Cyanamide

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

other: Medical data/ clinical observations

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

1989

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1989

Materials and methods

Study type:

poisoning incident

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: oral

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline required

Principles of method if other than guideline:

For details on principles of method see below.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Cyanamide

EC Number:

206-992-3

EC Name:

Cyanamide

Cas Number:

420-04-2

Molecular formula:

CH2N2

IUPAC Name:

cyanamide

Test material form:

other: aqueous solution

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Subjects:

A 29 year old man

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Route of exposure:

other:

Reason of exposure:

unintentional, occupational

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

It is reported that a 29 year old man became ill, while spraying kiwi trees with cyanamide. The applicator was wearing a Tyvek suit, rubber boots, rubber gloves and a half-face respirator. He started spraying in the morning. He quit for lunch and removed his protective ensemble without decontamination.

Medical treatment:

No data

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

This worker experienced hypotension, vertigo, nausea, puffiness of the face and hypokalemia without exposure to alcohol while applying Hydrogen cyanamide. The hypotension was without tachycardia and lasted four days after the exposure.

Any other information on results incl. tables

While the employee denied consuming any alcoholic beverages or having any illness prior to working the day of the exposure, the employer developed the information that the employee attended a party the night before, was complaining of a cold when he went to work that day and had a canister fall off his respirator the morning of the illness. Typically, illness with cyanamide has been associated with Antabuse reaction when used with alcohol.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Typically, illness with cyanamide has been associated with Antabuse reaction when used with alcohol.

Executive summary:

It is reported that a 29 year old man became ill, while spraying kiwi trees with cyanamide. The applicator was wearing a Tyvek suit, rubber boots, rubber gloves and a half-face respirator. He started spraying in the morning. He quit for lunch and removed his protective ensemble without decontamination. After lunch he started to stand up and became so dizzy that he collapsed, vomited twice and was taken to the hospital. This worker experienced hypotension, vertigo, nausea, puffiness of the face and hypokalemia without exposure to alcohol while applying hydrogen cyanamide. He was wearing a full protective ensemble and there was no patient history or objective signs of alcohol use. The hypotension was without tachycardia and lasted four days after the exposure. The employee did not decontaminate before removing his protective ensemble for lunch but he was slightly ill in the morning. His illness accelerated after lunch. While the employee denied consuming any alcoholic beverages or having any illness prior to working the day of the exposure, the employer developed the information that the employee attended a party the night before, was complaining of a cold when he went to work that day and had a canister fall off his respirator the morning of the illness. Typically, illness with cyanamide has been associated with Antabuse reaction when used with alcohol.