II. Background

  1. Vinyl Chloride is a Hydrocarbon used in the production of PVC pipes, coatings and plastics
  2. Colorless, sweat smelling compound
  3. Flammable, and may be explosive in some forms

III. Toxicity

  1. Human exposures are via inhalation, and occur at production sites and in transport as a liquid gas
  2. Maximal OSHA permissible exposure is 1 ppm
  3. Symptomatic levels at >8000 ppm for 5 minutes (CNS depression, Dizziness)
  4. Lethal exposure >120,000 ppm
  5. Metabolism: CYP2E1
  6. Renal excretion

IV. Findings: Acute

  1. Airway and Respiratory
    1. Mucous membrane irritation
    2. Dyspnea
    3. Pneumonitis
  2. Cardiovascular
    1. Dysrhythmias (Catecholamine sensitization)
      1. See Hydrocarbon Ingestion for mechanism
  3. Neurologic
    1. Headache
    2. Dizziness
    3. Seizures
    4. Altered Level of Consciousness with CNS Depression

V. Complications: Chronic

  1. Malignancy
    1. Hepatic Angiosarcoma
    2. Hepatocellular Carcinoma
    3. Brain Cancer
    4. Lung Cancer
    5. Lymphoma
    6. Leukemia
  2. Extremity
    1. Phalanges with lytic lesions (acro-osteolysis)
    2. Skin thickening (Scleroderma-like skin changes)
    3. Raynaud's Phenomenon
    4. Chronic joint and Muscle pain
  3. Neurologic
    1. Axonal Neuropathy

VI. Management

  1. Remove patient from exposure source
  2. Decontamination
  3. Inhalational symptoms
    1. Humidified Oxygen
    2. Inhaled Bronchodilators
  4. Seizures
    1. Benzodiazepines

VII. References

  1. Fralish (2022) Vinyl Chloride Toxicity, StatPearls, Treasure Island, Florida
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544334/
  2. Tomaszewski (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 37(3): 32

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Related Studies

Ontology: Vinyl Chloride (C0042684)

Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A substance used to make plastics. Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase the risk of developing liver, brain, and lung cancers; lymphoma; and leukemia.
Definition (NCI) A chlorinated hydrocarbon occurring as a colorless, highly flammable gas with a mild, sweet odor that may emit toxic fumes of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride and phosgene when heated to decomposition. Vinyl chloride is primarily used to make polyvinyl chloride to manufacture plastics. Exposure to this substance affects the central and peripheral nervous system and causes liver damage. Prolonged exposure to vinyl chloride can cause a set of symptoms that is characterized by Raynaud's phenomenon, joint and muscle pain and scleroderma-like skin changes. Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen and is associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer, predominantly angiosarcoma of the liver, but is also linked to brain and lung cancer as well as cancer of the lymphatic and hematopoietic system. (NCI05)
Definition (MSH) A gas that has been used as an aerosol propellant and is the starting material for polyvinyl resins. Toxicity studies have shown various adverse effects, particularly the occurrence of liver neoplasms.
Concepts Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D014752
SnomedCT 38833005
LNC LP19246-5, MTHU004288
English Chloride, Vinyl, Chloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Ethene, chloro-, Chloroethene, Choroethylene, Vinyl Chloride [Chemical/Ingredient], vinyl chloride, chloroethylene, chloride vinyl, VINYL CHLORIDE, Vinyl chloride, Vinyl chloride (substance)
Swedish Vinylklorid
Czech vinylchlorid
Finnish Vinyylikloridi
Italian Cloroetilene, Cloruro di vinile
Russian VINILKHLORID, KHLORETILEN, ВИНИЛХЛОРИД, ХЛОРЭТИЛЕН
Japanese 塩化ビニル, クロロエチレン
French Chlorure de vinyle, Chloroéthylène, Chloro-éthylène
Croatian VINILKLORID
Polish Chlorek winylu
Spanish cloroetileno, cloruro de vinilo (sustancia), cloruro de vinilo, Cloroetileno, Cloruro de Vinilo
German Chlorethylen, Vinylchlorid
Portuguese Cloreto de Vinil, Cloroetileno