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Chemical burn
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<p>A chemical burn occurs when living tissue is exposed to a <a href="/facts/Corrosive_substance/7LXjT1XE">corrosive substance</a> (such as a strong <a href="/facts/Acid/FySU18n1">acid</a>, <a href="/facts/Base_(chemistry)/M9wA7qeM">base</a> or <a href="/facts/Oxidizer/1FQzB8pQ">oxidizer</a>) or a <a href="/facts/Cytotoxicity/SQuTTLoL">cytotoxic agent</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Mustard_gas/e3qWU2Qp">mustard gas</a>, <a href="/facts/Lewisite/dXNbyngs">lewisite</a> or <a href="/facts/Arsine/VkH6217V">arsine</a>). Chemical burns follow standard <a href="/facts/Burn/EHdVoSxB">burn</a> classification and may cause extensive tissue damage. The main types of irritant and/or corrosive products are: acids, bases, <a href="/facts/Redox/Pyd5RVcj">oxidizers</a> / reducing agents, <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvents</a>, and <a href="/facts/Alkylation/1rd5SNbt">alkylants.</a> Additionally, chemical burns can be caused by biological toxins (such as <a href="/facts/Anthrax_toxin/aysd8nnT">anthrax toxin</a>) and by some types of cytotoxic <a href="/facts/Chemical_weapon/AwXDDhAR">chemical weapons</a>, e.g., <a href="/facts/Vesicant/5w33WIKa">vesicants</a> such as <a href="/facts/Mustard_gas/e3qWU2Qp">mustard gas</a> and <a href="/facts/Lewisite/dXNbyngs">Lewisite</a>, or <a href="/facts/Urticant/GN6XXYVY">urticants</a> such as <a href="/facts/Phosgene_oxime/NxSXdnv6">phosgene oxime</a>. </p><p>Chemical burns may: </p> <ul><li>need no source of heat</li> <li>occur immediately on contact</li> <li>not be immediately evident or noticeable</li> <li>be extremely painful</li> <li>diffuse into tissue and damage cellular structures under skin without immediately apparent damage to skin surface</li></ul> <p>Exposure to a <a href="/facts/Toxicity/qa96rs60">toxic</a> substance that is insufficient to cause a chemical burn can still be very serious, and the lack of a noticeable effect from a chemical exposure is not an indication of safety, particularly in the case of <a href="/facts/Chronic_toxicity/gUoq4N0g">chronic exposure</a>. </p>