Safety First: A Recent Case of a Dichloromethane Injection Injury

Title	Safety First: A Recent Case of a Dichloromethane Injection Injury
Authors	Sébastien Vidal
Magazine	ACS Central Science
Date	02/26/2020
DOI	10.1021/acscentsci.0c00100
Introduction	Laboratory safety is paramount, as chemists routinely handle a spectrum of hazardous substances, equipment, and procedures, including flammable solvents, toxic chemicals, glassware, and gas cylinders. Needles, despite their common use for transferring solvents and reagents, pose a significant and often overlooked danger, capable of delivering substances directly into the human body. Unlike casual spills, syringe needle injuries offer minimal protection. This article presents a distressing account from June 2018, where a student accidentally injected a minute amount (less than 100 μL) of dichloromethane into his finger. The consequences were severe, manifesting as rapid discolouration (pink/purple), intense heat, and immobility, necessitating immediate emergency surgery to remove necrotic tissue and perform a skin graft. The surgeon initially considered amputation due to the extensive damage but ultimately saved the finger. Despite recovery, the nerve was impacted, affecting dexterity. A review of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for dichloromethane revealed a concerning lack of information regarding injection injuries, prompting the author to share this incident widely. This case underscores the critical need for immediate action for any solvent injection, particularly toxic ones like dichloromethane, with rapid medical assessment and potential emergency surgery if necrosis signs appear. It also highlights the importance of informing colleagues and not attempting self-treatment. Furthermore, the article issues a challenge to the scientific community, engineers, and chemical suppliers to develop safer protocols and alternative equipment for routine, high-risk laboratory procedures involving needles, aiming to prevent future catastrophic accidents, such as the 2008 UCLA incident.
Quote	Sébastien Vidal. Safety First: A Recent Case of a Dichloromethane Injection Injury. ACS Central Science. 2020. Vol. 6(2):83-86. DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00100
Element	Carbon (C) , Hydrogen (H) , Lithium (Li) , Oxygen (O)
Industry	Research & Laboratory , Chemical & Pharmacy , Pharmaceutical Industry