Nitric acid is an oxidizing agent used in metal refining and cleaning, electroplating, and other industrial applications. Its accidental spillage generates oxides of nitrogen, including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which cause chemical pneumonitis when inhaled. The clinical presentation of a nitric acid inhalation injury depends on the duration and intensity of exposure. In mild cases, there may be no symptoms during the first few hours after exposure, or the typical symptoms of pulmonary edema can appear within 3-24 hours. However, in cases of prolonged exposure, progressive pulmonary edema develops instantaneously and patients may not survive for more than 24 hours. We report a case of a 44-year-old male who was presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome after nitric acid inhalation. He complained of cough and dyspnea of a sudden onset after inhaling nitric acid fumes at his workplace over a four-hour period. He required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to fulminant respiratory failure. He was managed successfully with mechanical ventilation using positive end expiratory pressure and systemic corticosteroids, and recovered fully without any deterioration in his pulmonary function.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Electroplating ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Nitric Acid* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; Oxides ; Pneumonia ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Respiratory Insufficiency

In this study, 35 rabbits were divided into 2 groups: group A included 15 rabbits, that were intoxicated with nitrogen oxide at dose 274.48 mg/m3 of the air; and group B included 20 rabbits that were intoxicated at dose 203.04 mg/m3. Results: all of rabbits in group A died from acute pulmonary edema; PaO2 strong decreased after intoxication, CtO2 decreased at 8 hours after intoxication, PaCO2 and t.CO2 in arterial blood increased. In group B, 55% of rabbits died after intoxication, and the changes of blood gas measurements were similar to those in group A. However, these measurements in survival rabbits were decreased after 24h and then increased at 48h after intoxication
Adenomatosis, Pulmonary ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Animals ; Edema

OBJECTIVETo study the present situations of lung cancer in Wuhan and to explore the relationship between the potential years of life lost of lung cancer and air pollution, especially vehicle emissions.

METHODSData gathered between 1986 and 1995 in Wuhan city, including air pollution and tobacco production and data on lung cancer between 1991 and 2000 were collected extensively. Simple Correlation and Grey Relational Analysis were used to analyze the relationship of them.

RESULTSThere was a ascending tendency in variance of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The degree of grey incidence (DGI) between the concentration of air pollutants and the male's or female's potential years of life lost of lung cancer (PYLL) were calculated respectively. In males, the values of DGI were 0.6702, 0.7071, 0.6199 on sulfur dioxide (SO2), NOx, total suspensions (TSP) respectively. In females,the values of DGI were 0.6188, 0.8555, 0.5842 according to the same order as listed above. Significant positive correlation was found between the concentration of NOx and with lung cancer in both males and females by spearman correlation test (rmale = 0.63523, P = 0.0484; rfemale = 0.76396, P = 0.0101).

CONCLUSIONWith the fast growing speed of the quantity of vehicles, pollution of vehicle emission-caused air pollution posed an important risk factor for lung cancer, despite the fact that tobacco smoking still played the leading role.

Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; Male ; Nitrogen Oxides ; analysis ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

The impurities potentially contained in nitrous oxide cylinders include NO, NO2, CO and NH3. The consequences of inahaling NO and NO2 are reflex breathing inhibition with laryngospasm and the rapid onset of intense cyanosis due to altered pulmonary gas exchange and methaemoglobinemia. Pulmonary edema may occur in the acute stage. Chronic chemical pneumonitis may follow with resultant pulmonary fibrosis and the respiratory and metabolic acidosis may also occur. Hypotension may be marked and results from the effects of nitrate and nitrite ions on vascular smooth muscle. Since certain clinical features provide clues that allow practicing anesthetists to recognize the toxicities of higher nitrogen oxides, six of our cases will be described in detail, whereas the remaining cases will be only commented. We examined a N2O cylinder at the National Metrology Institute, its NOX concentration was 2359 ppm. Another two cylinders were also abnormal with NOX concentrations of 547 ppm and 180 ppm. We recommend that medical gases be subjected to quality control on a national basis.
Acidosis ; Cyanosis ; Gases ; Hypotension ; Ions ; Laryngismus ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; Quality Control ; Reflex ; Respiration

Humans ; Nitrogen Oxides ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Edema ; chemically induced

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Nitrogen Oxides ; poisoning ; Occupational Exposure

In order to provide bases for the control of air pollutants in Korea, the author figured out the trend on the annual increase of air pollutants emitted in the process of combustions, and estimated the amounts of air pollutants of the future years from 1975 to 1981. 1) In 1973 the consumption rate of coal was 1.2 times of that of fuel oil. The consumption rate of them would be same in 1975 and 1977. However, the rate of fuel oil would exceed that of coal in 1979. In contrast with the rate in 1979. The one of coal would be increased faster and faster to show reverse trend of consumption in 1981. 2) The estimated amounts of air pollutants emissions in the years of 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1981 were 1,561,800, 1,921,700, 2,253,300, 20769,000, and 3,145,700 tons respectively. These indicated that the amount of air pollutants in 1981 would be about 2 times of that in 1973. 3) The amounts of sulfur oxides emissions in 1981 would be 2.3 times of that in 1973, nitrogen oxides 2.2 times, carbon monoxide 1.7 times, particulate 2.0 times and hydrocarbon 2.0 times. 4) The estimated amounts of air pollutants emissions per unit area(km) in the years of 1965, 1971, 1975 and 1980 were 5.2, 14.5, 19.5 and 28.7 tons respectively. These indicated that the amount of air pollutants emissions per unit area would increase 5.5 times in 1980 comparing the one in 1965.
Air Pollutants ; Carbon Monoxide ; Coal ; Fuel Oils ; Korea* ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Sulfur Oxides

In order to provide some basic data for the control of air water pollution in Korea, the suthors have estimated the amount of air and water pollutant emitted from industries which are employed over 20 employes. This study have done from July 1, 1972 to the end March 1973. The results are as follows: 1. Total number of establishments tith over 20 employees is 5,197 in Korea and the largest gorup establishments was the manufacturing of texttiles with 1,363 establishments(26.2%). 2. By order of number of employees it was observed that there 2,800 industries with 20-59(53.9%) employees, 1,101 with 50-99(21.2%), 571 with 100-199(11.0%), 501 with 200-499(9.6%) and 225with over 500(4.3%) respectively. 3. By order of regional distribution, it was observed that there were 2,257 industries in Seoul (43.3%) and 736 industries in Pusan(14.2%). 4. Industrial coal consumption was 596,154 M/T in 1972, but it'11 be 315,000 M/T in 1980, Fuel consumption was 4,972,000 K1 in 1972, and estimated volume will be 19,3700,000 K1 in 1980. 5. Ttotal amounts of air polutants emitted from industris by fuel combustion were sulfur oxides 79,459 tons, carbon monoxide 33,908 tons, particulate 31,304 tons and hydrocarbon 30,280 tons in 1972 but in 1990 there will be sulfur oxides 1,010,474 tons, nitrogen oxides 204,575 tons, carbon monoxide 68,014 tons, particulate 64,820 tons and hydrocarbon 67,622 tons, respectively. 6. Annual emitted air pollutants through the working processes were sulfur oxides 91,250 tons and nitrogen oxides 32,485 tons in 1972, but sulfur oxieds 118,625 tons and nitrogen oxides 42,555 tons will be present in 1980, respectively. 7. Annual emitted air pollutants by national unit area amounted to 0.77 tons/km2/year in 1965 and 14.7 ton/km2/year in 1980. 8. Total industrial wastes from all industries in Korea were estimated at 810,360 tons/day in 1972; manufacturing of chemicals and plastic products showed the highest amount of wastes at 470,000 tons/day. 9. The amounts of water pollutants due to industrial wastes were the .B.O.D., 471.5 tons/day,suspended solid 331.5 tons/day, CN, 2.3 tons/day, and Cr. 3. 4 tons/day in 1972, but it might be evident of a B.O.D of 3.388 tons/day, suspended solid 2,544 tons/day, CN 20.1 tons/day, and 26.5 tons/day in 1990. 10. Total population equivalent of B.O.D. was 943,000 in 1972, and the estimated value in 1990 will be6, 780, 000.
Air Pollutants ; Carbon Monoxide ; Coal ; Industrial Waste ; Korea* ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Plastics ; Seoul ; Sulfur ; Sulfur Oxides ; Water Pollutants* ; Water Pollution

Heart ; drug effects ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Nitrogen Oxides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for rapid detecting nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide(NO2) in the workplace air with infrared spectrometer.

METHODSThe method of infrared spectrometer was developed to detect nitrogen oxide in laboratory, then applied to detect the concentration of nitrogen oxide in workplace air. The present method was compared with National Standard Methods.

RESULTSNO and NO2 in air were detected simultaneously with the infrared spectrometer, not interfering each other. In standard condition, the minimum detectable concentrations of NO and NO2 were 0.67 and 1.03 mg/m3, the inferior limits of concentrations were 0.67 and 1.03 mg/m3 respectively. When the concentrations of NO and NO2 were 0.67-133.93 mg/m3 and 1.03-102.68 mg/m3, the accuracy and precision of detection were higher. As compared with National Standard Methods, the ratio of the results of two methods was 86.96% and 112.56%.

CONCLUSIONThe method of infrared spectrometer is a rapid, simple and accurate method for detecting the concentrations of nitrogen oxide in the workplace air.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Nitrogen Oxides ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; methods ; Workplace