Negative Impact of Slaked Lime on Children
Context:
- According to a recent study, chuna was the most frequent alkali agent in both groups and was responsible for 32% of all alkali burns among children, even if the physical or chemical agents that caused eye injuries varied between children and adults.
About:
- In the Indian subcontinent, paan is made with slaked lime (chuna), an alkali chemical that is frequently employed as a binding agent together with betel nut and other ingredients.
- According to a recent study, chuna, along with common home products and pyrotechnics, are the main causes of eye burns in youngsters.
- Quicklime is loosely supplied in plastic packets, where it can puff out and go in a child’s eyes.
- The alkali then burns the surface of the eye, which can cause damage to the eye. They tragically contribute to ocular illness and even vision loss, particularly in children.
Chuna and its dangers:
- Slaked lime, or chuna, is a component of Indian paan, which is combined with the areca nut and consumed while spread on a betel leaf.
- Paan also contains tobacco, and the alkali speeds up the absorption of the tobacco.
- Paan consumption has been a tradition from ancient times, particularly in South and South East Asia.
- The sensitive tissue is chemically burned by the alkali, suffering severe harm.
- Specialised stem cells that renew the cornea are found at the rim of the cornea, known as the corneal limbus.
- The limbus can be destroyed by chemical burns, impairing the cornea’s capacity to heal itself.
- The potential of chemical eye harm is not just there with slaked lime. Ocular damage can be brought on by a variety of household cleaning products, including toilet cleansers and other acids, pyrotechnics, and even super-glue in tubes.
- Ocular burns or, in the worst cases, a serious loss of eyesight are the results of chemical burns to the eye.
- They may need major surgical procedures, such as corneal grafts and stem-cell transplants, and will need ongoing care.
- Children who have access to common home chemicals like chuna, adults who operate with these substances without safety goggles, and people of both ages who play with fireworks are all at danger of suffering ocular burns.
The precautions that must be taken:
- If the material that causes them is handled carefully and out of children’s reach, such injuries can be avoided.
- Since lime is also contained in whitewash, for example, adults who are at risk of industrial injuries will benefit from protective eyewear.
- The report also emphasises the requirement for chuna supplied over the counter to have better packet integrity.
- Better plastic, better sealing, and clear warnings on the packaging may all assist to lessen the hazards to kids.
- Alkalis and acids should only be purchased in properly sealed containers, and users should insist on wearing safety glasses when using them.
Moving forward:
- The fact that over 60% of patients with ocular burns did not visit a hospital within 24 hours is a crucial result of this study. More than 20% of the patients did not receive any eye wash when they arrived at or prior to receiving emergency care, it was also discovered.
- As soon as the injury occurs, it is essential to rapidly wash the chemical out of the burned eye. To get rid of any objects that might be in the patient’s eye, the eye must be carefully irrigated when they attend the hospital.
