(11) Chemicals harmful to the body
Sulfur dioxide (SO2): from the burning of coal and petroleum, colorless but irritant and corrosive, water-soluble, can combine with water molecules in the damp air to form sulfinic acid and sulfuric acid-acid rain. Strong irritant effects on the eyes and upper respiratory mucosa.
Nitrogen oxide: (NO, NO2, N2O5): Acute inhalation may be lethal by pulmonary edema. Chronic inhalation may cause pulmonary emphysema. Nitrous acid when entering the blood may cause tissue hypoxia with cyanosis, dyspnea, hypotension, and CNS damage.
Photochemical smog: This is a light blue smog formed by nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons (automobile tail gas) after irradiation by UV light from the sun. Photochemical reaction - oxidants, such as ozone, formaldehyde, allyl aldehyde, nitroester peroxide. These are mainly harmful to the eyes and upper respiratory tract. It can also cause chromosomal aberration of lymphocytes, damage of enzyme activities, production of hemolytic anemia, and acceleration of aging.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): This is a class of chemicals widely existed in the environment. It is carcinogenic and is produced by coal, petroleum, shale oil, tar, asphalt, tobacco, and automobile tail gas. A small amount of PAH is contained in fried and smoked food.
Nitrosamine compounds: Two types of compounds: nitrosamines and nitrosyl compound. There are 80 compounds in total, and carcinogenic.
Polychlorinated biphenyl: Contained in plastifiers, insulators, high temperature lubricants, rubber softeners, paints and printing ink easer.
Arsenic compounds: common compounds are AS2O3, ASCl3, H3ASO3, ASH3. They are extremely toxic. They are used in depilatory, disinfectant, decolorant, dye, paint, and agricultural chemicals. Toxic effects on humans are that of the peripheral neuritis. The target organs are the skin, lung and liver.
Chromium: Used in plating, coloring, paint, alloy, printing and dyeing, offset printing, and medicine. Chromium can interfere with the activities of many enzymes and is carcinogenic. It has irritant and corrosive effects on the stomach and the intestine.
Cyanide: These chemicals (e.g., HCN, NaCN, KCN) are extremely toxic. Long term exposure can cause neurasthenic syndrome, muscle dysfunction, vegetative nerve functional disturbance, hearing and visual dysfunction and decrease in basal metabolism.
Phenol: Seen in the polluted water of coking works, gas plant, oil refinery, chemical works, synthetic fiber factory, dye processing plant, pharmaceutical factory. Phenol is a protoplasmic toxin. At low concentrations it can cause cell degeneration, at high concentrations, it can cause protein coagulation. After absorption it can cause methemoglobinemia.
Cadmium: The source of cadmium is from cadmium mining, metallurgy, and petroleum combustion. Cadmium is not required by the body, and its toxicity is via its interference with copper, cobalt, and zinc metabolism. It can also inhibit the function of certain enzymes.
(12) Is it possible to sign a contract for the treatment of vitiligo at our hospital (guaranteed treatment)
Some patients may have sought treatment from many clinics and tried many treatments for many years without any improvement. In some patients the condition may be even worse than before. Such patients may have experienced great psychological pressure and financial burden, and lost confidence in treatment. They may want to try another treatment but fear another treatment failure. They may ask the doctor to sign a contract to obtain a refund if no effects are shown. In such cases the doctor should show understanding and sympathy to the patients and describe truthfully in detail the method of treatment and the effects. After examining the patients a specialist can generally make a correct judgement of the prognosis. For those patients in whom there is some certainty of a cure, the doctor can agree to the patients' request and sign a contract to guarantee a refund. This may be a psychological consolation to the patients and increase the patients' confidence to treatment. This can also prevent another financial loss for the patients.

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