eMedicine Specialties > Emergency Medicine > Toxicology

Toxicity, Phosgene: Multimedia

Author: Daniel Noltkamper, MD, FACEP, EMS Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Hospital of Camp Lejeune
Coauthor(s): Stephen W Burgher, MD, FACEP, Assistant Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 10, 2008

Multimedia

British machine-gunners in anti-phosgene masks, S...Media file 1: British machine-gunners in anti-phosgene masks, Somme, 1915. (Photograph courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London)
British machine-gunners in anti-phosgene masks, S...

British machine-gunners in anti-phosgene masks, Somme, 1915. (Photograph courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London)

Phosgene structure.Media file 2: Phosgene structure.
Phosgene structure.

Phosgene structure.

The chest radiograph of a 42-year-old woman chemi...Media file 3: The chest radiograph of a 42-year-old woman chemical worker 2 hours postexposure to phosgene. Dyspnea progressed rapidly over the second hour; PO2 was 40 mm Hg breathing room air. This radiograph shows bilateral perihilar, fluffy, and diffuse interstitial infiltrates. The patient died 6 hours postexposure. (Used with permission from Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine, 1997, p 258)
The chest radiograph of a 42-year-old woman chemi...

The chest radiograph of a 42-year-old woman chemical worker 2 hours postexposure to phosgene. Dyspnea progressed rapidly over the second hour; PO2 was 40 mm Hg breathing room air. This radiograph shows bilateral perihilar, fluffy, and diffuse interstitial infiltrates. The patient died 6 hours postexposure. (Used with permission from Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine, 1997, p 258)

A lung section of the patient whose chest radiogr...Media file 4: A lung section of the patient whose chest radiograph is presented above. This patient died 6 hours following exposure to phosgene; the biopsy section was taken during postmortem examination. The section shows nonhemorrhagic pulmonary edema with few scattered inflammatory cells. Hematoxylin and eosin stain; original magnification X 100. (Used with permission from Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine, 1997, p 258)
A lung section of the patient whose chest radiogr...

A lung section of the patient whose chest radiograph is presented above. This patient died 6 hours following exposure to phosgene; the biopsy section was taken during postmortem examination. The section shows nonhemorrhagic pulmonary edema with few scattered inflammatory cells. Hematoxylin and eosin stain; original magnification X 100. (Used with permission from Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine, 1997, p 258)

An anteroposterior (AP) portable chest radiograph...Media file 5: An anteroposterior (AP) portable chest radiograph of a male patient, who developed phosgene-induced adult respiratory distress syndrome. Notice the bilateral infiltrates and ground-glass appearance. (Image courtesy of Fred P. Harchelroad, MD, and Ferdinando L. Mirarchi, DO)
An anteroposterior (AP) portable chest radiograph...

An anteroposterior (AP) portable chest radiograph of a male patient, who developed phosgene-induced adult respiratory distress syndrome. Notice the bilateral infiltrates and ground-glass appearance. (Image courtesy of Fred P. Harchelroad, MD, and Ferdinando L. Mirarchi, DO)

Chemical Terrorism Agents and Syndromes. Signs an...Media file 6: Chemical Terrorism Agents and Syndromes. Signs and symptoms. Chart courtesy of North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE), copyright University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, www.unc.edu/depts/spice/chemical.html.
Chemical Terrorism Agents and Syndromes. Signs an...

Chemical Terrorism Agents and Syndromes. Signs and symptoms. Chart courtesy of North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE), copyright University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, www.unc.edu/depts/spice/chemical.html.

More on Toxicity, Phosgene

Overview: Toxicity, Phosgene
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Toxicity, Phosgene
Treatment & Medication: Toxicity, Phosgene
Follow-up: Toxicity, Phosgene
Multimedia: Toxicity, Phosgene
References

References

  1. Balmes J. Phosgene. In: Olson KR, ed. Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 2nd ed. Appleton & Lange; 1994:256.

  2. Bardana EJ. 8. Occupational asthma and allergies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Feb 2003;111(2 Suppl):S530-9. [Medline].

  3. Borak J, Diller WF. Phosgene exposure: mechanisms of injury and treatment strategies. J Occup Environ Med. Feb 2001;43(2):110-9. [Medline].

  4. British War Office. Medical Manual of Chemical Warfare. London: 1941:31-38.

  5. Dombi A, Fekete ZA, Kiricsi I. In Situ Photocatalytic Reactor with FT-IR Analysis for Heterogeneous Catalytic Studies. Applied Catalysis. 2000;193:L5-L8.

  6. Ellenhorn MJ. Chemical warfare. In: Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology. 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1997:1301-2.

  7. Kennedy TP, Michael JR, Hoidal JR, et al. Dibutyryl cAMP, aminophylline, and beta-adrenergic agonists protect against pulmonary edema caused by phosgene. J Appl Physiol. Dec 1989;67(6):2542-52. [Medline].

  8. Nelson LS. Simple asphyxiants and pulmonary irritants. In: Goldfrank L, ed. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1998:1530.

  9. Ng TP, Tsin TW, O'Kelly FJ. An outbreak of illness after occupational exposure to ozone and acid chlorides. Br J Ind Med. Oct 1985;42(10):686-90. [Medline].

  10. Noort D, Hulst AG, Fidder A, et al. In vitro adduct formation of phosgene with albumin and hemoglobin in human blood. Chem Res Toxicol. Aug 2000;13(8):719-26. [Medline].

  11. Parkhouse DA, Brown RF, Jugg BJ, Harban FM, Platt J, Kenward CE. Protective ventilation strategies in the management of phosgene-induced acute lung injury. Mil Med. Mar 2007;172(3):295-300. [Medline].

  12. Parrish JS, Bradshaw DA. Toxic inhalational injury: gas, vapor and vesicant exposure. Respir Care Clin N Am. Mar 2004;10(1):43-58. [Medline].

  13. Phosgene Medical Experts Group. Phosgene: Information on Options for First Aid and Medical Treatment. American Chemistry Council: Phosgene Panel. Available at http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_acc/bin.asp?CID=1175&DID=4396&DOC=FILE.PDF. Accessed 3/3/2008.

  14. Schelble DT. Phosgene and phosphine. In: Haddad LM, Shannon MW, Winchester J, eds. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1998:960-3.

  15. Sciuto AM. Assessment of early acute lung injury in rodents exposed to phosgene. Arch Toxicol. Apr 1998;72(5):283-8. [Medline].

  16. Sciuto AM, Stotts RR. Posttreatment with eicosatetraynoic acid decreases lung edema in guinea pigs exposed to phosgene: the role of leukotrienes. Exp Lung Res. May-Jun 1998;24(3):273-92. [Medline].

  17. Sciuto AM, Stotts RR, Hurt HH. Efficacy of ibuprofen and pentoxifylline in the treatment of phosgene- induced acute lung injury. J Appl Toxicol. Sep-Oct 1996;16(5):381-4. [Medline].

  18. Sciuto AM, Strickland PT, Kennedy TP, et al. Intratracheal administration of DBcAMP attenuates edema formation in phosgene-induced acute lung injury. J Appl Physiol. Jan 1996;80(1):149-57. [Medline].

  19. Sciuto AM, Strickland PT, Kennedy TP, Gurtner GH. Postexposure treatment with aminophylline protects against phosgene- induced acute lung injury. Exp Lung Res. Jul-Aug 1997;23(4):317-32. [Medline].

  20. Sciuto AM, Strickland PT, Kennedy TP, Gurtner GH. Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment after phosgene exposure in rabbits. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. Mar 1995;151(3 Pt 1):768-72. [Medline].

  21. Selden A, Sundell L. Chlorinated solvents, welding and pulmonary edema. Chest. Jan 1991;99(1):263. [Medline].

  22. Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR. Toxic inhalation injury. In: Textbook of Military Medicine: Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Walter Reed Army Medical Center; 1997:257-60.

  23. Sjogren B, Plato N, Alexandersson R, et al. Pulmonary reactions caused by welding-induced decomposed trichloroethylene. Chest. Jan 1991;99(1):237-8. [Medline].

  24. Snyder RW, Mishel HS, Christensen GC 3d. Pulmonary toxicity following exposure to methylene chloride and its combustion product, phosgene. Chest. Mar 1992;101(3):860-1. [Medline].

  25. Warden CR. Respiratory agents: irritant gases, riot control agents, incapacitants, and caustics. Crit Care Clin. Oct 2005;21(4):719-37, vi. [Medline].

  26. Weiss SJ, Lesser SH. Hazards associated with metalworking by artists. South Med J. Jul 1997;90(7):665-71. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

phosgene toxicity, phosgene exposure, phosgene poisoning, COCl2, carbonic dichloride, carbon oxychloride, carbonyl dichloride, chloroformyl chloride, d-stoff, green cross, CG, pulmonary irritant

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Daniel Noltkamper, MD, FACEP, EMS Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Hospital of Camp Lejeune
Daniel Noltkamper, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Stephen W Burgher, MD, FACEP, Assistant Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center
Stephen W Burgher, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Christian Medical & Dental Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Miguel C Fernández, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FACCT, Associate Clinical Professor; Medical and Managing Director, South Texas Poison Center, Department of Surgery/Emergency Medicine and Toxicology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Miguel C Fernández, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FACCT is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Clinical Toxicologists, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD, Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart & St. Joseph's Hospitals
John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Fred Harchelroad, MD, FACMT, FAAEM, FACEP, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Director of Medical Toxicology - Allegheny General Hospital, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

John D Halamka, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD, Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
HONcode

We subscribe to the
HONcode principles of the
Health On the Net Foundation

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright© 1994- by Medscape.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.