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Environmental Medicine Integrating a Missing Element into Medical Education (1995) / Chapter Skim
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Case Study 2: Seasonal Arsenic Exposure from Burning Chromium-Copper-Arsenate-Treated Wood
Pages 164-167

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Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 164...
... A 4-week-old premature neonate was diagnosed as having viral pneumonia and because of recurring respiratory exacerbations was treated with a permanent tracheotomy. The children displayed recurrent "measleslike" rashes consisting of pinpoint hyperemic pruritic dermatitis.
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From page 165...
... Specimens of dust and ash collected from around the stove area contained arsenic at 100 to 600 ppm. The high arsenic content in the ash from the stove covering parts of the flee suggested this as a probable mined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy after acid digestions Urine, fingernail, and multiple hair samples were collected from the mother and children and analyzed for arsenic.
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From page 166...
... The signs and symptoms of chronic low-level exposure to inorganic arsenic in humans have been described,'8'3 and arsenic oxide or pentavalent arsenic induces symptoms and signs similar to those experienced by this family.'''3'5 In the commercial process of making outdoor wood and marine plywood, arsenic pentoxide (combined with chromium and copper solution) was used to treat the wood scraps burned by this family.
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From page 167...
... We would suggest that all three elements could be responsible for this kaleidoscopic clinical pattern. Joy Savides Felker provided advice and secretarial aid and Lee Sjouik, MS, contributed technical assistance.
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Key Terms

  • trace elements
  • carbon monoxide
  • clin chim
  • conduction studies
  • health perspect

  • neurological examination
  • arsenic content
  • trioxide form
  • nerve conduction
  • atomic absorption

  • inorganic arsenicals
  • wood scraps
  • chim acta
  • wood stove
  • arsenic pentoxide

  • environ health
  • thrombocytopenic purpura
  • northern wisconsin
  • viral pneumonia
  • muscle cramps

  • lethal trioxide
  • kitchen stove
  • children experienced
  • thrombosed penile
  • absorption spectroscopy

  • arsenic levels
  • family experienced
  • arsenic excretion
  • human fingernails
  • hair loss


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