Monochloroacetic acid exposure: a case report

Monochloroacetic acid exposure causes significant burns but can also be lethal following exposures of less than ten percent of body surface area. There have been two known survivors of significant monochloroacetic acid exposure. This is a case report of one of those survivors. The mechanism of toxicity is unknown, and attempts to relate monochloroacetic acid toxicity is to that of monofluoroacetic acid have yielded inconsistent results. The best mode of therapy is unclear, and no antidote has been proven effective, although ethanol and glycerol monoacetate have been suggested. The details of this case may be helpful to those faced with similar situations and to those investigating the toxicology of monochloroacetic acid.