Industrial chemicals

chemicals toxicity, symptoms, and signs

Hydrocarbons

gasoline, toluene, xylene, hexanes, n-hexane, heptanes CNS depression, headache, nausea, vomiting, irritation of skin and eyes

Chlorinated hydrocarbons

chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, and others CNS depression, sensitization of heart muscle; many cause liver and kidney injuries; some cause liver tumours in animals

Alcohols

methanol headache; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; abdominal pain; restlessness; cold, clammy limbs; shortness of breath; CNS depression; blurred vision; blindness

ethanol irritation of stomach, CNS depression, fetal alcohol syndrome; brain damage, amnesia, sleep disturbances, heart damage, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis

Aldehydes

formaldehyde irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; headache; bronchitis; lung edema; asthma and allergic contact dermatitis; carcinogenic in animals

Ketones

various irritation of eyes, nose, and throat

Esters

various irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; pulmonary edema

Aromatic amines and nitro compounds

various CNS depression, methemoglobinemia; some are carcinogenic

Anhydrides and isocyanates

various irritation of skin, eyes, nose, and throat; asthma; allergic contact dermatitis

Miscellaneous organic compounds

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) chloracne, liver injury; carcinogenic and teratogenic in animals

Metals

lead compounds colic; abnormal red blood cells; injuries to kidney, peripheral nerves (weakness and palsy), and brain (irritability, restlessness, excitement, confusion, delirium, vomiting, visual disturbance); lead acetate is carcinogenic in rats

arsenic compounds edema, heart damage, low blood pressure, vomiting of blood, bloody stool, skin lesions, injuries of nervous systems, liver and kidney damage, cancers of skin and lung

Corrosives (acids and alkalies)

various corrosion of skin, mouth, throat, stomach, and intestine on contact; irritation of eyes, nose, and throat if inhaled

Miscellaneous inorganic compounds

hydrogen cyanide, potassium cyanide, sodium cyanide drowsiness, dizziness, headache, rapid breathing, palpitations, weakness, muscle twitches, cyanosis, coma, convulsion

hydrogen sulfide, chlorine irritating to skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lung; chest pain; lung edema; shortness of breath; pneumonia; headache; dizziness; nausea; vomiting

sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride irritations of mouth, stomach, and intestine; CNS depression; tooth mottling; increased bone density

bleaches (sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite) irritation or corrosion of esophagus, stomach, and intestine; irritation of eyes and skin; acidic condition in the body; rapid breathing; aspiration-induced lung inflammation

silica dust, asbestos fibres lung fibrosis; shortness of breath; cough; chest pain; cancers of the lung, linings of the lung and abdomen, and intestine (asbestos)

Air pollutants

sulfur dioxide irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and lung; nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath; alterations in sense of smell and taste; unconsciousness

nitrogen oxides, ozone irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and lung (dry throat with ozone); shortness of breath; bluish pale appearance; rapid breathing and pulse; pneumonia; nitrogen oxides also cause the destruction of red blood cells and cause liver and kidney damage

carbon monoxide weakness, confusion, headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, jaw stiffness, shortness of breath, seizures, coma, lung edema, pneumonia