Arsine

Background

Arsine is a colorless, flammable, non-irritating toxic gas with a mild garlic odor. Arsine is formed when arsenic comes in contact with an acid.

Arsine is similar to a gas called stibine, which is formed when the metal antimony comes in contact with an acid. Stibine has health effects similar to those of arsine, but it is not as widely available. Stibine also has a noticeable "rotten egg" smell.

Where it is found

Arsine is most commonly used in the semiconductor and metals refining industries.

Arsine was studied as a warfare agent during World War II, but it was never used on the battlefield.

How it works

After arsine enters the bloodstream, it damages the red blood cells. This can lead to symptoms of hemolytic anemia, when red blood cells die faster than the body can replace them.

Signs and symptoms

The effects of arsine poisoning depend on how much arsine a person was exposed to and how long the exposure was.

Depending on the level of exposure to arsine, symptoms are likely to occur within the first 24 hours after exposure.

Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to arsine.

Exposure to low or moderate dose:

• Confusion, drowsiness, fatigue, and/or weakness
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain
• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Red or dark urine
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)

Exposure to a large dose:

• Convulsions
• Loss of consciousness
• Paralysis
• Respiratory compromise, possibly leading to death

Exposure

Breathing in the gas is the most likely way of exposure after arsine is released into the air. Arsine is not absorbed into the body through the eyes and the skin.

At lower amounts, people may not know they have been exposed to arsine, because it has no smell. At higher amounts, a mild garlic smell (however, do not rely on this as a warning). On the other hand, stibine has a strong smell, so people may notice that they may have been exposed.

Most reports of exposure are when arsine is accidentally made in the workplace. Arsine gas is heavier than air, so it would be more likely to settle in lower areas.

What to do if you are exposed

Because there is no cure for arsine exposure, the best thing to do is avoid it.

First, get fresh air by leaving the area where the arsine is. Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility of death from arsine.

If arsine was released outside, move away from the area. If arsine was released indoors, get out of the building.

Evacuate or "shelter in place"

If you are near an arsine release, emergency teams may tell you to evacuate the area or "shelter in place" inside.

For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, visit "Responding to Evacuation."

For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, visit "Responding to Sheltering in Place."

Take off your clothes

Remove the clothing as quickly as possible. Cut clothes off instead of pulling it over the head. If you are helping others, do not touch unsafe areas.

Wash your body

Wash any arsine from your skin with lots of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will protect you from any chemicals on your body.

If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you wear contacts, remove them and put them with the dirty clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes (even if they are not disposable contacts).

If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them.

Throw your clothes away

After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Do not touch unsafe areas of the clothing. If you have to touch unsafe areas, or you aren't sure where the unsafe areas are, wear rubber gloves. You can also use tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects to put the clothing in the bag.

Anything that touches the dirty clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too.

Tie the bag, and then put that bag inside another plastic bag. Throwing away your clothes this way helps protect you and others from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

When the local or state health department or emergency team arrive, tell them what you did with your clothes. The health department or emergency team will arrange for further disposal. Do not handle the plastic bags yourself.

For more information about cleaning your body and throwing away your clothes after a chemical exposure, visit "About Getting Clean."

Treatment

Treatment involves providing supportive medical care in a hospital. Blood transfusions (transferring blood) and intravenous fluids (fluids injected directly into a vein) may be needed.

Some people may need to have their blood cleaned by a machine if their kidneys fail. This process is called dialysis.

Long-term health effects

If people survive the first exposure, long-term effects may include:

• Kidney damage
• Numbness and pain in the hands and feet
• Neuropsychological symptoms (memory loss, confusion, and irritability)

More information

• Facts About Arsine
• Case Definition: Arsine or Stibine Poisoning
• Toxic Syndrome Description: Arsine or Stibine Poisoning

You can contact one of the following:

• Regional poison control center: 1-800-222-1222
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Public Response Hotline: 800-CDC-INFO
  • Teletypewriter (TTY): 888-232-6348
  • E-mail inquiries: cdcinfo@cdc.gov