Organotin poisoning cases
Organotin poisoning cases are commonly found in PVC plastic product enterprises, generally workers are exposed to organotin plastic stabilizers (trimethyltin chloride is more common), and the poisoning can cause hypokalemia and cerebral edema, and the onset is more dangerous. I have extracted the introduction of organotin and related cases from the book “Occupational Poisoning Cases” for your study.
(1)Brief introduction of organotin
Physicochemical properties: Organotin compounds are mostly solid or oily liquid with a rotten green grass odor. Volatile at room temperature. Insoluble or insoluble in water, easily soluble in organic solvents. Some of these compounds can be decomposed by bleaching powder or potassium permanganate to form inorganic tin.
Organotin compounds are mainly used as stabilizers for PVC plastics, but also as agricultural fungicides, anti-fungicides for paints, underwater anti-fouling agents, rodent repellents, etc. Tetrahydroxystannane is an intermediate for the preparation of other organotin compounds. In the application of organotin antifouling paint near the ship and other waters can be contaminated. It can be caused by improper protection, equipment malfunction or illegal operation, resulting in a large amount of exposure to organotin.
Exposure: Organotin is generally absorbed through the respiratory tract, but the degree of absorption through the skin and gastrointestinal tract varies depending on the type of organotin. For example, light chain alkyl tin is absorbed quickly through the gastrointestinal tract, and tricyclo-hexyl tinhydroxide is rarely absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Tricyclo-hexyl tin is generally absorbed through the skin, but triphenyltin chloride and triphenyltin acetate are not easily absorbed through non-destructive skin.
Occupational poisoning characteristics: Acute trimethyltin poisoning starts with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, near memory loss, insomnia or drowsiness. The disease can still progress after stopping exposure, and some of the delayed symptoms can appear gradually or suddenly after a few days, especially severe mental symptoms, such as rage, aggressive behavior, ataxia, and epileptic-like seizures. There may be abnormal sensation, numbness or pain in the lower extremities. Some cases may be associated with tinnitus and hearing loss.
Acute triethylstannous and tetraethylstannous poisoning has persistent vague head pain in the early stage, intensifying in paroxysms, and persistently intensifying in the later stage, waking up from sleep with pain, and analgesics are often ineffective, often accompanied by nausea and frequent vomiting; dizziness appears early, and vertigo may be present in the later stage; the whole body is extremely tired and weak, and some lower limbs are weak more obviously; the face, palms, feet and axillae are sweaty, and in severe cases, the whole body is sweaty; some cases have lumbar soreness, which is worse when urinating Some cases have lumbar pain, worse when urinating, difficulty in urination; early insomnia, later drowsiness; polyphonic, easily agitated, crying for no reason, disorientation, hallucinations, abnormal behavior; other cases also have blurred vision, photophobia, diplopia, numbness of the limbs, significant wasting, etc.
Target organs of health damage: central nervous system, liver, kidneys.
Emergency treatment: immediately remove from the accident scene to fresh air. In case of skin contamination, rinse immediately and thoroughly with water or soapy water. In case of eye contamination, flush with water. Wash stomach with water immediately after oral ingestion. Seek immediate medical attention.
