Acute fatal selenium poisoning. Toxicological and occupational medical aspects.

Neutralizing selenic acid with caustic soda caused a hyperintensive exothermic reaction, with about 450 1 of the reaction mixture erupting in a factory hall. A 44-year-old industrial worker was fatally intoxicated, suffering from second-degree skin burns, necrosis of oral mucous membranes and hemorrhagic lung edema. He died 90 min later. Analysis of body fluids and tissue samples showed high selenium concentrations in blood serum, urine, stomach content and lungs. The analytical results are discussed in comparison with normal selenium levels of non-exposed groups.