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What arsine is
- Arsine
is a colorless, nonirritating toxic gas with a mild garlic odor.
The odor can be detected only at levels greater than those necessary
to cause poisoning.
- Arsine
is formed when arsenic comes in contact with an acid.
- Arsine
is similar to a gas called stibine, which is formed when the metal
antimony comes in contact with an acid. Stibine has health effects
similar to those of arsine, but it is not as widely available, and
it has a much more noticeable odor (like rotten eggs).
Where arsine is found and how it is used
- Although
arsine was investigated as a warfare agent during WWII, it was never
used on the battlefield.
- Arsine
is most commonly used in the semiconductor and metals refining industries.
How you could be exposed to arsine
- Most
common reports of exposure to arsine have been after accidental formation
of arsine in the workplace.
- Inhalation
(breathing in the gas) is the most likely route of exposure after
arsine is released into the air.
- Absorption
into the body through the eyes and the skin has not been known to
occur.
- Arsine
vapor is heavier than air, so it would be more likely to settle in
low-lying areas.
How
arsine works
- The
extent of poisoning caused by arsine depends on the amount of arsine
to which a person has been exposed and on the length of time of the
exposure.
- Depending
on the intensity of exposure to arsine, symptoms may occur 2 to 24
hours after exposure. However, exposure to high doses of arsine can
be immediately fatal.
- After
arsine enters the bloodstream, it damages the red blood cells and
leads to symptoms as a direct result of this damage.
Signs and symptoms of arsine exposure
At lower doses, people may not know they have been exposed to arsine,
because it has no odor. At higher doses, a mild garlic odor has been
reported. Stibine, on the other hand, has a strong odor, so people will
probably be aware that they may have been exposed to something. People
exposed to a low or moderate dose of arsine by inhalation may experience
some or all of the following symptoms within 2 to 24 hours of exposure:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
- Red or dark urine
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Muscle cramps
Exposure to a large dose of arsine by any route may result in these
additional health effects:
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions
- Paralysis
- Respiratory failure, possibly leading to death
- Showing these signs
and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed
to arsine.
Long-term health effects of arsine exposure
Severely
exposed people are not likely to survive. If people survive the initial
exposure, long-term effects may include kidney damage, numbness
and pain in the extremities, and neuropsychological symptoms such as
memory loss, confusion, and irritability.
How you can protect yourself, and what to do if you are exposed to arsine
- Because
no antidote exists for arsine exposure, the best thing to do is avoid
it. First, get fresh air by leaving the area where the arsine was
released. Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce
the possibility of death from exposure to arsine.
- If
the arsine release was outside, move away from the area where
the arsine was released.
- If
the arsine release was indoors, get out of the building.
- If
you are near a release of arsine, emergency coordinators may tell
you to either evacuate the area or to “shelter in place” inside
a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical. For more information
on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see “Facts About
Evacuation” at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/evacuationfacts.asp.
For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency,
see “Facts About Sheltering in Place” at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/Shelteringfacts.asp.
- If you think you may have been exposed to arsine, you should remove
your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and
get medical care as quickly as possible.
- Removing
your clothing:
- Quickly
take off clothing that may have arsine on it. Any clothing that
has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body
instead of pulled over the head.
- If
you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid
touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing
as quickly as possible.
- Washing
yourself:
- As
quickly as possible, wash any arsine from your skin with large
amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help
protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
- If
your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes
with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts,
remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not
put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable
contacts). If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water.
You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.
- Disposing of your clothes:
- After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside
a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing.
If you can't avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure
where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves, turn the
bag inside out and use it to pick up the clothing, or put the clothing
in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects.
Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be
placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic
bag, too.
- Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag.
Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and
other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.
- When the local or state health department or emergency personnel
arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department
or emergency personnel will arrange for further disposal. Do not
handle the plastic bags yourself.
- For
more information about cleaning your body and disposing of your clothes
after a chemical release, see “Chemical Agents: Facts About
Personal Cleaning and Disposal of Contaminated Clothing” at
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/personalcleaningfacts.asp.
- Seek medical
attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
How
arsine exposure is treated
Treatment consists of providing supportive medical care in a hospital
setting. Blood transfusions and intravenous fluids (that is, fluids
injected directly into a vein) may be needed. Some people may require
hemodialysis (artificial kidneys) for kidney failure. No antidotes
are available for arsine.
How
you can get more information about arsine and stibine
You can
contact one of the following:
- Regional
poison control center (1-800-222-1222)
- Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
- E-mail
inquiries: cdcresponse@ashastd.org
- Mail
inquiries:
Public Inquiry c/o BPRP
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Planning
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mailstop C-18
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
- Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1-888-422-8737)
- E-mail
inquiries: atsdric@cdc.gov
- Mail
inquiries:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-29
Atlanta, GA 30333
This
fact sheet is based on CDC’s best current information. It may be
updated as new information becomes available.
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