AROMATIC TOXICITY

Course overview

HYDROCARBONS ARE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS CONSISTING OF CARBON AND HYDROGEN ATOMS. TOLUENE AND BENZENE CAN BE FOUND IN PRODUCTS SUCH AS GASOLINE, NAIL POLISH, HAIR DYE, ACRYLIC SPRAY PAINT, AIRPLANE GLUE, PLASTIC CEMENT, CLEANING PRODUCTS, AND PAINT THINNERS. THE HALLMARK COMPLICATIONS OF TOLUENE TOXICITY ARE RENAL TUBULAR ACIDOSIS AND HYPOKALEMIC PARALYSIS. BENZENE IS KNOWN TO CAUSE HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS. RARELY, BOTH CAN RESULT IN DEATH. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH BENZENE TOXICITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.