Curse of the "occult gases" in fish meal industry: "Lessons to learn"

Abstract

Stored wet fish consume oxygen and releases noxious gases as they spoil. Various collective gases are released during the process of decomposition such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, methane etc. Casualties are reported in fish meal industry due to accidental exposure to these invisible toxic gases. We report a rare case of uneventful escape of five workers, accidentally exposed to noxious gases while engaged in fish oil manufacturing tank, in Coastal district of Karnataka, India. The possible combination of noxious gases responsible for acute primary lung injury (acute respiratory distress syndrome) and occupational safety measures to be employed to prevent such accidental exposure have been highlighted.

Keywords

• Accidental exposure
• acute lung injury
• fish meal industry
• noxious gases