What is Hydrocarbon Inhalation?
Hydrocarbons are chemicals made up of hydrogen and carbon. They are commonly found in many everyday items and work products, like car fuel, paint thinner, cleaning supplies, lotion, and industry-grade solvents. Unfortunately, some people misuse these products to get a feeling of extreme happiness by breathing them in. This is possible due to their nature that allows them to quickly vaporize.
Exposure to hydrocarbons, whether by breathing them in, swallowing them, or accidentally breathing them into the lungs, can cause severe health problems and even death. The lungs are usually the most affected, but the heart, nervous system, and digestive system can also suffer damage.
What Causes Hydrocarbon Inhalation?
Hydrocarbons are mainly derived from petroleum or wood and are a major source of energy in our everyday lives. They come in many forms, including liquids like kerosene and gasoline, gases, or solids. All hydrocarbons have the potential to be harmful if misused, but two types, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, are typically more toxic.
Coming into contact with hydrocarbons can harm a person in several ways. They can be inhaled, swallowed, aspirated (breathed into the lungs), or even absorbed through the skin. More often than not, these instances occur either when someone mistakenly tries to use hydrocarbons for recreational purposes or attempts to harm themselves.
For those misusing them recreationally, there are three main methods used: “huffing,” “bagging,” and “sniffing.” Huffing involves inhaling through a rag soaked with the hydrocarbon, while bagging involves inhaling deeply from a bag filled with the substance. Sniffing is just what it sounds like, directly inhaling the hydrocarbon through the nose. Frequently, people misuse paints, solvents, or gasoline in these dangerous ways. Remember, such misuse can lead to severe toxicity and is extremely harmful.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Hydrocarbon Inhalation
Hydrocarbon toxicity, or poisoning by substances like gasoline or paint thinner, impacts over 30,000 Americans yearly, and unfortunately, results in around 20 deaths. Young children under the age of five and teenagers are affected more often than other age groups. Alarmingly, substance misuse is on the rise with about 20% of middle and high school students admitting to trying these dangerous materials. Common health issues include lung inflammation (pneumonitis) and damage to the nervous system and heart.
- Each year, more than 30,000 Americans are affected by hydrocarbon toxicity, resulting in around 20 deaths.
- Children below five years and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to this toxicity.
- There’s a growing issue of substance misuse, with approximately 20% of middle and high school students admitting to trying volatile substances.
- The most common health problems caused by this toxicity are inflammation of the lungs (pneumonitis), and damage to the nervous system and heart.
Signs and Symptoms of Hydrocarbon Inhalation
Acute hydrocarbon-related illness is a medical condition that often comes about after exposure to certain types of chemical compounds known as hydrocarbons. People afflicted with this condition typically have respiratory issues. Symptoms usually show up within 30 minutes of encountering the hydrocarbon, but sometimes, they may not appear for hours. Patients often complain of coughing, choking, or throwing up, especially if they’ve inhaled hydrocarbon vapor or mist. Other signs include a lack of oxygen in the blood and labored breathing.
Early neurological symptoms may range from agitation and hallucinations to tremors, although hydrocarbons are generally known to depress the nervous system. Stomach-related issues like a burning sensation and frequent vomiting can also accompany such an illness. Additionally, people who have been exposed to hydrocarbons for a prolonged period can experience rashes, persistent headaches, nerve disease in the extremities, or mental impairment.
- Coughing, choking, or throwing up due to inhaling hydrocarbon substances
- Low oxygen levels in the blood
- Difficulty breathing
- Early neurological symptoms like agitation, hallucinations, or tremors
- Stomach-related issues like burning sensations or frequent vomiting
- In cases of long-term exposure, symptoms may include rashes, chronic headaches, nerve disease in the limbs, or cognitive issues
Testing for Hydrocarbon Inhalation
If your doctor suspects that you might have been exposed to hydrocarbons (chemical compounds made from hydrogen and carbon, often found in fuels like gasoline, kerosene, or jet fuel), they’ll first keep a close watch on your heart and oxygen levels. This is usually done using a heart monitor and a device called a pulse oximeter, which measures the oxygen in your blood.
Your doctor might not be able to test for the exact level of hydrocarbons in your body, but knowing exactly what type of hydrocarbon you were exposed to can help them decide on the best course of action and be better prepared for any possible side effects.
They will probably also want to get a look at what’s happening inside your chest, especially your lungs. This is done using an X-ray, which is recommended for everyone who might have either inhaled or swallowed hydrocarbons. But keep in mind, even if you’re showing symptoms, your X-ray might look normal at first. On the flip side, the X-ray might show something unusual even if you’re feeling fine initially. In most cases, any symptoms or changes to your oxygen levels or X-ray tend to show up about six hours after exposure to the hydrocarbons.
Your doctor will also likely want to do an ECG, a test that measures the electrical activity of your heart, and do some blood tests. These blood tests include a basic metabolic profile, which measures various chemicals in your blood; hepatic function tests, which check how well your liver is working, and a complete blood count to see if the number and types of blood cells in your body are normal. If there’s concern about exposure to specific types of hydrocarbons, your doctor may also measure the levels of carboxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin in your blood, chemicals that can build up due to certain types of exposure.
Treatment Options for Hydrocarbon Inhalation
The main treatment for hydrocarbon exposure starts by ensuring the patient can breathe easily and their heart and lungs are working well. This can involve making sure the patient’s airway is clear or providing extra oxygen if needed. In severe cases, they might need to be put on a machine to help them breathe. Some doctors have seen good results using a substance called exogenous surfactant, which helps keep the lungs’ tiny air sacs open. However, steroid and antibiotic medicines haven’t been shown to help.
If the patient’s blood pressure drops too low, quick fluid treatment is needed. Some drugs that increase blood pressure, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, aren’t beneficial as they might cause an irregular heartbeat. If hydrocarbons have been swallowed, treatments like stomach pumping or charcoal aren’t used because the body absorbs hydrocarbons too quickly. Charcoal is especially not used because of the high risk it could be accidentally breathed in.
Before the patient is moved to a treatment area, any remaining hydrocarbons should be removed from their body to reduce the risk of further exposure. A doctor who specializes in treating poisoning, called a toxicologist, should be consulted, particularly in serious exposures to specific types of hydrocarbons.
Patients who don’t show symptoms within 6 hours after breathing in or swallowing hydrocarbons and have normal oxygen levels and chest X-rays, can typically go home. They just need to know what to look out for in case of delayed reactions. Patients with moderate to severe symptoms or patients who have been exposed to specific types of hydrocarbons that may cause such delayed reactions typically need to be hospitalized.
What else can Hydrocarbon Inhalation be?
There are several medical conditions related to respiratory disorders and toxic material exposures. They include:
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (a severe lung condition causing shortness of breath)
- Alcohol toxicity (severe effects of consuming too much alcohol)
- Aspiration (inhaling food, stomach acid, or saliva into the lungs)
- Barbiturate toxicity (harmful effects from overdose of a type of sedative drug)
- Benzodiazepine toxicity (harmful effects from the overdose of anxiety treatment drugs)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (exposure to too much carbon monoxide gas)
- Co-ingestions (consuming multiple substances at once)
- Inhalation injury (damage to the respiratory tract due to inhaled substances)
- Suicidality (thoughts or behaviors towards self-harm or suicide)
- Toluene toxicity (harm from overexposure to a chemical found in many household products)
