Phosgene

Background

Phosgene, known as "CG" in the military, is a major industrial chemical used to make plastics and pesticides.

Phosgene is a toxic gas or liquid that can cause damage to the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Possible characteristics of phosgene include:

• Colorless or white to pale yellow at room temperature
• Smell of newly mown hay or green corn at low levels
• Strong and unpleasant smell at high levels

For shipping or storing, phosgene is turned into a liquid by cooling and applying pressure.

When liquid phosgene is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close to the ground and spreads quickly.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on how the person was exposed, how much they were exposed to, and how long.

During or immediately after exposure to dangerous levels of phosgene, the following signs and symptoms may develop:

• Chest tightness
• Coughing
• Choking
• Burning sensation in the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes
• Blurred vision and/or eyes tearing
• Breathing problems, shortness of breath, or rapid shallow breathing
• Frostbite if exposed to liquid phosgene
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting

These signs and symptoms may also be delayed for up to 48 hours.

There are other delayed effects that may not show for up to 48 hours. These effects include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing up white to pink-colored fluid (sign of pulmonary edema)
• Low blood pressure
• Respiratory failure
• Heart failure

People who have been exposed to phosgene should be monitored during the 48-hour period.

Exposure

Air

If phosgene is in the air, people can be exposed through skin or eye contact, or breathing in the phosgene gas. Because phosgene gas is heavier than air, it will sink to lower areas and increase the chance of exposure there.

The smell of phosgene is not a good enough warning that there is a dangerous level in the air. At low levels of phosgene, the irritating signs and symptoms can be mild and delayed. This could cause people to not leave an unsafe area and continue to breathe in phosgene.

Food

Eating, drinking, or touching food or drink with phosgene can expose people to phosgene. Do not use or eat food that smells, tastes, or looks unusual.

Avoid eating food that may have touched phosgene if the food is not in a glass or metal container. If the food is in an unbroken sealed glass or metal container, it should not be affected by phosgene. Wash the outside of the container before using.

Water

People can be exposed by touching or drinking water that contains phosgene. If clothing has touched liquid phosgene, people can be exposed by touching the clothing or phosgene vapors (gas) from the clothing.

Follow any directions by local authorities.

What to do if you are exposed

Get away

Get away from the area where the phosgene was released and breathe fresh air.

If the phosgene release was outdoors, go indoors and shelter in place. Make sure windows are closed and ventilation systems are turned off to make sure the phosgene does not come inside. If you cannot go indoors, leave the area where the phosgene was released.

If the phosgene release was indoors, get out of the building.

If you cannot get away, go to the highest ground possible because phosgene is heavier than air and will sink.

Get clean

Get clean by taking off all clothes, jewelry, and accessories and showering as soon as you can. Showering is the best method for removing phosgene from your body.

Ideally, undress, blot, and shower immediately or as soon as you can, as described below. If you cannot take off all layers, take off as many clothes as you can.

Take off your clothes

If clothes are frozen to your body, do not try to remove until no longer frozen. Instead, begin washing with a lot of lukewarm water. Then remove your clothes.

Avoid pulling clothing over your head. If you must pull clothing over your head, close your eyes and mouth, and hold your breath. This will stop the phosgene from getting in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Drop clothes to the floor.

If you wear contact lenses, take them out and place them with your clothing. Do not put contact lenses back in.

Follow these steps to blot your body:

1. Use different dry, clean cloths, or paper towels to blot each part of your body where you feel liquid.
2. Start blotting with your head and hair.
3. Then blot your face, hands, body, arms, legs, and feet.
4. Blot your skin for 10 seconds
5. Rub for 10 seconds any places on your skin or in your hair where you can see or feel liquid.
6. Drop the used cloths or towels to the floor.

Repeat the process several times if you still feel liquid on you. Use a different clean cloth or towel for each part of your body. Use a different clean cloth or towel each time you repeat the process.

Wash your body

First wash your hair, face, and hands, and then wash the rest of your body. Wash from your head to your feet with a lot of lukewarm water and mild soap (if available) for 90 seconds. Use soapy water for a minute, then rinse with plain water for 30 seconds. Try not to let the water run into your eyes, nose, or mouth. Do not scrub!

If your eyes are burning or you can't see normally, wash your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes with lukewarm water. Do not use eye drops.

Dry your face, then tilt your head back and dry your hair, and then dry down your body. Use anything that will soak up water. Drop used things to the floor. Dress in any available clean clothes to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature). This is especially important if temperatures are cool.

Clear the dirty items

If emergency response services are available, leave used items on the floor and report where they are to emergency teams. Move as far from the used items as possible.

Otherwise, put on waterproof or heavy gloves that won't let liquid go through. Gather all used things from the floor, including your clothes, and put them in a plastic bag. Remove gloves and put them in the plastic bag. Close the plastic bag and place it in a second plastic bag. Close up the second bag also.

Do not put the bags in the regular trash! Place the bags in an area where other people are unlikely to disturb them and touch phosgene. Inform local authorities of the location of the bags for pick up.

Treatment

No known cure exists for phosgene exposure.

Treatment involves removing phosgene from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care. Supportive medical care can be given in a hospital setting or by trained emergency responders.

If someone has swallowed phosgene, do not force vomiting.

Long-term health effects

Most people who recover after an exposure to phosgene make a complete recovery.

However, exposure may lead to chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation in the lungs) and emphysema (lung condition that causes shortness of breath).

Exposure to phosgene can also lead to reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS), asthma caused by chemicals.