Chronic ammonia inhalation and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis: a case report and review of the literature

Archives of Environmental Health
Nachman BrautbarElihu D Richter

Abstract

Ammonia is an irritant gas with a characteristic pungent odor, which is widely used in industry. Inasmuch as ammonia is highly soluble in water and, upon inhalation, is deposited in the upper airways, occupational exposures to ammonia have commonly been associated with sinusitis, upper airway irritation, and eye irritation. Acute exposures to high levels of ammonia have also been associated with diseases of the lower airways and interstitial lung. In this study, the authors report on a patient with long-term, repetitive occupational exposure to ammonia at levels at or above odor recognition who developed interstitial lung disease. The scientific literature on inhaled ammonia exposure is reviewed and discussed. The authors conclude that the taking of a careful occupational exposure history for patients presenting with shortness of breath associated with ammonia exposure may assist with an early diagnosis, thus allowing for treatment early in the disease process and prevention of further exposure.

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Citations

Jan 30, 2016·Inhalation Toxicology·Michael W PerkinsAlfred M Sciuto
Jan 22, 2008·Experimental Lung Research·Chandrashekhar CharavaryamathBaljit Singh
Jun 10, 2008·Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries·Adriano R Tonelli, Albert Pham
Nov 18, 2005·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·E W WillemsJ G C van Amsterdam
Aug 4, 2015·Journal of Agromedicine·Veronica ArteagaFrank Mitloehner
Aug 4, 2015·Journal of Agromedicine·Diane MitchellMarc Schenker
May 3, 2008·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Jeffrey I Seeman, Richard A Carchman
May 3, 2014·Journal of Burn Care & Research : Official Publication of the American Burn Association·Shiara Ortiz-PujolsBruce A Cairns
Nov 26, 2019·Journal of Occupational Health·Zhizhen XuZhaohui Fu
Aug 8, 2006·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Sunfa ChengDavid H Lovett
Sep 3, 2009·Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine·Neil E FuehrerJaishree Jagirdar
Nov 8, 2018·Chemical Reviews·Hui LiHoward E Katz

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