dinitrobenzenes and Methemoglobinemia

Topics: Adhesives; Dinitrobenzenes; Humans; Methemoglobinemia; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Oximetry; Rubber

Topics: Adult; Blast Injuries; Dinitrobenzenes; Humans; Male; Methemoglobinemia; Perchlorates; Potassium; Potassium Compounds

The testicular toxicity and methemoglobinemia induced by 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) was compared in two species, the Sprague-Dawley rat and the golden Syrian hamster. A marked difference in susceptibility to both endpoints of toxicity was observed. The hamster showed no testicular lesions at dose levels up to 50 mg/kg whereas, as previously reported by others, damage to rat testicular tubules in later stages of spermatogenesis was readily apparent at a 25 mg/kg dose level. Similarly, administration of 1,3-DNB induced substantially less methemoglobinemia in the hamster than in the rat. For example, at the 25 mg/kg dose level peak levels of methemoglobin in the hamster were 15% compared with 80% in the rat. Mortality in the rat also occurred at lower doses than in the hamster (50 vs 100 mg/kg, respectively). In in vitro studies, the capacity of 1,3-DNB and 1,3-DNB metabolites (nitroaniline, nitroacetanilide, aminoacetanilide, diacetamidobenzene) to induce methemoglobinemia was examined in suspensions of red blood cells obtained from both species. Only 1,3-DNB caused the formation of methemoglobin and rat red blood cells were twice as sensitive as hamster red blood cells. The species difference in susceptibility to both methemoglobinemia and testicular toxicity could indicate differences in 1,3-DNB clearance and/or formation of toxic metabolites. Additional metabolic work is under way. This study demonstrates that the hamster is more resistant than the rat to the testicular lesion and methemoglobinemia induced by 1,3-DNB.

Topics: Animals; Cricetinae; Dinitrobenzenes; Disease Susceptibility; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Mesocricetus; Methemoglobinemia; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Species Specificity; Testis

Topics: Accidents, Occupational; Adhesives; Cyanosis; Dinitrobenzenes; Humans; Methemoglobinemia; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; Nitrobenzenes; Ohio; Quality Control; United States

A case is reported of a 37 year old man who was involved in an accidental shell blast. He was admitted with black tattooing of his face, forearms, hands and legs. Repair of the severe ocular lesions and the surgical debridement of his burns required general anaesthesia. This lasted for 6 h; throughout, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters remained stable. The Pao2 was 130 mmHg. During recovery, cyanosis was noted despite a Pao2 of 65 mmHg with 92% Sao2, a normal chest X-ray and stable normal haemodynamic parameters. This paradoxical situation suggested a toxic haemoglobinopathy. Biochemical investigations revealed severe methaemoglobinaemia (40%) due to percutaneous absorption of dinitrobenzene (DNB), a constituent of the 1917 bomb. The amount of DNB absorbed had been unknowingly reduced by the surgical brushing of the burned skin. The classical treatment of methaemoglobinaemia, associated with two plasmaphereses to remove the toxic substance, were successful. Normal arterial blood gases associated with chocolate brown coloured arterial blood should make one suspect methaemoglobinaemia.

Topics: Adult; Blast Injuries; Blood Gas Analysis; Cyanosis; Dinitrobenzenes; Humans; Male; Methemoglobinemia; Methylene Blue; Nitrobenzenes; Plasmapheresis

Topics: Dinitrobenzenes; Humans; Methemoglobinemia; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; Nitrobenzenes; Occupational Diseases; Ohio; Skin Absorption; United States

Topics: Animals; Dinitrobenzenes; Guinea Pigs; Methemoglobinemia; Nitrobenzenes; Skin Absorption; Solutions; Solvents

Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 0.015 mmol of p-dinitrobenzene/kg, 0.15 mmol of m-dinitrobenzene/kg and 0.45 mmol of o-dinitrobenzene/kg body wt. The dinitrobenzenes induced methaemoglobin concentrations of 86%, 60% and 49%, respectively, as well as increases of urinary catecholamine excretion and blood sugar concentration. Due to hyperglycaemia the glycolysis may be stimulated as mechanism for energy production in methaemoglobin-induced oxygen deficiency and as mechanism for reduction of methaemoglobin, that means as responses favouring survival after poisoning.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Catecholamines; Dinitrobenzenes; Fasting; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Methemoglobinemia; Nitrobenzenes; Rats; Structure-Activity Relationship; Time Factors