PMID: 9166135Apr 1, 1997Paper

Episode of toxic gas exposure in sewer workers

Occupational and Environmental Medicine
M M WattA Seaton

Abstract

Sewer workers are used to unpleasant smells, but may be required to investigate unusual ones. Twenty six men were involved in investigation of episodes of such a smell after neighbourhood complaints over several weeks. Workers exposed to the smell were investigated by clinical follow up, lung function tests, and measurement of pituitary function. 14 of the 26 developed subacute symptoms including sore throat, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, thirst, sweating, irritability, and loss of libido. Severity of symptoms seemed to be dose related. Minor symptoms resolved over several weeks but those more seriously affected have shown deteriorating respiratory symptoms and lung function and remain unable to work a year after the incident. In one, evidence of mild cranial diabetes insipidus was found. Analysis of gas from the sewer showed the presence of a mixture of thiols and sulphides, known to be highly odorous and not normally found in sewers. The source remains unknown. Several of these men seem to have developed delayed airways disease and disturbances of hypothalamic function. Such an outcome has not to our knowledge been described before. Despite the presence of the smell, standard safety gas detection equipment used to e...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jun 14, 2005·Annales Françaises D'anesthèsie Et De Rèanimation·E QuerellouJ-P Perfus
Jul 18, 2003·Chemosphere·Olga Bridges
Aug 10, 2000·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·R A LyonsH Rees
Dec 31, 2009·Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Rajnarayan R Tiwari
Jun 9, 2005·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Lidwien A M SmitDick Heederik
Mar 7, 2018·Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology·Åse Dalseth AustigardKari K Heldal
Jul 11, 2003·The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health·A Scriven, S Smith-Ferrier
Jan 23, 1999·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·T H Milby, R C Baselt
Jan 15, 2015·The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·M JahangiriJ Rasooli

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