BATTERY ACID EXPOSURE

[bonniekay]

I had an 8 hour exposure to battery acid through a venting system. I had burning eyes and burning airway and what was called a chemical induced asthma. Several months after I started experiencing severe shortness of breath on any exertion. I have had all the PFT and echocardiogram and have been diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. My question is, could the PPH be due to the exposure? I use to be a long distance walker and extremely healthy, now I can barely do anything.

[National Jewish]

Your diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, in this instance, is a bit perplexing.  Ingested substances, most notably Fen Fen, have been implicated.  However I could find no evidence of pulmonary hypertension due to toxic inhalation.  I suspect that pulmonary hypertension could develop in lungs badly damaged by toxic fume inhalation.  The pulmonary hypertension, especially since it has been deemed to be primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), is unlikely to have been caused by your 8 hour exposure to battery acid through a venting system.  Although you may need treatment for the PPH, you may also need treatment for other lung problems caused by your exposure.

This incident should be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  It is very likely that your lungs have been seriously damaged by inhaling battery acid fumes for 8 hours.  You should see a lung specialist for a thorough evaluation to determine your problem.  The most likely problems to occur due to this inhalation are reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) or bronchiolitis obliterans.  Early treatment of each of these is important to prevent scarring with permanent, irreversible damage to the lungs.