Rationale: Copper sulphate is created by treating copper with sulfuric acid. On its own, copper sulfate is mildly toxic, while sulfuric acid mixtures can cause life threatening injuries.
Objective: We report a fatal case of a chemical burn and inhalation injury caused by exposure to boiling sulfuric acid mixture and copper sulphate.
Methods and results: The patient was a 54 year old man who worked in a factory. He was injured when a sulfuric acid boiler spilled, while mixing the solution with copper to create copper sulphate. Four days following the accident he was transferred to our unit. He had grade IIB and grade III chemical burns over 25% of his body and severe inhalation injury. He was febrile and anuric, unconscious, intubated, and hemodynamically unstable. He was treated supportively with fluid replacement and vasopressor support. Haemodialysis was performed urgently. Fourteen hours after admission the patient expired.
Discussions: Copper sulfate is moderately toxic, and sulfuric acid solutions are corrosive, especially at high temperatures. In high concentrations or long exposures, chemical burns may occur, with widespread fulminant negative effects on internal organs (e.g. liver and kidney failure). Haemodialysis should be applied when acute renal injury is detected, and continued until kidney function is recovered.

3 - Management of chemical burns with boiling sulfuric acid solution, in the presence of copper sulphate – case report