Tuberc Respir Dis.  2004 Jun;56(6):670-676. 10.4046/trd.2004.56.6.670.

A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis Caused by Nitric Acid Fume Inhalation

• Ha JW
• Lee SS
• Eom KS
• Bahn JW
• Jang SH
• Kim DG
• Lee IJ
• Lee Y
• Jung KS

• KMID: 1970474
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2004.56.6.670

Abstract

Chemical pneumonitis is caused by the inhalation of noxious chemical substances and is a cause of occupational lung disease. Nitric acid, which is a one of the common air pollutants and a potential oxidant for refining and cleansing of metals, has a chance for occupational and environmental exposure. A 52-year-old man visited our hospital due to coughing and dyspnea after the inhalation of nitric acid fumes at his workplace. He had conditions of tachypnea (respiratory rate 26 /min) and hypoxemia (PaO2 42.6 mmHg, SaO2 80.2% in room air) in our emergency department. The chest radiographs showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates and ground glass opacity in both lungs. The patient made improvements in clinical symptoms and chest radiography after being given a supply of oxygen, antibiotics, and bronchodilator therapy without systemic glucocorticoid therapy. On his follow up visit after 4 weeks, he showed no symptoms and sequelae, and the pulmonary function test showed a normal pulmonary function.

Keyword

Chemical pneumonitis; Nitric acid; Occupational lung disease

MeSH Terms

Air Pollutants
Anoxia
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cough
Dyspnea
Emergency Service, Hospital
Environmental Exposure
Follow-Up Studies
Glass
Humans
Inhalation*
Lung
Lung Diseases
Metals
Middle Aged
Nitric Acid*
Oxygen
Pneumonia*
Radiography
Radiography, Thoracic
Respiratory Function Tests
Tachypnea
Thorax
Air Pollutants
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Metals
Nitric Acid
Oxygen