Abstract
Workers in fireworks production are mainly at risk for explosion injury. However, there are few reports on the consequences of methanol poisoning in fireworks laborers. We report on three patients with visual loss caused by inhalation exposure to high concentrations of methanol, who were engaged in the granulation process of the fireworks manufacturing industry. They presented with severe metabolic acidosis and visual impairments, accompanied by headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and vomiting. All were diagnosed with acute methanol poisoning. One patient developed bilateral blindness and two patients improved after timely hemodialysis treatment. These case reports emphasize the risk of methanol poisoning in the fireworks industry or other factories using commercial alcohol with high methanol content. Early hemodialysis intervention and metabolic acidosis correction are crucial for rescuing visual impairment caused by methanol exposure. Awareness and supervision of commercial alcohol use are indispensable for similar industrial processes.
Highlights
Explosion injury is a common occupational injury with fireworks production
We report 3 patients of visual loss caused by inhalation exposure to high concentration of methanol, who were engaged in the granulation process of fireworks manufacturing industry
No occupational methanol poisoning case was reported in fireworks factories, recently three workers engaged in granulation process were found severe vision loss after exposure to commercial alcohol containing high concentration of methanol
Summary
Explosion injury is a common occupational injury with fireworks production. There are few reports about the relationship of severe visual loss and acute methanol poisoning in fireworks laborers. We report 3 patients of visual loss caused by inhalation exposure to high concentration of methanol, who were engaged in the granulation process of fireworks manufacturing industry. They presented with severe metabolic acidosis and visual impairments, accompanied with headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness and vomiting. One patient developed bilateral blindness and two patients improved after timely hemodialysis treatment
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