What Are The Symptoms Of Chemical Fumes Inhalation Or Exposure In The Workplace?

What Are The Symptoms of Chemical Fumes Inhalation / Exposure in The Workplace?

Depending on the nature of the chemical that workers are exposed to, the dose; in terms of the amount and strength of the chemical, and the duration of the exposure, there is a variety of symptoms that could indicate that exposure or inhalation has taken place.

Some common symptoms include:

• Respiratory Irritation –Soon after the chemical exposure, inflammation and irritation in the respiratory system can cause burning, congestion, pain in ears, nose, sinuses, throat, voice box, chest, and lungs.
• Migraines –A common side effect from exposure to chemicals in the air, or contact with the skin, migraines can last hours or days and may have other side effects like nausea or upset stomach.
• Coordination and Concentration Issues –Chemicals breathed in through the air can directly pass from the nose into the brain. Symptoms that occur after this type of exposure can include dizziness, difficulty concentrating, balance and coordination issues, and numbness or ‘pins and needles’ feeling in limbs.
• Eye and Skin Irritation –burning of these areas and irritation or inflammation can be a side effect of chemical exposure to the eyes and skin.
• Gastrointestinal Symptoms –Often exposure to chemicals in the workplace can lead to acid reflux-like symptoms as a result of an increased inflammation of the stomach or oesophagus.

In addition to the symptoms listed above, some chemical fumes can have long lasting repercussions that are not initially noticed upon exposure. Some can cause cancers and other conditions that are not diagnosed until many years after the damage has occurred.

An example of this is cadmium: when soldering or fixing different metals together, cadmium was used to reduce the temperature necessary to make the bonds strong enough. Cadmium Oxide fumes are created when cadmium is melted at around 320 centigrade, and if inhaled, these fumes cause immediate effects including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, followed by cough, headache, dizziness, fever, chest pains and breathlessness. Even in the absence of these symptoms, lung damage can occur, and in addition to all of that repeated or cumulative exposure can cause irreversible kidney damage.

As a result of these potential dangers, it is critical that as well as reducing the risk of exposure through a range of methods, companies must ensure that staff are suitably trained in how to deal with any symptoms so that the risk of additional damages is limited.

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your chemical fumes injury claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

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