TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2003//
TI  - Mercury vapor inhalation from Chinese red (Cinnabar)
JO  - Journal of toxicology - clinical toxicology
A1  - Ho, Bryan S. J.
A1  - Lin, Ja-Liang
A1  - Huang, Chung-Chi
A1  - Tsai, Ying-Huang
A1  - Lin, Meng-Chih
SP  - 75
EP  - 78
VL  - 41
IS  - 1
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Acute inhalation of mercury fumes or vapors is a rare but frequently fatal cause of acute lung injury. This report describes a rare cause of mercury inhalation from Chinese red. CASE REPORT: An 87-year-old male inhaled the vapors from heating Chinese red (Cinnabar, mercury sulphide) intended to treat his foot ulceration. He subsequently developed acute lung injury (progressive dyspnea and acute respiratory failure) that was treated with mechanical ventilation. DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid) and penicillamine were used as chelating agents, and methylprednisolone pulse therapy was used to treat his pulmonary disease. Despite being extubated once, the patient eventually died from profound hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: A rare case of mercury intoxication was due to inappropriate use of an alternative medicine, Chinese red. This case serves as a reminder of the toxicity of the noxious gas from this substance and the importance of being familiar with alternative medicines.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0731-3810
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -