How do working with acids can have a bad effect on the nervous system?

Working with the chemicals and acids, in the long run, will somehow affect our human body. The chemicals are normally encountered with human body through inhalation into lungs or absorption through skin membranes or cuts or maybe ingestion via the mouth.

Sometimes it may affect the nervous system. The chemical engineers or experts have to work with different types of Acids such as Sulphuric acid, nitric acid, Perchloric acid and Picric acid which are potentially explosive chemicals and burn violently under certain conditions. Similarly, some Chemicals such as Salicylic Acid effect the nervous system badly. This is called as Neurotoxicity.

What Happens?

The Neurotoxicity or the central nervous system toxicity include tinnitus and hearing loss. This is very severe cases, particularly in children can cause convulsions and lead to coma. This effect targets the organs such as the central nervous system, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Central nervous system toxicity and gastrointestinal hemorrhage are more common after chronic (therapeutic) intoxication. Encountering such toxic acids and chemicals that affect the nervous system can develop some prominent features such as central nervous system stimulation, intense hyperpnoea, and hyperpyrexia.

Generally, the symptoms commence with nausea, vomiting, and epigastric discomfort. Toxic chemicals produce injurious and lethal effects upon contact with body cells due to their chemical properties.

Some of the Neurotoxins that affect Nervous system are Mercury (metallic inorganic and organic), xylene, carbon-di-sulfide, n-hexane, trichloroethylene etc.