It is known that any chemicals (carcinogens, poisonous gases, pesticides) pose a serious health hazard. Paints and solvents that a person periodically uses in the household can be added to this list with confidence.
Paints and varnishes are dangerous to health
Painting gates in a private house or walls, a battery, a threshold, doors in an apartment is a familiar occupation and, as it seems, does not require certain knowledge. However, the often underestimated danger of coloring matter ends in poisoning.
Vapors of vapors containing
acetone, solvent,
carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene, enter the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, are absorbed into the bloodstream and quickly delivered to all organs, causing a malfunction in each of them. Ink poisoning can also occur when old coatings are scraped off or when they are burned, causing a risk of intoxication with 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, to correct details of the home interior by painting. Few people care about safety at the time of such work, and at this time, fumes of paint penetrate the body, gradually causing a deterioration in overall health. Symptoms of poisoning are observed literally in the first hours after the start of work with paint materials.
Chronic paint poisoning is characteristic of professional painters and representatives of other professions, who are forced to contact with paints and varnishes and inhale their toxic fumes for a long time. Unlike acute intoxication, chronic symptoms do not manifest themselves immediately, sometimes after a few months: fatigue gradually builds up, signs of depression are observed. Such people are advised to periodically contact medical institutions to conduct diagnostics and receive the correct and timely therapy.
Ink poisoning: symptoms
Intoxication with paints and varnishes is determined by primary and distant symptoms.
Primary:
- nausea, vomiting, pain in the liver;
- dizziness and a sharp headache;
- weakness throughout the body, disorientation in space;
- redness, lacrimation, dryness, burning of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
- swelling of the nasopharynx, cough, sneezing;
- shortness of breath and burn of the upper respiratory tract;
- heavy shallow breathing;
- bad taste in the oral cavity;
- pallor of the skin;
- diarrhea;
- loss of consciousness.
Ink poisoning, the symptoms of which depend on the type of poisonous substance, may be accompanied by specific manifestations. So, intoxication with acetone and trichlorethylene causes a condition similar to alcohol intoxication: confusion, general weakness, moments of euphoria. The breathing of the victim with acetone poisoning acquires a specific smell. With inaction from others, damage to the nervous system will continue, and the victim may even die.
The consequences of paint poisoning
The long-term effects of dye poisoning include:
- dysfunctions of the respiratory system: the right amount of oxygen ceases to flow into the lungs, which causes the appearance of sharp headaches. Vapors of the paint cause a feeling of tightness in the chest, panting, regular dry cough;
- malfunctions in the functionality of the cardiovascular system, lowering 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 with vapor.
Necessary measures for poisoning
If paint poisoning occurs: what to do?
When observing
intoxication symptoms, the victim should urgently be given first aid, including a number of the following measures:
- ensuring the maximum influx of fresh air: it is required to open all the doors and windows for ventilation;
- remove outer clothing from the victim, about the reason for the accumulation and retention of toxic substances by the fabric;
- rinse eyes, face, exposed parts of the body with water;
- organize a plentiful warm drink and induce vomiting. Give a sorbent (for example, activated carbon);
- when the victim is in an unconscious state, he needs to be laid to one side and in order to ensure a more stable position, bend one leg in the knee joint. You can bring the patient to life with a cotton swab dipped in ammonia, which should be brought to the nose.
How to provide first aid
Poisoning with paint fumes is accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure, intermittent shallow breathing or its absence, a weak heartbeat and is a threat to the life of the victim. Therefore, it is urgent to call a medical emergency team.
What to do if severe paint poisoning has occurred? Treatment at home is to place the patient on the back, which determines the patency of the upper respiratory tract. The method of "mouth to mouth" is necessary to carry out artificial ventilation of the lungs. If the pulsation of the carotid artery is not palpable, an indirect heart massage is required. Prompt, clear, thoughtful actions on the part of others can save the life of the victim.
Treatment
Intoxication with paint fumes is treated by a toxicologist under stationary conditions by a doctor and reduces to washing the stomach, cleansing the lungs and drip intravenous glucose. Also, sedatives and medications are prescribed for the victim 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 be examined comprehensively, after which the attending physician will prescribe the necessary procedures and drugs (vitamin complexes, hepatoprotectors, immunomodulators) to neutralize the harm caused by toxic drugs. You should seriously think about a job change. If this event is not possible, frequent full-fledged outdoor recreation should be ensured.
Preventive actions
Poisoning with paint fumes is easier to prevent than subsequently dealing with health damage. The necessary preventive measures when working with paints and varnishes are:
- work in protective clothing, gloves, a mask or a respirator;
- immediate removal of paint droplets on contact with skin during use;
- ensuring constant air exchange in the working room. Do not eat or drink at the place of work;
- frequent interruptions in work with access to fresh air. If you experience dizziness or a smell of acetone in the mouth, the paint should be stopped for several days.
To work with paint, you must be guided by certain knowledge and skills. Frivolous attitude to paint work, carelessness and carelessness in handling paints can lead to irreversible consequences.