Most patients report little or no discomfort at the time of exposure. Although a garliclike odor may be noted with higher ambient arsine concentrations, serious toxicity may result from clinically nondetectable exposures. Following exposure, a dose-dependent latent period ensues, lasting up to 24 hours. The classic triad of symptoms in sublethal arsine exposures includes abdominal pain, hematuria, and jaundice. Physical signs and their severity depend on the concentration of arsine gas and the length of the patient's exposure to it.
Arsine gas is used in the semiconductor industry when depositing arsenic on microchips.
Exposures also may occur from producing, cleaning, or reclaiming gallium arsenide wafers. Arsine potentially may be used as a CW agent. Suspect arsine exposure if multiple victims present in a delayed fashion with hematuria, abdominal or flank pain, and jaundice. Severe acute arsine exposures result in sudden death. Serum chemistry panel Hemolysis can cause hyperkalemia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and hyperbilirubinemia.