ROLE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE IN DIAGNOSING ACCIDENTAL OCCUPATIONAL POISONING
Abstract:
Objective: this study aimed to establish the importance of dose-response relationship for a
rational diagnosis of acute poisoning with chemical mixtures. Methods: data regarding unintentional
exposure, circumstances, medical and toxicological information were collected from 21 cases with acute
intoxication as a consequence of three different accidents at work, investigated and registered as
occupational disease. Results: organic solvents were the main identified components of unintentional
mixtures responsible for poisoning and possible long-term health effects in the workers of concern, but
interactions of chemicals were difficult to assess, in the absence of sufficient human evidence. Conclusions:
causality and diagnosis relied on forensic toxicology whose close relationship with occupational medicine
may be useful in designing new models of risk assessment for occupational health and safety managers
full text article in English (.EN) |