This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (6)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nikkanen, H. E.
Right arrow Articles by Burns, M. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nikkanen, H. E.
Right arrow Articles by Burns, M. M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Therapeutics & Toxicology
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?
PEDIATRICS Vol. 113 No. 4 April 2004, pp. 927-929

EXPERIENCE AND REASON

Severe Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure in a Working Adolescent

Heikki E. Nikkanen, MD*,{ddagger} and Michele M. Burns, MD*

* Division of Emergency Medicine-Medical Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
{ddagger} Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

We describe an occupational exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas in a 16-year-old boy. While cleaning the reoxygenation tank of a fish hatchery, he and an adult supervisor lost consciousness. The adult died, and the adolescent regained consciousness briefly when emergency medical services personnel administered oxygen. At a local emergency department, he was intubated for respiratory distress. He was transferred to a tertiary care facility for additional management and, over the next 2 weeks, had a recovery to normal function.

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, malodorous gas that results from the decay of organic material. It is a byproduct of industry and agriculture. The mechanism of its toxicity is related primarily to inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, which causes a decrease in available cellular energy. Although there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that the early use of hyperbaric oxygen is beneficial, supportive care remains the mainstay of therapy. This report highlights the sources of exposure, management, and need for more stringent application of safety regulations in industries in which adolescents are employed.

Key Words: adolescent • occupational • hydrogen sulfide • inhalation exposure • toxicity • poisoning

Abbreviations: H2S, hydrogen sulfide

Received for publication Mar 13, 2003; Accepted Dec 11, 2003.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?