ABSTRACT
Burns of all types result in signifi cant morbidity and mortality. Skin/eye chemical burns, perhaps better described as chemical skin/eye injuries because of the differences in pathophysiology from thermal or electrical burns, are a signifi cant problem. More than 25,000 chemical products including oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and corrosives have been identifi ed as having the potential to cause chemical injuries (1). The scope of the problem of chemical skin injuries is diffi cult to defi ne, as there are no comprehensive reporting systems or structures for such injuries. Josset et al. (1974) reported that there were approximately 7000 serious occupational injuries annually from chemical burns in France, and that about half of these involved the eyes. These burns resulted in 120,000 lost workdays and 250 cases of permanent disability.
