Chemical burn
| Chemical burn | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Acid burn |
trouble breathing, coughing blood and/or tissue necrosis | |
| Complications | Depends on the severity |
| Causes | most common include: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, lime, silver nitrate, and greater than 5% hydrogen peroxide solutions. |
| Treatment | Depends on the chemicals being exposed |
A chemical burn occurs when living tissue is exposed to a
Chemical burns may:
- need no source of heat
- occur immediately on contact
- not be immediately evident or noticeable
- be extremely painful
- diffuse into tissue and damage cellular structures under skin without immediately apparent damage to skin surface
Presentation
The exact symptoms of a chemical burn depend on the chemical involved. Symptoms include itching,
Prevention
In Belgium, the Conseil Supérieur de la Santé gives a scientific advisory report on public health policy. The Superior Health Council of Belgium provides an overview of products that are authorized in Belgium for consumer use and that contain caustic substances, as well as of the risks linked to exposure to these products. This report aims at suggesting protection measures for the consumers, and formulates recommendations that apply to the different stages of the chain, which begins with the formulation of the product, followed by its regulation, marketing, application, post-application and ends with its monitoring.[1]
Gallery
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Chemical burns to the arm, caused by a blister agent e.g. mustard gas -
Soldier with severe mustard gas burns to back and arms, circa 1918. These burns are severe enough to be life-threatening. -
Soldier with mustard gas burns, circa 1918 -
Severe skin burns with blisters are very rare, but possible. -
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) burns, which were not evident until a day after exposure -
A hand that has received minor chemical burns from a commercial grade dishwasher. said dishwasher uses caustic chemicals such as high concentration chlorine.
See also
- Acid throwing
References
- ^ "Human exposure to caustic and/or corrosive substances (acids and bases)" (PDF). AVIS DU CONSEIL SUPERIEUR DE LA SANTE N° 9108. Conseil Supérieur de la Santé. November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
