Diphenly Poisoning in Fruit Paper Production

Abstract

Production of diphenyl-impregnated fruit wrapping paper under poor hygienic conditions caused the death of one man and the poisoning of eight other workers. The diphenyl concentrations in the air had been much in excess of the present threshold limit value of 1 mg/cu m. The clinical picture of diphenyl poisoning is characterized by central and peripheral nervous damage and liver injury. The cause of death in the fatal case was acute yellow liver atrophy. In three of the eight men with poisoning, there was histological evidence of liver injury. Changes in the results of blood analysis or renal function did not occur. The prognosis of diphenyl poisoning is still unknown, but some patients showed deterioration when seen after one year.