Inhalational lung injury should be considered in patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms and a history of occupational or recreational exposure to toxic substances. We present the case of a 29-year-old patient who developed pneumonitis following usage of waterproofing sealant spray in an enclosed space, despite the use of a dust mask. The patient was managed with oxygen therapy, corticosteroids and bronchodilators. He made a complete clinical recovery with resolution of almost all changes seen on computerised tomography (CT) imaging within 7 days.
References
- Shimoda M, Tanaka Y, Fujiwara K, Furuuchi K, Osawa T, Morimoto K, et al. Waterproofing spray-associated pneumonitis review. 2018;0(January 2021).
- Harada T, Hirabayashi Y, Takayama-Isagawa Y, Sakamoto H, Kawaishi M, Hara H, et al. Pulmonary Injury from Waterproofing Spray During a Hike. Wilderness Environ Med [Internet]. 2017;28(4):327–31. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2017.07.002
- Hays HL, Spiller H. Fluoropolymer-associated illness. Clin Toxicol. 2014;52(8):848–55.
- LTP Grout Protector Spray Safety Data Sheet. Available from: https://totaltiles.co.uk/downloads/pdf/LTP_Grout_Protector_Spray_Safety_Data_Sheet.pdf
- Weibrecht KW, Rhyee SH. Acute respiratory distress associated with inhaled hydrocarbon. Am J Ind Med. 2011;54(12):911–4.
- Young BC, Strom AM, Prittie JE, Barton LJ. Toxic pneumonitis caused by inhalation of hydrocarbon waterproofing spray in two dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007;231(1):74–8.
- Scheepers PTJ, Masen-Poos L, van Rooy FGBGJ, Oerlemans A, Daalen E van, Cremers R, et al. Pulmonary injury associated with spray of a water-based nano-sized waterproofing product: A case study. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2017;12(1):1–15.
- Larsen ST, Dallot C, Larsen SW, Rose F, Poulsen SS, Nørgaard AW, et al. Mechanism of action of lung damage caused by a nanofilm spray product. Toxicol Sci. 2014;140(2):436–44.
- Yamashita M, Tanaka J. Pulmonary collapse and pneumonia due to inhalation of a waterproofing aerosol in female CD-1 mice. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1995;33(6):631-7.
- Kondo A, Yanagawa Y, Omori K, Ohsaka H, Ishikawa K, Oode Y, et al. Importance of smoking and the occurrence of acute poisoning due to waterproof spray. Acute Med Surg. 2014;1(4):191–4.
- NPIS management inhaled petroleum distillates. Available from: https://www.toxbase.org/Chemical-incidents/Management-Pages/Petroleum-distillates---inhalation/
