Pneumothorax associated with accidental 4-nitrophenyl chlonoformate inhalation in an academic chemistry lab.

An otherwise healthy 16-year-old male presented to the pediatric emergency department 12 hours after accidental inhalation of 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate in a chemistry lab. His only pertinent findings were a complaint of chest tightness and decreased breath sounds on a pulmonary exam. He was found on chest radiograph to have a large right-sided pneumothorax with slight mediastinal shift and mild interstitial prominence. A chest tube was placed, and he recovered well. This case demonstrates pneumothorax as a possible complication of inhalation of caustic chemical substances and emphasizes the importance of thorough history-taking and clinical examination.