How can methyl isocyanate affect my health?
Methyl isocyanate can be harmful if you breathe it. The effects depend on how much you are exposed to and for how long. Exposure to low levels might cause eye and throat irritation that could cause you to cough or wheeze. Higher concentrations of methyl isocyanate gas could cause your lungs to swell, making it difficult to breathe. This could happen quickly or might not be noticed for a day or two. Exposure to high concentrations could result in severe damage to your lungs that might be fatal. If you were to survive severe damage to your lungs, they would probably heal. But, some damage might not be completely repaired. Long-term exposure to methyl isocyanate could result in long-term lung damage. If you were to get methyl isocyanate gas or liquid on your skin or in your eyes, you could develop chemical burns. Eye damage could be severe; in some cases, it could be permanent. You are not likely to come into skin contact with liquid methyl isocyanate. You are also not likely to swallow m
