quick-drying paints and oils.
At the first signs of discomfort work should be stopped. An immediate stay in the open air will then usually dispel the poisonous symptoms.
If, notwithstanding this, severe symptoms develop, oxygen inhalation should be commenced forthwith and medical aid called in. ”