thesmug
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Breathing difficulties
I have absolutely no idea if I'm posting this in the right place but, for the last few days I've been feeling like I can't breathe normally. I find
hit hard to inhale and that I never have enough air in my lungs. The last reaction I did was boiling peracetic acid to form crystals. Strangely, my
symptoms really first became noticeable when I started doing some work with the uranium I received in the mail about a day after working with the
peracetic acid. It is in ore form and I haven't inhaled any of it as far as I can tell. My order also contained lead sheeting but I dot think that has
anything to do with it. I have looked online and it seems that there is a chance I might have contracted chemical pneumonitus. I have never had this
happen before and it's extremely distressing. Have any of you ever had this happen?
[edit] I forgot to mention that the peracetic acid was made by mixing 75 ml of 5% acetic acid with 75ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide. I was making copper
acetate and boiling the solution to form copper acetate crystals.
[Edited on 2/21/14 by thesmug]
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elementcollector1
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Honestly, whatever we tell you here isn't likely to be too helpful. Schedule something with your doctor, maybe?
Elements Collected:52/87
Latest Acquired: Cl
Next in Line: Nd
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thesmug
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I will if it gets worse but I was more looking to see if anyone else had ever experienced this.
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hissingnoise
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Your lungs are not to be trifled with ─ get it checked out?
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confused
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get it checked out by a qualified medical professional
tell the doctor you're concerns along with anything you might have been exposed to recently.
Do check back to let us know if you're ok
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=23427
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plante1999
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I had this fealling quite often in the past, sulphur dioxide, bromine and so on will feal like if the lungs where smalled. Hydrazine and its
derivative will do the oposite, at least for me.
I never asked for this.
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AJKOER
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The deepest concern I would have is not with the uranium itself, but any oxide dust from it. Apparently, via the lungs it allows the uranium into your
system and can reek havoc with your DNA.
My source, a TV special on one researchers work suggesting that burning uranium forming the oxide dust (from depleted uranium shells used to pierce
armor in the Gulf War), indicated that it may be the causative factor in the so-called Gulf war syndrome.
You may need not just a doctor, but a specialist.
Good luck.
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bfesser
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AJKOER, please don't post unreferenced speculation that'll only promote chemophobia/radiophobia.
> <em>The pyramids were built by ancient aliens. My source, a TV show.</em>
[sarcasm] Yup, <em>really</em> reputable. [/sarcasm] No fear mongering, please.
thesmug, seek proper medical advice from a licensed physician.
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forgottenpassword
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Quote: Originally posted by AJKOER  | | The deepest concern I would have is not with the uranium itself, but any oxide dust from it. Apparently, via the lungs it allows the uranium into your
system and can reek havoc with your DNA. |
That's interesting. Since the patient had been working with strong
oxidizing agents before inhaling the uranium dust, is it possible that it would have been rapidly oxidized in vivo, leading to breathing difficulties
before full Gulf War syndrome symptoms set in?
Injesting fine particles of an airborne alpha source is probably the worst sort of radioactive substance that you could have ingested. A gamma source
would not necessarily interact with your lung tissue, but alpha and beta particles will do massive localized damage wherever the fine suspension of
uranium oxide has landed in your lungs.
Hope this helps.
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woelen
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If I read what you have been working with, I can hardly imagine that these chemicals can cause problems with your lungs. Just 5% acetic acid and 3%
H2O2? In no way can these cause pulmonary edema. Uranium salts also cannot do that.
Your symptoms nearly certainly are caused by something else. Think about what else you have done the last few days and I advice you to go to a doctor
and have him/her look at it. This forum is not the place for medical advice, we are no experts!
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The_Davster
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| Quote: Originally posted by woelen | If I read what you have been working with, I can hardly imagine that these chemicals can cause problems with your lungs. Just 5% acetic acid and 3%
H2O2? In no way can these cause pulmonary edema. Uranium salts also cannot do that.
Your symptoms nearly certainly are caused by something else. Think about what else you have done the last few days and I advice you to go to a doctor
and have him/her look at it. This forum is not the place for medical advice, we are no experts! |
This.
Also, 5% acetic and 3% hydrogen peroxide will contain VERY little actual peracetic. The acetic/H2O2/peracetic equilibrium has water on the product
side, and you are so dilute that only traces of peracetic will be present.
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testimento
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I have had this feeling sometimes when I worked with nitric acid and cyanides. I have come into conclusion that it was 50% psychological. I get this
sort of feeling when I work with hazardous chemicals, and I'm the guy who wears industrial grade gas mask with just about anything that may cause
trouble.. 
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thesmug
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| Quote: Originally posted by testimento | | I have had this feeling sometimes when I worked with nitric acid and cyanides. I have come into conclusion that it was 50% psychological. I get this
sort of feeling when I work with hazardous chemicals, and I'm the guy who wears industrial grade gas mask with just about anything that may cause
trouble.. |
You and I are pretty much the same. I wear a gas mask when working with pretty much any powder that might cause damage, even slightly.
[Edited on 2/22/14 by thesmug]
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Zyklon-A
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A gas mask for powder? Do you mean a powder respirator? I guess a gas mask would work for powder too.
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thesmug
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Powders, gasses, fumes. I mostly work with powders, though.
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IrC
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| Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | The pyramids were built by ancient aliens. My source, a TV show.</em>[sarcasm] Yup, <em>really</em> reputable.
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First it was nanobot powered snowmen. Now Pyramids built by UFO people. Would you quit wrecking everything I learned on cable? You leave me with
little left to believe in.
OP go see a doctor. End of story. Panic attacks are far more likely to affect heart rate. Unless you have a history of asthma severe breathing
difficulty alone especially without constantly racing thoughts sounds more like a physiological problem that needs to be investigated.
To save making another post I'll add this thought: do you use the same device over and over as breathing protection? Is there a chance it has been
damp and growing spore releasing molds? You could get an infection in your breathing passages from this, or constriction from an allergic reaction to
them.
[Edited on 2-23-2014 by IrC]
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" Richard Feynman
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thesmug
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| Quote: Originally posted by IrC | | Quote: Originally posted by bfesser | | The pyramids were built by ancient aliens. My source, a TV show.</em>[sarcasm] Yup, <em>really</em> reputable.
|
First it was nanobot powered snowmen. Now Pyramids built by UFO people. Would you quit wrecking everything I learned on cable? You leave me with
little left to believe in.
OP go see a doctor. End of story. Panic attacks are far more likely to affect heart rate. Unless you have a history of asthma severe breathing
difficulty alone especially without constantly racing thoughts sounds more like a physiological problem that needs to be investigated.
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It seems to have gotten slightly better but is still there. I might have just inhaled an irritant of some sort.
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hissingnoise
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Or it might just be a touch of pleuritis . . . ?
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cyanureeves
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i happen to go through the exact thing testimento experiences and do think it is me making myself sick.i even develop OCD similiar to hand washing but
it is neutralizing chemicals for disposal in my case.i am terrified that someone will be affected by my carelessness and am always thinking of morbid
thoughts and that ruins everything.many things have been instilled in us by the ignorant which by the way clinical studies have tied morbid thoughts
and feelings of impending doom with onset of depression.yeah! depressing when ignorant people make the rules and cause paranoia.
[Edited on 2-23-2014 by cyanureeves]
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forgottenpassword
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Uranium can bioaccumulate in bone tissue so I would still see a specialist. The damage to your lungs from inhaling uranium oxide may just be the start
of the problems. Uranium has a very long half life so don't assume that just because it has moved from your lungs that you are in the clear.
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thesmug
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| Quote: Originally posted by forgottenpassword | | Uranium can bioaccumulate in bone tissue so I would still see a specialist. The damage to your lungs from inhaling uranium oxide may just be the start
of the problems. Uranium has a very long half life so don't assume that just because it has moved from your lungs that you are in the clear.
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I seriously doubt I inhaled any serious amount of the uranium. The sample I have is a mixture of ores that all together probably only contain maybe a
gram or two of uranium (judging by other peoples' calculations). That feeling I get when working with the uranium is most likely just mental.
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testimento
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I have high quality industrial multi-layer filter which is rated against "everything" and change battery costs about 20 bucks. This contains filter
against solid particles and radioactive material as well. Gas mask is quite useful because it provides full face and breathing protection and suits
for any environment.
I once had to handle some hydrogen cyanide in such amounts that I purchased a yellow full body suit, gloves and rubber boots and I taped it airtight
with duct tape. 
[Edited on 23-2-2014 by testimento]
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thesmug
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| Quote: Originally posted by testimento |
I have high quality industrial multi-layer filter which is rated against "everything" and change battery costs about 20 bucks. This contains filter
against solid particles and radioactive material as well. Gas mask is quite useful because it provides full face and breathing protection and suits
for any environment.
I once had to handle some hydrogen cyanide in such amounts that I purchased a yellow full body suit, gloves and rubber boots and I taped it airtight
with duct tape.
[Edited on 23-2-2014 by testimento] |
What kind of gas mask is that!? It seems super expensive!
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