Case Report: acute and long-term effects of a massive beta-mercaptoethanol inhalation

β-mercaptoethanol is widely used in biochemistry and industrial applications. Animal toxicity has been demonstrated but very limited data exists regarding its human effects.

A 40-year-old male patient was exposed to β-mercaptoethanol vapours after an accidental occupational spillage. He developed dizziness, blurred vision, a headache and epistaxis within minutes alongside dyspnoea and cough in the following hours. Lung function tests displayed bronchial hyperreactivity and increased resistances, consistent with a reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. Neuropsychological testing showed memory difficulties affecting both working and long-term verbal memory, together with attentional and executive weaknesses. Twenty months after the incident, the patient still experienced memory impairment and dyspnoea while bronchial hyperreactivity remained present.

Respiratory exposure to large quantities of β-mercaptoethanol vapours can cause reactive airways dysfunction syndrome and is associated with long-term neurological and respiratory symptoms.