SKIN INJURIES AFFLICTING 3 OIL WORKERS FOLLOWING CONTACT WITH CALCIUMBROMIDE AND OR CALCIUM-CHLORIDE/

Calcium bromide brine is a highly concentrated aqueous solution of cal cium bromide and calcium chloride. It is used extensively in the oil i ndustry. This solution and its components are recognized as causes Of Skin injury and information is available fro,il the manufacturers on t heir safe use and handling. Two patients who were injured following un protected skin exposure to this solution and one patient who was injur ed following exposure to calcium chloride powder are reported. All sus tained skin injuries characterised by an absence of pain and a delayed clinical appearance of the full extent of the injury. Furthermore hea ling was complicated by graft loss or was slow. Although organic bromi ne compounds are recognized as a cause of skin injuries(1.2), no previ ous reports of such injuries to humans secondary to calcium chloride o r bromide exposure were found in the medical literature. Our experienc e with these patients is described. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.