BERGNER H, CONSTANTINIDIS P, MARTIN J H
Can Med Assoc J. 1965 Feb 27;92(9):448-51.
Enquiry into the occupational history of a patient presenting with stupor, hyperpyrexia and profuse sweating, and dying at a Winnipeg hospital a few hours later in coma, finally led to the identification of pentachlorophenol-a substance widely used as a wood preservative-as the cause of death of this worker and the cause of non-fatal intoxication in four other workers engaged by wood-processing plants. In these latter four cases the prominent clinical symptoms were sweating, weight loss and gastrointestinal complaints. A review of the literature revealed that pentachlorophenol exerts its toxicity following cutaneous absorption or inhalation by interference with oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in excessive release of heat. This substance has been the cause of several deaths in other countries. Observance of simple precautionary measures that ensure adequate ventilation and skin protection should suffice in making this industrially useful product safe.
对一名出现昏迷、高热和大量出汗症状的患者的职业史展开调查，该患者几小时后在温尼伯一家医院昏迷中死亡，最终确定五氯苯酚——一种广泛用作木材防腐剂的物质——是这名工人的死因，也是另外四名受雇于木材加工厂的工人非致命中毒的原因。在这后四例中，突出的临床症状是出汗、体重减轻和胃肠道不适。文献回顾显示，五氯苯酚通过干扰氧化磷酸化在经皮肤吸收或吸入后发挥毒性作用，导致热量过度释放。在其他国家，这种物质已造成数起死亡事件。遵守确保充分通风和皮肤防护的简单预防措施，应足以使这种具有工业用途的产品安全无害。
