I inhaled spray paint. Paint vapor poisoning in a child: symptoms and treatment

Every normal person worries about his health and his safety. One cannot ignore such a threat as paint vapor poisoning. We actually come across paint and varnish materials much more often than it seems.

This happens both in everyday life and in certain industries. But we do not always take sufficient precautions. The result is poisoning with toxic toxic substances that are part of many paints.

The most common cause of intoxication is the penetration of toxic substances into the body through the respiratory system, as well as mucous membranes and skin.

Rarely, but still happens, poisoning occurs through the entry of poisons into the gastrointestinal tract through the esophagus.

Mechanism of poisoning

As a rule, intoxication occurs after prolonged contact with paints and varnishes and when safety precautions are not followed. Toxic fumes from paint, penetrating through the mucous membranes and respiratory system, are absorbed into the blood.

Thanks to this process, toxic substances are delivered to almost all organs, causing various kinds of pathologies.

Poisoning can also occur due to working with old paintwork, for example, scraping it. There is a risk of lead intoxication if you are near old paint fires.

There are acute and chronic forms of poisoning. In most cases, with acute poisoning, within a few hours the symptoms make themselves felt:

Severe headache and dizziness occur.
The mucous membrane of the eyes changes: burning, redness appears, tearing increases or, on the contrary, excessive dryness.
The nasopharynx swells.
A specific unpleasant taste appears in the oral cavity, an unpleasant odor of acetone appears.
The skin turns pale.
Breathing becomes shallow and heavy.
As a rule, a cough, nausea, and subsequently vomiting appears, and diarrhea also occurs.
Another symptom is fainting.

The chronic form usually develops in professionals, that is, in people who constantly come into contact with paints and varnishes due to their professional activities. It is more difficult to determine because symptoms do not appear immediately.

Initially, depression, feelings of fatigue, and weakness may appear. From the gastrointestinal tract - lack of appetite, frequent attacks of nausea. I am bothered by headaches and often insomnia.

It may even take several months before the poisoning finally manifests itself. In this regard, it is very important not only to know, but also to remember the symptoms of poisoning in order to immediately begin therapy appropriate to the condition.

First aid for poisoning

Having discovered signs of poisoning, first of all you should:

Make sure there is access to fresh air that is not contaminated with toxic fumes. It is advisable to remove outer clothing and rinse exposed areas of the body with water.
The next step is alkaline drinking or simply drinking plenty of water and then inducing vomiting. After this procedure, it is recommended to drink the sorbent. The most accessible is activated carbon.
In case of loss of consciousness, the victim is placed on his side, and it is better to bend one leg at the knee joint. To recover from fainting, it is recommended to apply ammonia to the nasal openings. If there is no breathing, try mouth-to-mouth ventilation (artificial ventilation). In the absence of heartbeat - cardiac massage (indirect).

Regardless of the condition, seeking medical help is mandatory.

Qualified medical care for paint vapor poisoning involves treatment in the toxicology department. Therapeutic measures depend on the symptoms and, accordingly, the severity of intoxication. The standard procedure consists of several items.

This is gastric lavage and also cleansing of the lungs. Glucose is prescribed, usually intravenously, by drip. If there are indications, pharmacological drugs are prescribed to stabilize the functioning of the cardiovascular system and liver.

Chronic intoxication requires a full examination. Only then can treatment appropriate to the body’s condition be offered. It is usually practiced to prescribe hepatoprotectors, immunomodulators, and a complex of vitamins.

Possible consequences

If the diagnosis is inaccurately established and professional medical care is not provided in a timely manner, paint vapor poisoning can have very serious consequences.

Pathological conditions affect many organs:

First of all, it is the respiratory system. Inhaling fumes from any paint can cause a burn to the respiratory tract. This condition entails a number of other pathologies.
Oxygen starvation may develop, which has a detrimental effect on the brain and blood vessels.
In addition, the cardiovascular system may also be affected. The result is chronic forms of hypotension or hypertension.
Ophthalmological problems also arise. Even a slight burn of the mucous membrane of the eyes can lead to a significant decrease in vision.
The development of pathological changes in the kidneys and liver cannot be ruled out.

Prevention

Protective measures that will protect against paint vapor poisoning should be observed not only during professional activities related to paint and varnish materials, but also at home. First of all, this is the use of personal protective equipment.

If possible, use paints that do not have a strong odor. The room where work takes place must be ventilated. If the painting process is long, it is recommended to periodically take a break and breathe fresh air.

It is known that any chemical substances (carcinogens, poisonous gases, pesticides) pose a serious health hazard. You can confidently add to this list paints and solvents that people periodically use in the household.

Paint and varnish materials are hazardous to health

Painting a gate in a private house or walls, a radiator, a threshold, or doors in an apartment is a familiar task and, as it seems, does not require specific knowledge. However, the often underestimated danger posed by dyes ends in poisoning.

Vapor vapors containing solvent, trichlorethylene, enter the respiratory tract, onto the mucous membranes, are absorbed into the blood and are quickly delivered to all organs, causing disruption in the functioning of each of them. Paint poisoning can also occur when old coatings are scraped off or when they are exposed to fire, causing the risk of toxicity from the lead contained in the dyes.

Types of poisoning

In medicine, paint poisoning is divided into acute and chronic.

Acute intoxication is most often observed in the summer, when a person has more opportunities to make repairs on his own and adjust home interior details by painting. Few people care about safety precautions when performing such work, and at this time paint vapors penetrate the body, gradually causing a deterioration in general well-being. Symptoms of poisoning are observed literally in the first hours after starting to work with paint materials.

Chronic paint poisoning is common among professional painters and representatives of other professions who are forced to have long and frequent contact with paint materials and inhale their toxic fumes. Unlike acute intoxication, chronic symptoms do not manifest themselves immediately, sometimes after several months: fatigue gradually accumulates, and signs of depression are observed. Such people are advised to periodically contact medical institutions for diagnosis and to receive correct and timely therapy.

Paint poisoning: symptoms

Intoxication with paints and varnishes is determined by primary and long-term symptoms.

The primary ones include:

Paint poisoning, the symptoms of which depend on the type of toxic substance, may be accompanied by specific manifestations. Thus, intoxication with acetone and trichlorethylene causes a state similar to alcohol intoxication: confusion, general weakness, moments of euphoria. The victim's breath acquires a specific odor. If there is inaction on the part of others, damage to the nervous system will continue, and the victim may even die.

Consequences of paint poisoning

Long-term consequences of poisoning with dyes include:

dysfunction of the respiratory system: the required volume of oxygen ceases to flow into the lungs, which causes severe headaches. Paint fumes cause a feeling of tightness in the chest, heavy breathing, and a regular dry cough;
disruptions in the functionality of the cardiovascular system, decreased blood pressure;
lack of appetite, constant nausea;
apathy, chronic fatigue, insomnia, decreased mental activity;
discomfort in the eyes, dryness, redness. A noticeable decrease in vision due to constant irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes by paint vapors.

Necessary measures in case of poisoning

If paint poisoning occurs: what to do?

When observing, the victim should be immediately given first aid, including a number of the following measures:

ensuring maximum flow of fresh air: it is necessary to open all doors and windows for ventilation, it is better to carefully take the patient outside;
remove the victim’s outer clothing, about the reason for the accumulation and retention of toxic substances by the fabric;
Rinse eyes, face, open areas of the body with water;
Organize plenty of warm drinks and induce vomiting. Give a sorbent (for example, activated carbon);
when the victim is unconscious, he must be laid on his side and, in order to ensure a more stable position, bend one leg at the knee joint. You can bring the patient to his senses with a cotton swab soaked in ammonia, which should be brought to the nose.

How to give first aid

Poisoning by paint vapors is accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure, intermittent or absent heartbeat, and a weak heartbeat and poses a threat to the life of the victim. Therefore, it is urgent to call an emergency medical team.

What to do if severe paint poisoning occurs? Treatment at home consists of placing the patient on his back, which ensures patency of the upper respiratory tract. It is necessary to carry out artificial ventilation using the mouth-to-mouth method. If the pulsation of the carotid artery cannot be felt, an indirect cardiac massage is required. Prompt, clear, thoughtful actions on the part of others can save the victim’s life.

Treatment

Intoxication with paint vapors is treated by a toxicologist in a hospital setting and is reduced to gastric lavage, cleansing of the lungs and drip intravenous administration of glucose. The victim is also prescribed sedatives and medications to maintain cardiovascular activity. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

In case of chronic intoxication, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination, after which the attending physician will prescribe the necessary procedures and medications (vitamin complexes, hepatoprotectors, immunomodulators) to neutralize the harm caused by toxic drugs. You should seriously think about changing jobs. If this event is not possible, frequent, adequate rest in the fresh air should be provided.

Preventive actions

It is easier to prevent poisoning from paint fumes than to subsequently deal with the damage caused to health. Necessary preventive measures when working with paints and varnishes are:

To work with paint, you must be guided by certain knowledge and skills. A frivolous attitude towards painting work, carelessness and carelessness in handling paints can lead to irreversible consequences.

Renovation transforms your home, making it more beautiful and comfortable. Paint poisoning can be a negative factor, even if you do not work with materials that have a strong odor. Enamels emit unpleasant odors for several days after drying. The smell of acetone is absorbed into furniture and clothing, following a person even outside the renovated apartment. You need to know the symptoms of poisoning, how to provide help and ways to get rid of the smell.

Varnishes and enamels contain a large list of toxic elements

The cause of the strong odor of paint, especially varnish, is acetone. It dissolves almost all substances and lifts them into the air. Refers to volatile materials. When acetone evaporates, there is a strong smell in the room. Depending on the composition of the paint, a whole list of substances harmful to humans can accumulate in the air.

In the production of finishing materials, they use the ability of acetone to dissolve almost everything. Therefore, it forms the basis of all solvents and most varnishes. During renovations, you can smell paint even in the next room.

The smell of paint permeates food, clothing, carpets and furniture. It poisons a person after renovations are completed and outside the apartment.

The composition of dyes includes almost all substances harmful to the human body. They evaporate along with acetone and enter the blood through the respiratory system. Poisoning by paint fumes is one of the most severe toxicants and can have serious consequences.

Signs of solvent vapor poisoning

Depending on the type of paint and varnish, various toxic substances enter the body along with acetone. In case of poisoning received through the respiratory system, it manifests itself in the following symptoms:

pain in the eyes;
irritation of the mucous membrane inside the nose;
smell of dye in the mouth;
dizziness;
state of alcoholic intoxication;
nausea, vomiting;
Strong headache;
lack of coordination;
hallucinations;
loss of consciousness.

Symptoms may not all appear, depending on the composition and characteristics of the human body. The smell of paint can cause allergies and suffocation.

A person may suffer from the smell after they can no longer hear it. An addiction is created when, during repairs, clothing is saturated with volatile substances, and a faint smell of paint accompanies the victim constantly.

First aid for a person in case of poisoning through the respiratory system

In case of any poisoning received through the respiratory system, as soon as the first symptoms appear, measures are taken immediately:

The victim must be urgently taken out or taken to fresh air. If this is not possible, then open all the windows in the room and create a draft.
Remove his clothes that smell like paint and wash them.
After this, if the patient is able, he should take a shower to wash off the remaining volatile toxic substances from the body and hair. You can wipe the skin with napkins soaked in water.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. You can add lemon juice, apple juice to the water, or make a chamomile decoction.
In the room where the patient is located, regularly do wet cleaning, wiping furniture, wallpaper, and carpets with a damp sponge or napkin.

It is necessary to remove everything that emits a scent or gives off odors. In case of dizziness and loss of consciousness, you must call an ambulance. If the symptoms are mild and the victim does not require immediate hospitalization, he still needs to see a doctor.

Respirator and other body protection items

Workwear and respirator for working with paint

When working with materials containing active volatile substances, safety precautions must be taken. Must wear:

respirator;
glasses;
clothes with long sleeves;
headdress;
gloves.

After completion of work, clothing should be removed and placed in a plastic bag before washing. Then take a shower. Clean items should be stored in another room where the smell of paint is not noticeable.

If it is not possible to completely vacate the apartment, renovations are being done in one room, and people live in another, everything possible must be done to prevent the harmful smell from spreading throughout the entire room.

Children are often the first to suffer. Symptoms of poisoning may not appear immediately or may be accompanied by fever and are similar to intestinal poisoning. You must immediately call a doctor and do everything to provide first aid.

How to remove harmful “odors” during and after repairs

How to quickly get rid of paint smell in an apartment after renovation. After all, varnishes and enamels smell for several days after drying. Solvent:

evaporates quickly;
burns;
dissolves other volatile substances;
absorbs into fabric, especially wet fabric.

Some people use scented oils and air fresheners to mask the smell of paint. Should not be doing that. If you don't hear acetone, it doesn't make it any less dangerous. On the contrary, aromas can provoke a more severe form of poisoning and allergies. Harmful substances fly in the air and must be removed completely. To do this you can:

hang wet fabrics, such as old curtains;
light a candle for several hours;
put containers with water - buckets, basins;
spread out the charcoal;
put saucers with vinegar;
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets;
spread thinly sliced lemon.

Painted floors should be rinsed with cold water immediately after drying. If you cannot open the windows, you should use household appliances:

ozonator;
ionizer;
air conditioner;
humidifier.

They will help to quickly remove the harmful smell in the room after renovation. While painting, you can cover the doorway with old wet curtains and place a wet rug in front of the threshold. This will prevent the penetration of volatile substances outside the room.

Paint poisoning

Without a doubt, any chemical product poses some danger to human health. Gas poisoning, the harmful effects of pesticides, and carcinogens immediately come to mind. But substances often used at home can have an equally serious toxic effect.

Household chores

The need to paint any parts in homes, especially private or country houses, arises approximately once every two to three years.

Many people simply ignore precautions. Painting is carried out without proper means of protection and ensuring air flow into the room.

The result can be paint vapor poisoning.

Classification of intoxications

Each paint and varnish product (alkyd, oil) has the ability to depress the central nervous system of a person who has inhaled its vapors. Under any conditions, paint odor poisoning occurs - during renovation of a country house, in a car repair shop, or even when dyeing hair, two types are distinguished.

You can get poisoned when dyeing your hair

Acute

Acute paint vapor poisoning is diagnosed quite often. Their peak is the spring-summer period, when massive renovation work on residential premises begins.

The essence of the problem is that the victim does not immediately notice the negative manifestation, which leads to a deterioration in physical condition.

Permanent

Paint poisoning that occurs systematically is called chronic or permanent. They are usually associated with professional activities, when people have to constantly inhale the smell of paint.

Clinical manifestations

Signs of acute and permanent poisoning will differ. Another important fact is that the symptoms of the first are visible after two to three hours. And signs of the second may appear only after several months.

Signs of acute poisoning

This type of paint poisoning will exhibit the following symptoms:

Additional signs

Different types of toxic substances contained in paints and varnishes have a specific toxic effect.

For example, exposure to acetone and trichlorethylene produces a state similar to alcohol intoxication: along with dizziness, there is a feeling of euphoria. My breath starts to smell like acetone. If medical assistance is not provided, the damage to the central nervous system will continue, which can lead to a coma or death.

Signs of permanent poisoning

It is very difficult to diagnose this type of intoxication in a timely manner. In the first months, signs may either not appear at all, or are not clearly expressed.

It is important to be extremely attentive to your general well-being.

With chronic intoxication, the following signs may be present:

Allergy or intoxication

Sometimes, when a person does not know what the specific reaction of his immune system is to paints and varnishes, he may confuse the initial signs of an attack with intoxication.

In case of allergies, uncomfortable sensations in the nasal cavity, dizziness, burning in the eyes, lacrimation, itching, rashes on the skin, peeling, and more intense headaches are observed.

Moreover, the smell of paint lingers in the nose for a long time after contact with it.

If treatment is not started, the disease becomes chronic and disability is possible.

In cases of a severe allergic reaction, specialist help and further qualified treatment are necessary.

Particularly sensitive groups of people

Poisoning in pregnant women

The smell of paint is especially dangerous for two groups of people: pregnant women and children.

While in the mother's womb, the child inhales oxygen coming from her. The air inhaled by the mother, saturated with a colorful smell, penetrates through the circulatory system to the fetus. Therefore, if a pregnant woman inhales paint, this increases the risk of developing genitourinary defects and impaired lung function.

In such cases, the victim should be urgently taken to the intensive care unit, where she will be prescribed professional treatment.

In children, symptoms can be much stronger than in adults. But the point is that the consequences are more severe. The composition of paints and varnishes is very harmful to a child’s body, because his immune system is not yet sufficiently able to cope with the effects of these toxins.

If a child happens to smell paint fumes, you should urgently call an ambulance. Before her arrival, you should wash your baby thoroughly and give him milk or plenty of water. In addition to absorbent agents, do not carry out independent treatment.

Procedures at the hairdresser

Many people wonder whether it is possible to get poisoned by inhaling the smell of hair dye? What effect can it have on allergy sufferers? And what should you do if hair dye poisoning occurs?

Ammonia contained in the dye can cause severe poisoning. And if any negative phenomena appear, you need to be extremely careful and not ignore the deterioration of the condition.

Because the external manifestations of poisoning are similar to the symptoms of a cold: excessive sweating, pain in the chest, dizziness, nasal congestion due to swelling of the mucous membrane, an excited state

In case of sudden deterioration, call an ambulance. History knows of cases where, due to the use of low-quality products, anaphylactic shock, cerebral edema and death occurred.

If you are poisoned through the gastrointestinal tract

Poisoning through the gastrointestinal tract

What if for some reason the paint entered the body through the gastrointestinal tract? What happens if you drink paint?

Of course, call a medical professional immediately. But you don’t need to treat it yourself with medications.

In such cases, it is impossible to induce vomiting, because the risk of the drug getting into the lungs increases.

Actions in case of intoxication

To prevent long-term effects of toxins on the nervous system, the victim should be immediately provided with first aid in case of paint poisoning. For a person who for the first time finds himself in a situation where one of those around him or his partners has inhaled paint, the question arises: what to do if poisoned by paint fumes?

First aid

Step-by-step actions in case of paint intoxication:

If more complex manifestations are detected, be it a significant decrease in blood pressure, severe difficulty breathing or lack of it, or irregular heartbeat, immediately call medical professionals.

Before the medical team arrives, perform artificial respiration and, if necessary, chest compressions.

Professional help

Treatment of intoxication with vapors of paint and varnish products occurs in a hospital. The main task of toxicologists is the rapid restoration of the body thanks to the removal of toxins by infusor therapy.

Saline solutions and calcium-based preparations are administered.

Patients are prescribed sedatives and drugs whose action is aimed at maintaining the cardiovascular system (cardiovascular system), including diuretics, in order to avoid problems with blood pressure.

The patient undergoes procedures to cleanse the lungs, liver, and gastric lavage.

Medical appointments

When the patient reaches a stable condition, he is shown immunostimulants and hepatoprotectors (drugs that maintain good liver condition).

Food intoxication is generally understood as a dysfunction of organs and systems caused by the ingestion of toxins or poisons. There are three types of poisoning based on severity: severe, moderate and mild.

Main causes of poisoning

Materials have different effects on the human body. For example, alkyd, aerosol or oil paint can cause significant harm. If you breathe their components (acetone and trichlorethylene) for 24 hours, intoxication is possible in rare cases.

More often, poisoning with these substances occurs through prolonged inhalation, if renovations in a residential area take a long time without protective equipment.

There are cases of children being poisoned by these substances. If you breathe in the components of paint and varnish products for a long enough time, deviations in the functions of the central nervous system are possible.

First of all, cognitive abilities are impaired, and the victim feels dizziness and headaches. With further inhalation, there is the possibility of developing serious neurological diseases.

This is a short-term loss of consciousness (up to several times a day), and in some cases, coma.

Poisoning by paint fumes most often occurs due to non-compliance with safety rules when performing home repairs yourself. The peak of such poisonings occurs in the spring and summer. A person may inhale paint while it is being applied to a surface or while it is drying.

In rare cases, poisoning occurs due to ingestion of paint by children. Such conditions are dangerous and often result in death.

Intoxication with oil paint and other paint and varnish products manifests itself in acute and chronic forms.

It’s not just construction compounds that are harmful to health. Hair dyes are just as toxic. True, if you use cosmetics wisely, you won’t be able to get seriously poisoned. Nitro paints pose a much greater danger. They are used as floor enamel and for painting work when renovating apartments, housing, and office premises.

Oil paints based on drying oil can also cause permanent toxic poisoning. Due to the fumes released during operation, the components of the solvent enter the human body and have a negative effect on the central nervous system.

Acrylic mixtures are considered less dangerous. Not only paint compositions, but also varnishes are produced on an acrylic basis.

When working with them, there is no characteristic paint smell, and the risk of poisoning is minimal.

However, professional painters often encounter chronic poisoning that develops unnoticed. In construction work, solvent-based compounds with the addition of zinc are often used. They are hazardous to health and cause permanent problems with prolonged exposure.

Aerosol formulations have become widespread in the automotive industry. When working with them, it is also necessary to take precautions. Painting work is only possible in conditions of good ventilation. After drying, the toxic properties of the dye disappear.

Types of poisoning

Paints have a rich classification. First of all, they can be divided according to the composition and method of painting surfaces.

In medicine, there are two types of the condition in question - acute and chronic.

Acute paint vapor poisoning

This type of condition in question is diagnosed most often; the “peak” occurs in the spring and summer periods - at this time people begin renovating their homes en masse. The problem is that in case of acute poisoning, a person may not immediately notice the symptoms, and this leads to a deterioration in health and the development of complications.

Chronic paint vapor poisoning

This type of condition in question is diagnosed in people who constantly inhale paint vapors through the upper respiratory tract - this may be associated with professional activities. Most often, with chronic paint vapor poisoning, doctors note depression and constant fatigue in such people, and this does not go away even after a long weekend and proper rest.

Please note: in case of acute poisoning with paint fumes, the first symptoms will appear within a few hours, but in case of chronic poisoning of this condition, signs will appear only after several months.

In medical practice, acute and chronic poisoning by paint vapors are distinguished.

The acute type of poisoning is diagnosed much more often. In most cases, intoxication occurs in the summer, when the period of construction and repair work begins.

People use paints to decorate and adjust home interiors without using personal protective equipment. Such carelessness causes poisoning with paint fumes.

In this case, the victim may not immediately notice the changes occurring in the body.

In medicine, paint poisoning is divided into acute and chronic.

Poisoning can be acute or chronic.

Signs and symptoms of poisoning

Symptoms of paint poisoning do not appear immediately. Acetone and other harmful components of solvents must first enter the central nervous system, liver, and stomach through the blood in order for a person to feel unwell. The first signs are observed after 1-24 hours, their strength can gradually increase.

Symptoms depend on the chemical composition of the solution. For example, acetone and trichlorethylene cause symptoms similar to intoxication - lethargy, disorientation and moments of euphoria accompany a person affected by paint.

General symptoms:

Severe, acute headache;
Dizziness;
The eyes become red, watery, and there is a burning sensation. The picture before your eyes may blur, split into two;
Taste of bitterness, chemicals, metal in the mouth;
Dyspnea;
The skin turns pale;
Nausea, uncontrolled vomiting;
Diarrhea.

Specific symptoms:

Decline or increase in blood pressure. Poisoning can speed up the heart rate due to unstable blood pressure;
Irritability, nervousness;
Burn of the respiratory tract, preventing normal breathing until it stops;
Deterioration of vision or loss of vision;
Coma;
Redness, blisters on the skin;
Numbness, burning, tingling of the skin;
Attack of acute abdominal pain;
Temperature increase.

Poisoning with dyes can be acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute poisoning include:

nausea turning into vomiting;
loss of control over consciousness;
hearing impairment;
weakness, possible loss of consciousness;
severe headache and dizziness;
allergic reactions such as coughing, sneezing and watery eyes;
pallor of the skin.

pain in the eyes;
irritation of the mucous membrane inside the nose;
smell of dye in the mouth;
dizziness;
state of alcoholic intoxication;
nausea, vomiting;
Strong headache;
lack of coordination;
hallucinations;
loss of consciousness.

Symptoms may not all appear, depending on the composition and characteristics of the human body. The smell of paint can cause allergies and suffocation.

Paint vapor poisoning can be acute or permanent. In the first case, the following symptoms appear:

Ophthalmic – dryness, burning and redness of the eyes.
Respiratory – swelling of the nasopharynx, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath.
From the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, pain in the liver, vomiting.
From the nervous system - pallor of the skin, paroxysmal severe pain, dizziness, weakness, disorientation, loss of consciousness.

Depending on the type of toxic substance, specific symptoms may be added to the general symptoms.

For example, acetone and trichlorethylene cause a state reminiscent of alcohol intoxication: along with weakness and confusion, moments of euphoria are observed. In addition, when intoxicated with acetone vapor, a person’s breath acquires a corresponding aroma.

If nothing is done, the damage to the nervous system will continue, and the person may fall into a coma and even die.

All professional painters, as well as representatives of other professions who are forced to frequently and for a long time come into contact with paint and varnish products, suffer from chronic fume poisoning to one degree or another.

The deterioration of health occurs slowly, but the disorders are very serious, so such people should periodically contact doctors to get diagnosed and receive treatment.

Symptoms

Characteristic features of intoxication are:

severe headaches;
irritated mucous membrane of the eyeballs, which manifests itself as redness, burning and lacrimation;
damage to the upper respiratory tract;
dizziness;
the mouth smells like acetone;
strange taste in the mouth;
attacks of nausea and vomiting;
bowel dysfunction (diarrhea);
breathing problems;
pale skin;
possibility of fainting.

If the above symptoms appear after intoxication with paints and varnishes, first medical aid is provided. A person who has inhaled harmful substances faints repeatedly.

It is possible to take adequate measures only if the main symptoms of poisoning are known. They are usually divided into two groups – primary and secondary.

Primary symptoms include:

painful attacks of nausea accompanied by vomiting;
the victim often has a headache for a long period of time;
profuse lacrimation, accompanied by redness and burning;
dizziness, loss of consciousness;
stomach upset;
pallor, discoloration of the skin surface (especially near the mouth);
the smell of acetone coming from the mouth;
shallow, heavy breathing.

There are both symptoms of acute intoxication with paint fumes and symptoms of chronic intoxication.

Intoxication when interacting with paints can be both acute and chronic.

Signs of acute paint vapor poisoning are:

cyanosis (blue discoloration of the skin);
nausea, vomiting;
confusion, deafness;
severe general weakness;
dizziness, intense headache;
sneezing, dry hacking cough;
watery eyes, nasal discharge (rhinorrhea);
sore throat, nasopharynx;
feeling of a foreign body and burning in the eyes;
noise in ears.

In some cases, when the poisoning is acute and the human body has a too weak immune system, confusion, a feeling of euphoria may develop, the patient loses consciousness, his skin becomes pale, and his breathing becomes rapid and shallow.

Signs of chronic paint fume poisoning

In general, it is very difficult to diagnose this condition in time - symptoms in the first months are either absent or not expressed enough. First of all, a person should pay attention to general well-being - with chronic paint vapor poisoning, weakness and lethargy will be present, but the usual vigor, which is present immediately after waking up from a full sleep, will be absent.

Against this background, a person may notice rapid fatigue even after performing physical and/or mental work in small quantities. But those around you may notice the sudden absent-mindedness and forgetfulness of a person who develops chronic paint vapor poisoning.

The most dangerous thing about this is that a person quickly gets used to the unpleasant sensations and stops paying attention to the symptoms. He tries to solve the problem on his own - for example, in the morning a person drinks a large cup of strong coffee, in the evenings (“out of fatigue”) - a couple of glasses of alcoholic beverages.

And this behavior seems to help, but the improvement in the condition is temporary; after a short period of time, a person with chronic intoxication experiences all the indicated symptoms, and they become more intense.

It is also worth noting some atypical signs of chronic paint vapor poisoning:

appetite decreases;
there is no desire for sexual intimacy;
sweating increases;
hair becomes dull and brittle;
blood pressure increases(short term, but regularly);
Joints swell after doing hard work.

Please note: in case of acute paint vapor poisoning, first aid must be provided to the patient. And this help must be correct so that the development of severe consequences of such severe intoxication of the body can be avoided.

Symptoms of paint vapor poisoning are divided into primary and remote. Primary signs of poisoning include:

unbearable headache;
irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes - redness, burning, lacrimation;
upper respiratory tract burn;
dizziness;
smell of acetone from the mouth;
unpleasant taste in the mouth;
nausea;
vomit;
possible diarrhea;
heavy, shallow breathing;
pale skin;
possible fainting.

Signs of poisoning in acute and chronic forms will differ. Therefore, we will consider them separately.

The main symptoms of acute intoxication include:

dryness, redness and burning of the eyes;
swelling of the nasopharynx;
impaired (difficulty) breathing and shortness of breath;
cough, sneezing;
pain in the liver area;
gagging and feeling of nausea;
pale skin tone;
headache;
disorientation;
weakness.

In addition, specific symptoms may be observed, the severity of which depends on the type of toxic substance contained in the paints. For example, acetone and trichlorethylene provoke a state similar to alcohol intoxication: moments of euphoria are observed. Also, when poisoned by acetone vapor, the victim’s breath acquires a corresponding odor.

Symptoms of chronic intoxication are:

decreased mental activity;
apathy;
severe weakness and fatigue;
persistent dry cough;
redness and dryness of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
prolonged headaches;
sleep disturbance;
loss of appetite;
feeling of nausea.

Such signs develop slowly, and health deterioration occurs gradually. Therefore, people who are constantly in contact with dyes should undergo periodic examinations and diagnostics. This will allow timely detection of the development of the pathological process and begin the necessary treatment.

Intoxication with paints and varnishes is determined by primary and long-term symptoms.

The breath of a victim who is poisoned with acetone acquires a specific odor. If there is inaction on the part of others, damage to the nervous system will continue, and the victim may even die.

Paint is used in various areas of production and everyday life. Its pigment properties are aimed at imparting a range of colors to various designs.

They can be mineral, organic, synthetic and natural. Along with the advantages, the paints contain compounds of heavy metals that have a high content of poisons (arsenic, copper, lead, zinc).

Paint is a substance containing a high percentage of toxins.

Due to their high toxicity, paints and varnishes have an adverse effect on the human body. The respiratory system and skin are at high risk. How paint poisoning manifests itself, symptoms, treatment, we will consider all these questions in our editorial office.

Effect on the body

When the paint dries, it loses its toxic properties, but when using it, a person is at high risk. Often, symptoms of paint poisoning appear after inhaling the vapors of the substance.

At the same time, the activity of the respiratory organs and gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, and the mucous membrane of the mouth and eyes becomes inflamed. If paint gets directly inside, which happens in extremely rare cases, the danger increases several times.

Once you've been poisoned by paint fumes, before you know it, you've become addicted. We decided to cover the topic of paint poisoning, since paint vapors contain so-called volatile vapors, addiction to which develops in the same way as to heroin and the consequences are no better.

Dyes are used everywhere in various areas of everyday life and production. Pigments are substances that give paints and enamels color; their chemical structure can be mineral and organic, natural or synthetic.

Paints are highly toxic due to the heavy metal compounds they contain, so-called metal poisons (arsenic, zinc, lead, copper), or organic compounds. Toxic components included in paints and varnishes most often adversely affect the skin, respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.

After drying, all paints lose their toxic properties.

How does paint vapor poisoning occur?

Paint is a chemical substance. It is often used by people during renovation work. Poisoning with it can cause irreparable harm to human health. In this article, we examined in detail paint poisoning, causes, symptoms, first aid principles and treatment of this condition.

Clinical manifestations of paint poisoning

In case of paint vapor poisoning, symptoms appear within 1-2 hours after contact with it. The patient's condition is rapidly deteriorating, he develops:

weakness;
redness of the conjunctiva, lacrimation, burning sensation in the eyes;
acute, unbearable headache;
dizziness;
nausea and vomiting;
profuse diarrhea;
tachypnea – rapid breathing, shortness of breath may occur;
smell of acetone from the mouth;
pale skin;
loss of consciousness.

What happens if you drink paint? With oral paint poisoning, symptoms appear quickly, within 5-10 minutes. Signs of acute poisoning develop. These include:

severe abdominal pain;
heartburn, burning sensation in the mouth, esophagus and stomach;
smell of acetone from the mouth;
nausea and vomiting;
profuse diarrhea;
tachycardia - rapid heartbeat;
impaired consciousness, possible coma.

How dangerous is paint poisoning?

Every person knows that chemicals are dangerous to health and can cause severe poisoning. Carcinogens, pesticides, toxic chemicals immediately come to mind... In fact, everything is much simpler - even ordinary paint can cause poisoning, which happens quite often.

Paints are the most widely and universally used substances in all spheres of everyday life, production, and in various types of fine arts. They can be of organic origin, prepared with vegetable oils and natural pigments, or synthetic, containing salts of heavy metals and solvents.

Poisoning from paints and varnishes, sometimes quite serious, occurs precisely when using inorganic materials, due to inhalation of evaporating solvent.

What to do if you are poisoned by paint? What are the symptoms of intoxication? What harm can the smell of paint cause? You will learn about this and much more in this article.

What kind of paint can you be poisoned by and how?

The most dangerous in terms of poisoning are those paints and varnishes that contain volatile toxic solvents: acetone, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene, solvent. Alkyd or nitro paints are made based on acetone, while oil paints contain trichlorethylene and ammonia.

Therefore, contrary to popular belief, inhaling not only vapors from nitro paints and enamels, but also fumes from painting with oil paints, enamels, and varnishes can be dangerous to the body. As a rule, this occurs during repeated contact with substances, for example, during long-term repairs of premises or in production.

Poor ventilation of rooms contributes to an increase in the concentration of solvent vapors in the air. While the painted surface, even if it has already dried, smells, this indicates ongoing evaporation, and you cannot stay in such a room for a long time until the smell disappears.

Prolonged stay in rooms with fumes from paints and varnishes leads to chronic intoxication and the development of various diseases.

You can be poisoned not only by vapors, but also by inhaling dust from paints and varnishes when scraping them, as well as by ingesting the substance. The pigment of inorganic materials contains salts of lead and other heavy metals, which are also very dangerous for the body.

How do paint and its vapors affect the body?

When carrying out painting work in an apartment or house, people sometimes forget about safety measures, and after some time they notice unpleasant sensations. This is nothing more than paint poisoning. This condition is extremely dangerous to health, so it is important to know its main symptoms and first aid measures.

Types of intoxication

Everyone knows that various chemicals can pose certain health hazards. Poisonous gases, pesticides, and carcinogens immediately come to mind. However, even the most banal substances, which are often used in any household, can cause serious harm to health. We are talking about paints and their integral component - solvents.

apathy, fatigue, decreased mental activity;
persistent dry cough;
redness, dryness and discomfort in the eyes;
insomnia, headaches;
lack of appetite, nausea.

In case of chronic poisoning, the following manifestations will occur:

chronic fatigue syndrome, drowsiness, decreased performance;
inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes;
dry chronic cough, gradually developing respiratory failure;
headache;
pain in the right hypochondrium.

With this form of poisoning, complaints are often mistakenly attributed to fatigue or lack of sleep. However, not correcting the body’s condition is dangerous for human health and life.

In case of acute poisoning, symptoms are observed:

nausea and vomiting;
unbearable headache, dizziness, feeling of squeezing in the temples;
lacrimation, redness of the eyes, decreased visual acuity;
sore throat, severe cough, sneezing, shortness of breath;
loss of consciousness, disturbance of orientation in space.

With prolonged inhalation of solvent vapors containing acetone, a feeling of euphoria and slight intoxication may occur. The victim's breath has a characteristic "rotten apple" odor.

If detoxification measures are not taken in a timely manner, acute poisoning can threaten a person’s life.

What tests need to be taken

Deterioration in health cannot always be detected by external signs. To identify possible complications after intoxication, the following tests must be performed:

blood for biochemistry;
general urine analysis;
Ultrasound of internal organs;
electrocardiogram of the heart.

In severe cases, examinations of the lungs (x-ray) and bronchi (bronchoscopy) may be required. They are carried out in a hospital setting as prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment

Treatment of poisoning with water-dispersion paint and its components is carried out only by a toxicologist. It consists of gastric lavage, emptying the airways and lungs, as well as a glucose drip.

If the condition becomes more complicated, the patient is hospitalized in intensive care. The main task of doctors is to remove toxins from the body using infusion treatment.

In addition, the patient is prescribed a sedative and pills that support the cardiovascular system.

If intoxication has become chronic, a study of the body as a whole is recommended. After the diagnosis, the toxicologist prescribes the required medications and manipulations (a complex of vitamins, taking hepatoprotectors and immunomodulators) that neutralize the damage caused by toxic substances.

If you work with paints and varnishes, then you should think about changing your workplace. If this is not possible, then rest outside often and breathe fresh air.

If you notice yourself or someone nearby being poisoned by paint fumes, you need to take immediate action.

First aid:

Open all windows and doors. If this is not possible or the air in the room is very polluted, immediately take the victim outside;
Take off your clothes. The fabric, absorbing harmful fumes, is capable of transmitting them to the body through the skin. Wrap the victim in a warm blanket;
It is necessary to wash or wipe with a damp towel to remove any remaining chemicals;
If paint vapor poisoning is severe and the person is unconscious, carefully monitor the heart rate and breathing rate until the ambulance arrives. As soon as the indicators disappear, perform artificial respiration, cardiac massage;
Let's have more water.

The degree of poisoning is not severe:

Cleansing the lungs and digestive tract;
Glucose feeding through a dropper;
Vitamin mineral complexes, immunomodulators for body restoration;
Hepatoprotectors for the liver.

If the patient is in critical condition, artificial ventilation, cardiac stimulation, and nutrition through a dropper are provided.

What to do when it is impossible to call a doctor?

The duration of treatment in the hospital depends on the condition of the victim. For mild poisoning, it can last 2-3 days. First medical aid consists of:

intravenous administration of solutions to relieve intoxication;
stabilization of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
gastric lavage and sanitization of the respiratory tract;
hemodialysis - blood purification using an artificial kidney, carried out in case of severe intoxication.

To identify complications from internal organs, a detailed laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient is carried out, which consists of:

general blood test;
general urinalysis;
biochemical blood test;
ultrasound examination of internal organs;
X-rays of the lungs;
electrocardiograms.

If there is a burn to the mucous membrane of the lungs, bronchoscopy may be necessary. During this procedure, the doctor inserts a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth and uses it to examine the inside of the airways.

Paint poisoning most often occurs during renovation work. A person can inhale its vapors during application or while the paint is drying.

Paint intoxication manifests itself after 1-2 hours with headache, nausea, shortness of breath, and the smell of acetone from the mouth. In case of severe poisoning, breathing and heart function may be impaired.

Treatment is carried out in a hospital setting. Its duration depends on the degree of damage to internal organs and the patient’s condition.

Emergency doctors carry out hospitalization, connect to the necessary devices and send the victim to a medical facility. After the diagnosis, suitable treatment and medications are selected.

Medicines and solutions are administered intravenously,
Normalize the functioning of the heart and blood vessels,
If necessary, additionally cleanse the stomach and respiratory tract,
Hemodialysis is performed to cleanse the blood of toxins,
A ventilator is used,
Various medications are used to restore the functioning of many systems and organs,
Nutrition and vitamin complexes are selected.

The duration of treatment depends on the patient’s condition, the degree of poisoning, and the toxicity of the paint. The victim is in a medical facility until full recovery.

In case of severe poisoning from paint and severe symptoms, sanitation of the respiratory system is prescribed. Absorbent tablets and calcium preparations are capable of removing the effects of intoxication and removing dangerous substances; for this purpose, the poisoned person is given cleansing drips.

If there is no breathing, resuscitation is performed. If the patient does not recover from this state, coma or death may occur. Dangerous conditions are diagnosed due to long-term exposure to toxic substances and lack of timely medical care.

After respiratory activity is restored, the patient should be examined for possible complications. The blood is cleansed and symptomatic therapy is prescribed.

How long it takes for the body to recover depends on the intensity of the harmful effects. The persistent smell of acetone from the mouth indicates the presence of harmful substances in the body.

After making a diagnosis, a toxicologist determines a list of therapeutic measures and prescribes a diet.

There is no need to treat mild intoxication with special medications. Acute but short-term poisoning by paint fumes disappears in a few days. The doctor will tell you what you can eat if you are poisoned to quickly cleanse your body.

Burns to the mucous membrane of the eyes from paint vapors are less common than irritation of the respiratory system from toxic vapors. This damage occurs due to formaldehyde, which is often present in furniture varnishes.

First aid for paint poisoning includes a number of the following measures.

In the most severe cases, the patient may experience life-threatening conditions - a significant decrease in blood pressure, shallow breathing or its complete absence, as well as heartbeat. In this case, immediate assistance from medical personnel is required. Call an emergency medical team as quickly as possible!

If there is no breathing, the patient should be placed on his back, the upper respiratory tract should be ensured, and artificial ventilation of the lungs should be performed using the mouth-to-mouth method. If there is no pulsation in the carotid artery, chest compressions should be performed immediately. Only quick, clear actions on your part can save the patient’s life.

Treatment of paint vapor poisoning is carried out only in a hospital by a toxicologist. In severe situations, the patient is hospitalized in the intensive care unit. The main task of doctors is to remove toxins from the body through infusion therapy. Patients are also prescribed sedatives and drugs to maintain the cardiovascular system.

In case of poisoning with paint or other coloring substances, you should not self-medicate! In such cases, you should seek help from a toxicologist. For mild intoxication, he will prescribe treatment at home, prescribing all the necessary medications. But in case of acute and chronic poisoning, restorative therapy is carried out in a hospital setting.

The main objectives of the treatment process are:

removal of toxic compounds using infusion therapy;
maintaining the cardiovascular system;
cleansing the lungs and stomach;
restoration of the body by intravenous administration of glucose;
prescription of sedatives.

In case of chronic form of intoxication, an additional comprehensive examination is carried out, after receiving the results of which a treatment method is selected. In most cases, along with other narrowly targeted drugs, the following are prescribed:

immunomodulators;
vitamin complexes;
hepatoprotectors.

To do this, do the following:

ensure a flow of fresh oxygen (open doors and windows, or better yet, take the person outside),
unbutton clothes that interfere with free breathing,
Give the victim alkaline mineral water or water with soda to drink (a few pinches per glass of water); if soda and Borjomi are not at hand, just drink plenty of water,
if the patient is not conscious, he needs to be laid on his side (it is important that the head is turned to the side) and the leg bent at the knee,
bring gauze or cotton wool with ammonia to the victim’s nose,
in the absence of signs of breathing and pulse, it is urgent to begin artificial respiration and chest compressions,
If paints and varnishes get on your skin, you should quickly wash it off with running water,
In case of tearing and inflammation of the eyes, also rinse the eyes with clean running water.

If there is a decrease in blood pressure, dizziness and severe migraine, a change in the state of consciousness, suffocation, loss of consciousness, lack of breathing and pulse and other life-threatening symptoms, you need to call an ambulance.

Even if everything went well and you provided first aid correctly, and the person who inhaled harmful fumes came to his senses, you should contact a medical institution (to a toxicologist) and describe the situation in detail.

Treatment at home for paint poisoning consists only of providing first aid. Further treatment can only be provided competently by a qualified specialist. For these types of poisoning, tests are first taken to determine the nature of the toxic substances that have entered the blood.

The victim is given glucose, the stomach is washed and other procedures are carried out to cleanse the body. In the hospital, the poisoned person will be given an IV, which also “cleanses the blood.”

Vitamins and medications are prescribed to support the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, liver and kidneys.

Before the ambulance arrives, take the child out into the air, ensure a comfortable position, and give him clean water to drink. If vomiting, sit/put on your lap, head down, and place a basin.

In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to clear the oral cavity of vomit with a handkerchief so that it does not interfere with breathing and does not cause suffocation. If the child is not an infant, is conscious and is not depressed, you can gargle and rinse your nose to remove any remaining toxins from the upper respiratory tract.

In case of chronic paint poisoning, self-medication is ineffective - you need to see a doctor. In the hospital, the patient will be examined and the types of toxins in the blood will be identified, and treatment will follow from this. Detoxification, supportive therapy for organs and systems is carried out, immunomodulators and vitamins are administered. Competent treatment can only be provided in a hospital setting.

If the victim values his health, he will have to give up activities that cause chronic intoxication.

In case of chronic intoxication, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive examination, after which the attending physician will prescribe the necessary procedures and medications (vitamin complexes, hepatoprotectors, immunomodulators) to neutralize the harm caused by toxic drugs. You should seriously think about changing jobs. If this event is not possible, frequent, adequate rest in the fresh air should be provided.

Paint and varnish materials are hazardous to health

Vapor vapors containing acetone, solvent, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene enter the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, are absorbed into the blood and are quickly delivered to all organs, causing disruption in the functioning of each of them.

Paint poisoning can also occur when old coatings are scraped off or when they are exposed to fire, causing the risk of toxicity from the lead contained in the dyes.

Treatment is necessary to keep damage to a minimum. Doctors will tell you what to do if you are poisoned by paint fumes, and the instructions must be followed.

Most likely, they will first prescribe an IV with substances that will speed up the elimination of toxins, flush out the stomach and lungs. Treatment of heart rhythm problems will require the use of appropriate medications.

Since the liver suffers with this type of intoxication, treatment often includes drugs to improve its condition and activate its functions. After the victim recovers, he may be prescribed vitamins, a short rest, a gentle diet, walks in the forest, a hike in the mountains, a visit to salt caves.

It’s bad if chronic diseases get worse. In this case, treatment will be delayed.

If you notice symptoms of paint intoxication, you should provide first aid to the victim. It is recommended to do the following:

Carefully remove (carry) the person out of the room or open all windows and doors for ventilation;
Remove his outer clothing, since the fabric tends to absorb poisons. It is advisable to cover the victim with a warm blanket;
Clean exposed areas of the body, face and eyes with water;
If the person is conscious, you need to provide him with plenty of fluids (warmed to body temperature) and induce vomiting. You can also give a sorbent, for example, activated carbon;
If the victim is unconscious, it is recommended to lay him on his stomach with his head turned to the side. If breathing is weak and heart rate is low, it is best to perform artificial respiration and cardiac massage;
After the condition has stabilized, the person must be taken to a medical facility.

Further treatment of paint poisoning is carried out in a hospital setting. As a rule, it comes down to cleansing the lungs, gastric lavage and intravenous drip administration of glucose.

In severe situations, therapy is prescribed to improve the functioning of the heart and liver. In case of chronic intoxication, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination, after which doctors will be able to prescribe medications and procedures to neutralize the harm caused by toxic fumes.

If it is not possible to move to another position, then you should pay more attention to proper rest in the fresh air.

Folk remedies for paint poisoning

Remedies used in traditional medicine, proven by long positive experience, will help therapy. Their action is aimed at detoxification using gentle methods. They can be used by adult patients after consultation with a doctor. The main drugs are plants with medicinal properties. They should be taken in the form of infusions. Several recipes:

Boil 20 g of dried licorice root (daily intake) in half a liter of water for 10-15 minutes. Strain the cooled broth and drink 100 ml three times a day;
pour a glass of boiling water over 2 tbsp. dried horsetail herb, leave for 40 minutes, strain, take throughout the day;
Pour 20 g of knotweed herb into one and a half liters of boiling water and leave for 2 hours, divide the infusion into 10 parts, take 3 times a day;
an infusion of mint or lemon balm is prepared as an infusion of knotweed, drink warm, in small portions throughout the day.

In case of paint poisoning, treatment with folk remedies at home is carried out within 1-2 days. They will intensively cleanse the body and promote a speedy recovery.

First aid

If poisoning with paints and varnishes occurs and negative signs appear, then therapeutic measures must be taken. To do this you need to do the following:

Provide the victim with access to fresh air.
If possible, the best option is to go outside with him.
Give the inhaled person a drink of alkaline water in large quantities.
If the victim faints, lay him on his side and bend one lower limb at the knee so that the position is stable.
Give the cotton wool with ammonia a whiff.

If a person’s blood pressure has decreased significantly, breathing has become difficult or completely absent, and the heartbeat has increased, then the case is quite serious. In such a situation, be sure to seek help from doctors.

In case of poisoning by paints and varnishes, first aid should be provided as soon as possible. General procedure:

Take the victim outside.
Providing alkaline drinks (milk with soda or water with sugar and soda) in large quantities is the best treatment until doctors arrive.
If there is a loss of consciousness, the poisoned person is placed on his side, his head should lie freely, one leg should be bent at the knee to avoid falling over. To bring the victim to consciousness, a cotton swab moistened with ammonia is brought to the nose.

If paint enters the body in any way, you must immediately call an ambulance and begin providing assistance to the victim. You need to take him out into the fresh air, rinse your eyes, face, all open areas of the body with water, rinse your mouth and give him something to drink - water, tea.

If the substance is ingested, immediately rinse the stomach with a weak saline solution. After this, it is necessary to give a sorbent (activated carbon, polysorb, sorbogel and analogues) and lay the victim down with the leg end raised, cover warmly.

Cases when paint gets into the stomach are much less common, and mostly in children because of their habit of tasting everything, especially if they are attracted to a bright color. But swallowing also happens in adults. In this case, intoxication phenomena develop no earlier than after a few hours.

Regardless of the age of the victim, if paint gets inside, you should immediately call an ambulance, rinse your mouth and give any sorbent to drink with a small amount of water (up to 200-300 ml), lay the victim on his side, ensuring access to fresh air.

You should not do gastric lavage, since during vomiting, vapors of paint and varnish materials will enter the lungs, and intoxication will occur much faster. In these cases, gastric lavage is done through a tube in a medical facility under the supervision of a doctor.

In the hospital, the patient will be examined to determine the extent of organ damage and will receive appropriate treatment until complete recovery.

It involves removing toxic substances from the body as quickly as possible. In this case, the stomach is washed with a 1% tannin solution, followed by the use of a 3% tannin solution.

Tannin forms insoluble compounds with toxins and removes them out. The stomach is rinsed until the waters are “clean”, after which the remainder of the substance is removed from the body using enemas.

In this case, you should strictly avoid tartaric acid, which dissolves tannin compounds with toxins. Sometimes it is necessary to give stimulants (wine, coffee, camphor).

Milk, egg white, potassium iodide, and magnesium are also appropriate.

Everyone needs to know what to do in case of toxic poisoning, because correctly provided first aid can save a life. General first aid rules:

In case of food poisoning, give the victim water and induce vomiting. After washing, give charcoal or other sorbent and water to avoid dehydration. Wait for an ambulance.
In case of acid damage, rinsing is indicated, but only by specialists and only with the help of a probe. As first aid, you need to provide the victim with rest and fresh air. In case of alkali damage, gastric lavage can also be performed by a non-specialist.
In case of drug poisoning, rinsing is indicated if the victim is conscious.
In case of gas poisoning, it is necessary to take the victim out into the air and rinse the mouth with water. If a person is unconscious, resuscitation measures are carried out until doctors arrive.

Toxic paint poisoning is dangerous to health and requires prompt first aid. The sequence of manipulations:

To reduce the concentration of vapors in the air, you need to ventilate the room and remove the victim or bring them into clean air. Unbutton or remove clothing, the fabrics could become saturated with toxin vapors.
The victim will need plenty of fluids, mineral water with soda (2-3 pinches per glass), if not available, just water, tea, infusions. If the temperature rises, give antipyretic medicine.
Lay the patient who has lost consciousness on his side, bend his leg at the knee and let him sniff cotton wool soaked in ammonia.

If he is not breathing, begin resuscitation procedures immediately. If your eyes become visibly irritated, rinse them with running water. If a child or pregnant woman has been poisoned, or the symptoms of intoxication have not gone away after assistance, call an ambulance for qualified medical care.

An important factor in the correct action in case of acute intoxication is the allergic reaction in the victim. Deterioration in health may be associated with an allergy to the smell. At the initial stage, it has external manifestations similar to poisoning.

It is important to identify the causes of symptoms in a timely manner, relieve swelling of the airways and provide further first aid at home. Then you need to urgently go to the hospital.

At the first symptoms of acute paint vapor poisoning, you must:

evacuate the victim from the place of exposure to toxins;
ensure a flow of fresh air (open windows, doors, unbutton tight clothes);
give plenty of alkaline drinks (milk, mineral water);
If paint or solvent gets on your skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water.

In case of chronic poisoning, first aid measures are ineffective; qualified medical assistance is required.

Regardless of the condition, seeking medical help is mandatory.

When gasoline vapors evaporate, an acrid, suffocating odor appears that permeates literally everything around - from hair to clothes. The symptoms of gasoline vapor poisoning are the same as those that appear with alcohol poisoning. These include nervous excitability, a feeling of euphoria in the victim, dizziness, vomiting, weakness, and increased heart rate. Redness of the skin is also often noted.

The main danger of regularly inhaling gasoline vapors is that the body gets used to them quite quickly. As a result, a person requires an increasing dose of toxic air. As a result, various diseases of the nervous system develop, caused by damage to the brain by toxins, and the person becomes disabled.

First aid to a person who has suffered from gasoline vapors is to organize access to fresh air. If it is in a gas-filled room, it needs to be removed. If the vapors came in precisely, for example, from a bag, you should simply organize a good draft. Remember that the victim needs warmth. This means that he needs to be covered with a blanket.

Add to this plenty of warm drinks. Let it be regular warm water. Its temperature should not exceed or be lower than body temperature, thanks to this it will be absorbed into the body faster. You need as much water as possible, because it is liquid that helps eliminate toxins more quickly.

You can give safe herbal preparations - activated carbon or vegetable oil. The question of what to do with the victim should not arise. Naturally, it is necessary to show the victim to doctors.

Poisoning from paint fumes varies depending on the type of paint used. And it is precisely this point that is fundamentally important, because Different brands of dye give different symptoms.

If symptoms of intoxication from paint and varnish products are detected, the victim should be provided with the necessary assistance. You must act in the following sequence:

Provide free flow of fresh air. It is best to take the poisoned person outside; you can also open all the doors and windows in the room.
Remove outer and thick clothing, as heavy fabrics tend to absorb poisons.
Eyes, exposed areas of the body and face should be washed with water.
If the patient is conscious, his stomach should be rinsed. To carry out the cleansing procedure, the poisoned person is given 1-1.5 liters of filtered (or boiled) water to drink and is induced to “artificially” vomit by lightly pressing on the root of the tongue.
Taking a sorbent will be effective. You can use any adsorbent drug from your home medicine cabinet: activated carbon, Smecta, Polypefan, Enterosgel and others.
If the patient is unconscious, he should be laid on his side and one leg bent at the knee joint. This is done to ensure a stable position.
To bring the victim to his senses, you can bring a cotton wool soaked in ammonia to the nasal passages.
If breathing is weak or the heart rate is low, artificial respiration and cardiac massage are performed.

Effect on the body

In case of any poisoning received through the respiratory system, as soon as the first symptoms appear, measures are taken immediately:

The victim must be urgently taken out or taken to fresh air. If this is not possible, then open all the windows in the room and create a draft.
Remove his clothes that smell like paint and wash them.
After this, if the patient is able, he should take a shower to wash off the remaining volatile toxic substances from the body and hair. You can wipe the skin with napkins soaked in water.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. You can add lemon juice, apple juice to the water, or make a chamomile decoction.
In the room where the patient is located, regularly do wet cleaning, wiping furniture, wallpaper, and carpets with a damp sponge or napkin.

It is necessary to remove everything that emits a scent or gives off odors. In case of dizziness and loss of consciousness, you must call an ambulance. If the symptoms are mild and the victim does not require immediate hospitalization, he still needs to see a doctor.

Types of intoxication

If you notice the first signs of paint or solvent intoxication, you need to immediately provide assistance to the victim.

Take the poisoned person out of the room or open the windows and doors wide for an influx of oxygen. Free the airways from constricting clothing: tie, bra, turtleneck sweater.
Change the victim's clothes, as the fabric can accumulate toxic elements.
Rinse your face and eyes with cool water. Rinse your mouth.
Induce vomiting by pressing two fingers on the root of the tongue, and give the poisoned person warm, clean water or unsweetened tea.
In case of loss of consciousness, the victim should be placed on his side to prevent aspiration of vomit.
Give the poisoned person an adsorbent drug: smecta, activated carbon, enterosorb, polysorb.
In case of dizziness and signs of loss of consciousness, you need to give the victim a cotton swab soaked generously in ammonia to sniff.

Poisoning with varnish, paint or solvent leads to disruption of the heart, depression of the respiratory center, and overload of the liver.

Possible consequences

Exposure to paint fumes often leads to the following consequences:

Eye damage - chronic inflammation of the membranes (conjunctivitis, keratitis) and even clouding of the lens (cataract);
Respiratory damage- chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngotracheitis, bronchitis, toxic pneumonia;
Damage to the nervous system- headaches, parkinsonian and convulsive syndrome, mental disorders (hallucinations, causeless anxiety and others);
Liver damage– toxic hepatitis with disruption of all its functions;
Kidney damage – dysfunction of the tubules, development of renal failure.

Intoxication with some poisons causes paralysis of the respiratory center, pulmonary edema and death of the patient. If a person remains alive, the following consequences for the body are possible:

cardiac disorders;
peritonitis;
tachycardia, confusion, personality change, complete maladjustment;
dysfunction of the liver and kidneys;
blood diseases;
allergy;
scars on the skin;
problems with the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract;
organ resection may be necessary.

There are consequences that appear gradually, affecting the digestive, excretory and nervous systems of a person.

Paint intoxication can lead to complications.

What happens:

Conjunctivitis,
Diseases of the bronchi and lungs,
Kidney and liver failure,
Diseases of the digestive system,
Disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system.

To prevent poisoning from such toxic substances, it is recommended to adhere to some preventive measures.

Working with the substance requires special protective equipment,
The room must have good ventilation,
Do not leave paint cans open to avoid poisoning in children.
Do not dilute paint materials yourself,
Immediately after work leave the room where painting was done,
While working, take a break and go out into the fresh air.

Such actions will help avoid unpleasant consequences. Paint poisoning can cause a number of unpleasant sensations and lead to death. If signs appear, it is recommended to provide assistance in case of poisoning, contact a medical facility and undergo the necessary course of treatment.

To avoid serious consequences, you must be examined by a doctor. With its help, find out a complete picture of the state of vital organs, establish the characteristics of the body’s reaction to the negative influence of toxins.

During hospitalization, the patient will be able to get rid of the remnants of toxic substances, cure or prevent complications from developing.

Incorrect identification of the type of chemical that caused poisoning, inaccurate diagnosis, or failure to contact specialists will lead to the appearance of serious diseases that are difficult and take a long time to treat.

The negative consequences of exposure to toxic substances are obvious only with prolonged exposure. If the victim inhaled harmful fumes while working in a domestic environment, serious consequences can be avoided. Chronic intoxication is not as noticeable, but more dangerous.

Painters more often develop diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, affecting the central nervous system, liver, and cardiovascular system. If the influence of solvents was observed for a long period, then complications after poisoning include frequent allergies, functional failure of the liver, kidneys, and heart.

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