Ethylene chlorohydrin can result in severe metabolic acidosis

Acute ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning: experience of a poison control center

Ethylene chlorohydrin (CAS 107-07-3), a chemical once used in hastening grape vine sprouting in Taiwan, has caused severe toxicity upon acute exposure. Although such use of ethylene chlorohydrin is now prohibited in Taiwan, poisoning still occurs following its illegal use. Since data concerning human ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning remain rare, we report our experience in treating acute ethylene chlorohydrin-poisoned patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate patients with ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning reported to Taiwan Poison Control Center during 1985-1998. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with ethylene chlorohydrin poisoning were identified. There were 11 male and 6 female patients, ranging in age from 2 to 70 years (median 53 years). The intent of exposure was suicide in 5, accident in 9, and occupational exposure in 3 patients. Oral ingestion was the most common route of exposure (14 patients). Seven out of the 17 patients died within 24 hours due to metabolic acidosis and respiratory failure. Ethanol therapy, used in 2 patients, had no apparent benefit. Moderate or mild poisoning was characterized by gastrointestinal effects only and an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Ethylene chlorohydrin can result in severe metabolic acidosis, respiratory failure, coma, and death after acute exposure.

Determination of ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin, and ethylene glycol by gas chromatography

The technique of gas chromatography was employed for the quantitative determination of ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin, and ethylene glycol. The simultaneous determination of ethylene chlorohydrin and ethylene glycol in an aqueous solution using a single polyethylene glycol column was accomplished under isothermal conditions, while ethylene oxide was determined employing a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer column. A key step in obtaining useful and reproducible columns for determining trace quantities of ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin, and ethylene glycol was found to be related to the aging procedure employed. Experimental data indicate that one can quantitatively recover low levels of ethylene chlorohydrin and ethylene glycol from a water-absorbable fabric. The lower limits of detection of ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin, and ethylene glycol were found to be in the nanogram range.