@article{ref1,
title="Toxicity from fluoropolymer-containing grout, tile and stone floor sealants reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service 2009-2015",
journal="Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)",
year="2017",
author="Henke, Des and Campbell, Alex and Bradberry, Sally M. and Sandilands, Euan A. and Thomas, Simon H. L. and Thompson, John P. and Vale, J. Allister",
volume="55",
number="6",
pages="585-588",
abstract="CONTEXT: Grout, tile and floor stone sealants contain a solvent, a water-repelling agent and in the case of aerosols a propellant. The water-repelling agent used is typically a fluoropolymer resin, a silicon-based resin, or a combination of both. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical course in patients exposed to fluoropolymer-containing sealants referred to the United Kingdom National Poisons Information Service. <br><br>METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of telephone enquiries received between 2009 and 2015. <br><br>RESULTS: 101 enquiries involving 96 exposures were received. The majority of the exposures (n = 88) occurred when the sealant was delivered from an aerosol. Twelve patients were exposed occupationally and the remainder were exposed while using the product at home. Eighty-nine exposures were as a result of inhalation alone, two followed ingestion, three skin contact and one eye contact; one involved inhalation and eye contact. All 90 patients exposed by inhalation developed clinical features: 31 had a World Health Organisation/International Programme on Chemical Safety/European Commission/European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists Poisoning Severity Score of 1 (minor toxicity), 51 patients had features of moderate toxicity (PSS 2) and eight were graded PSS 3 (severe poisoning). The most common features were dyspnea (n = 52; 57.8%; 95% CI = 47.0-68.5), chest pain/tightness (n = 34; 37.8%; 95% CI = 27.2-48.4), coughing (n = 27; 30.0%; 95% CI = 20.0-40.0) and sinus tachycardia (n = 11; 12.2%; 95% CI = 4.1-18.2); hypoxemia was present in 20 (22.2%; 95% CI = 13.1-31.4). At the time of the enquiry a chest X-ray had been performed on 15 patients: in eight patients (all of whom were PSS 3) the X-ray was reported as being abnormal and showed bilateral shadowing. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that if fluoropolymer-containing sealants are inhaled then clinical features may occur and in a small proportion (9%) these features may be severe.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-3650",
doi="10.1080/15563650.2017.1296154",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1296154"
}