PULMONARY INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE SULFUR-DIOXIDE INHALATION

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Abstract
An industrial accident in which 5 previously healthy persons were acutely exposed to very high concentrations of SO2 was described. Of these 5 subjects, the 2 with the highest exposure died immediately; histologic examination of the lungs revealed extensive sloughing of the mucosa of large and small airways along with hemorrhagic alveolar edema. The 3 survivors were evaluated with pulmonary function tests performed at regular intervals. One subject subsequently developed symptomatic severe airway obstruction unresponsive to bronchodilators, another subject developed asymptomatic mild obstructive and restrictive disease and the 3rd subject continued asymptomatic with normal pulmonary function tests. The histologic features of fatal exposure to SO2 are documented and the need to follow parameters of pulmonary function in nonfatal cases is stressed.