Chemical Pneumonitis

What is chemical pneumonitis?

Chemical pneumonitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the lungs. It can happen after breathing in certain chemicals, dusts, or fumes that cause lung irritation or damage. Chemical pneumonitis may cause problems that range from mild to serious, even life threatening.

• Acute chemical pneumonitis: Chemical pneumonitis can be acute (sudden), happening soon after being around a chemical or other lung irritant. Your airways and lungs may swell, and you may get fluid in your lungs.
  
  
• Chronic chemical pneumonitis: Chronic chemical pneumonitis is when you have scarring (permanent damage) of your lungs and long-term problems with breathing. This usually happens after being exposed to lung irritants over a period of time. For example, working around dangerous chemicals, dusts, or fumes when doing your job may cause this. The risk of chronic chemical pneumonitis is increased if you are also a smoker.

What are common causes of chemical pneumonitis?

• Around the home: Many household chemicals can cause problems when used incorrectly, or used in a space without enough fresh air. Cleansers, bug sprays, pool cleaners, and fertilizers are some chemicals that can be dangerous if inhaled. The risk of problems is increased when chemicals are mixed together incorrectly. For example, mixing bleach with other chemicals, such as ammonia, can release a dangerous gas. Read and follow the directions on the labels of all chemical and cleaning products that you use.
  
  
• At work: Many kinds of fumes, gases, and dusts in the workplace can cause lung problems. These problems may show up right away, or they may not show up for months or years. Farmers, metal workers, and people who work in factories are at high risk of lung problems. Fertilizers, pesticides, dust from grains, and smoke from fires may cause chemical pneumonitis and other lung problems. Learn about the chemicals and materials in your workplace that may be dangerous. Follow directions when working around these chemicals and materials. Wear the correct protective equipment, such as a mask or gloves when working with these chemicals and materials.

What are the signs and symptoms of chemical pneumonitis?

• Acute chemical pneumonitis: The signs and symptoms you have may depend on what you were exposed to. They may also depend on how long you were exposed, and how much you breathed in. Your symptoms may include one or more of the following:
  
  
  • Coughing and trouble breathing. You may make gurgling or wet-sounding noises when you breathe.
    
    
  • Runny nose, watery eyes, or irritated throat.
    
    
  • Pain, tightness, or a burning feeling in your throat or chest.
    
    
  • Sudden headache, dizziness, trouble thinking clearly, or feeling like you may pass out.
    
    
  • Dusky or blue lips or fingernails.
    
    
  • Nausea or vomiting.
    
    
  • Some fumes, such as metal fumes from welding, may cause you to have a fever and muscle aches.
  
  
• Chronic chemical pneumonitis: Over time you may notice that you become short of breath easier or more often than you used to. You may have a cough that does not go away. You may get lung infections such as chest colds or bronchitis more easily. With chronic chemical pneumonitis, it may take months or years for you to notice symptoms.

How is chemical pneumonitis diagnosed?

• What to bring with you: When seeing caregivers, bring all the information you have about what you were exposed to. If your symptoms started after using a common household product, bring the container with you. Do not bring the container with you if the chemical may be dangerous to others. These may include industrial or farming chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid or organophosphates. Instead, bring the label or write down information from the label and bring it with you. If you got sick after being around something at work, bring the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) with you. Your employer must have these information sheets about every chemical in your workplace. Let caregivers know if you have already contacted a poison control center for advice.
  
  
• What may happen: Your caregiver will examine you and listen to your heart and lungs through a stethoscope. You may need tests, depending on how bad your symptoms are. These tests may include blood tests or a chest x-ray. A special kind of blood sample may be taken for a blood gases test. This test can tell caregivers how well your lungs are working. A pulse oximeter machine can also help caregivers make sure you are getting enough oxygen. A pulse oximeter uses a cord with a clip or sticky strip that is placed on your skin. You may need tests called lung function tests. These tests can tell caregivers if your lungs are not working as well as they should.

How is chemical pneumonitis treated?

You may be treated at home if your symptoms are mild. You may need to go into the hospital for tests or treatments. Stay away from smoke, dust, and fumes. Most people should drink at least eight (8 ounce) cups of water a day. This helps to keep your air passages moist and better able to get rid of germs and other irritants. Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer to increase air moisture in your home. This may make it easier for you to breathe, and help decrease your cough. Be sure to clean your humidifier with soap and water every day to prevent germs. You may need medicines to help your symptoms. These may include cough medicine, pain medicine, inhalers, oxygen, and steroids. Always follow the directions given to you by your caregiver.

For more information:

Contact the following for more information about chemical pneumonitis and safety in the workplace:

• American Lung Association
  1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
  Washington , DC 20004
  Phone: 1- 202 - 785-3355
  Phone: 1- 800 - 548-8252
  Web Address: www.lung.org
  

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  1600 Clifton Road
  Atlanta , GA 30333
  Phone: 1- 404 - 6393311
  Phone: 1- 800 - 3113435
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov
  

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US Dept of Labor
  200 Constitution Ave
  Washington , DC 20210
  Phone: 1- 800 - 321-6742
  Web Address: http://www.osha.gov
  

Risks:

If your chemical pneumonitis is bad, you may need to stay in the hospital. You may need a machine to help you breathe if you cannot breathe well on your own. You may have permanent damage to your lungs. You have a higher risk of life-long problems if you work around a lot of dust, fumes, smoke, or chemicals. Your risk of long-term problems is also increased if you smoke. Chemical pneumonitis and other lung problems caused by chemicals, fumes, or dusts can be serious, even life threatening.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Learn more about Chemical Pneumonitis