Chest
Volume 89, Issue 2, February 1986, Pages 308-309
Journal home page for Chest

Zinc Chloride (Smoke Bomb) Inhalational Lung Injury

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.89.2.308Get rights and content

Physicians, military and civilian alike, may be called upon to recognize, treat, and provide long-term care to patients who have suffered a zinc chloride (smoke bomb) inhalational injury. Pathologic changes described in the literature include laryngeal, tracheal, and bronchial mucosal edema and ulceration; interstitial edema; interstitial fibrosis; alveolar obliteration; and bronchiolitis obliterans. Acute injury is associated with a high mortality. Following is a report of a patient with a zinc chloride smoke injury which resulted in subpleural emphysematous blebs complicated by pneumothorax and abnormal exercise physiology. Gradual recovery occurred over several months. However, the chest roentgenogram remains abnormal with emphysematous blebs.

Section snippets

CASE REPORT

The patient is a 20-year-old Caucasian man who was exposed to a military smoke grenade inside a dosed civilian vehicle. The duration of his exposure was uncertain, but was estimated to be five minutes. He was evaluated at a local emergency room three hours after exposure, complaining of pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, a choking sensation in his pharynx, and tightness throughout his chest. Inspiratory and expiratory wheezes were heard on auscultation of the chest. Arterial blood gas

DISCUSSION

Chemical smoke consists of small solid or liquid particles which become hydrated in contact with air and intercept or diffuse the light. Several methods of producing smoke by dispersing fine particles of zinc chloride have been developed. The mixture in common use contains hexachloroethane, aluminum, and zinc oxide. When used correctly, these particles of zinc chloride deliquesce rapidly in the air. The smoke can be harmless if it is used in open areas and in an atmosphere where there is enough

REFERENCES (4)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (40)

  • Metals and the respiratory tract

    2021, Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals: Fifth Edition
  • Metals and the respiratory tract

    2021, Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals: Volume I: General Considerations
  • Zinc chloride-induced TRPA1 activation does not contribute to toxicity in vitro

    2018, Toxicology Letters
    Citation Excerpt :

    Surprisingly, there are no general recommendations to wear personal protective equipment like respirators during the release of smoke grenades or when operating near the smoke screen. A plethora of clinical respiratory symptoms including laryngeal, tracheal, and bronchial mucosal edema and ulceration, interstitial fibrosis, alveolar obliteration, interstitial edema, and bronchiolitis obliterans have been associated with inhalation of ZnCl2 smoke (Matarese and Matthews, 1986; Cao et al., 2016; Truven Health Analytics, 2017). Moreover, mild, moderate, or severe irritation, pain and burns of the skin, depending on the concentration and duration of exposure, have been reported (Truven Health Analytics, 2017).

  • Zinc chloride (smoke bomb) inhalation lung injury: Clinical presentations, high-resolution CT findings, and pulmonary function test results

    2005, Chest
    Citation Excerpt :

    The exact mechanism by which ARDS is triggered remains unclear, although there is evidence of involvement of the release of proinflammatory cytokines.4 Pneumomediastinum and/or pneumothorax have been reported in patients with ZCSII.345617 These conditions may follow severe strain or cough induced by exposure to a variety of toxic agents such as chlorine gas18 and oxides of nitrogen.19

View all citing articles on Scopus

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

View full text