Chapter 37: Domestic Poisons

37.1: Domestic/Household Poisons

Hydrocarbons

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
  • These are %%petroleum distillates%% which are common constituents of several industrial and household products and are involved in accidental poisoning, especially among children.

     1. Low molecular weight:

           1. Gaseous Forms — Methane, ethane, propane, and butane.      2. Liquid Forms —  Petroleum distillates, are break-down products remaining after processing crude oil.

                 1. Kerosene, diesel oil, gasoline, and furniture polishes.   2. High molecular weight:

           1. Hydrocarbons of petroleum distillate origin:

                 1. Petroleum jelly and paraffin wax.      2. Hydrocarbons of non-petroleum distillate origin:

                 1. Turpentine and carbon tetrachloride.

\

Sign and Symptoms

Acute Poisoning

  • A characteristic odor specific to hydrocarbon ingested is appreciated in the vicinity of the patient.
  • Peculiar odor is usually evident in breath and vomitus. Cyanosis can occur due to pulmonary complications such as bronchopneumonia.
  • Depression resulting in vertigo, giddiness, drowsiness, headache, tremors, convulsions, etc. Toluene sniffing may present with a drunken appearance. Pupils are usually constricted initially but later on dilated when coma supervenes.
  • Ingestion of the poison results in pain, burning pain in throat, nausea, vomiting, colicky abdomen, diarrhea, etc.
  • Cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, etc.
  • In fatal cases:   * Drowsiness merges into coma and death due to respiratory failure.   * There may be intense excitement, hallucinations and convulsions, cyanosis, unconsciousness, profound coma, and death.

    \

Chronic Poisoning

  • Chronic eczematoid dermatitis, with redness, itching, and inflammation. Cutaneous exposure to gasoline and other hydrocarbons can cause second-degree burns.
  • Dizziness, weakness, weight loss, anemia, nervousness, pain in limbs, peripheral numbness, paraesthesias’s, etc.

  \

Treatment
  • Wash the contaminated skin with a copious amount of water and soap.
  • Give liquid paraffin orally — dose 250 ml. It dissolves kerosene and reduces its absorption.
  • Activated charcoal in large doses is recommended, though petroleum distillers are not adsorbed.
  • Saline purgatives may also be useful.
  • Avoid gastric lavage for the fear of aspiration.
  • Avoid intravenous fluid overload, as it may precipitate pulmonary edema.
  • Rest of the treatment includes symptomatic measures.
  • Chronic case of poisoning — isolate and prevent further absorption of poison.

  \

Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Most of the aromatic hydrocarbons are widely used in industry. Some of the examples are benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, etc.
  • Most of the aromatic hydrocarbons have characteristic odors and they are %%absorbed through inhalation, ingestion and direct skin contact%%.
  • Both benzene and toluene are highly toxic, while xylene is relatively nontoxic.

  \

Common Domestic Poisons

  • Babies and Children   * Baby powder — Boric acid   * Crayons (chalk) —- Colored by copper, arsenic, lead components   * Crayon (wax) — Paranitroaniline, azo dyes   * Fireworks — Arsenic, antimony, lead, thiocyanate, phosphorus   * Toys (paints) — Lead, chromium, copper, etc.
  • Cosmetics   * Cuticle remover — Potassium hydroxide, trisodium phosphate   * Depilatories — Barium sulfide   * Nailpolish removers — Acetone, ethylacetate   * Sun tan lotions — Denatured alcohol, methyl salicylate
  • Kitchen   * Baking powder — Tartaric acid (mild irritant)   * Baking soda — Sodium bicarbonate (causes alkalosis in doses over 5 gm/kg)   * Dishwashing compounds (machine) — Sodium polyphosphates, sodium carbonate   * Domestic fuel — Kerosene   * Domestic gas — LPG (accumulated gas explodes with air when flame/spark is provided)   * Fire extinguishing fluids — Carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide   * Matches — Antimony, phosphorus sesquisulfide, potassium chlorate
  • Rat poisons   * Rat paste — Phosphorus, zinc/aluminum phosphide   * Rodine (brown bran paste) — Barium carbonate, thallium acetate   * Warfarin — Yellow phosphorus, it is a 4-hydroxy coumarin
  • Sanitary   * Deodorants — Formaldehyde, naphthalene   * Drain cleaners — Sodium hydroxid   * Lysol — Phenol
  • Miscellaneous   * Anti-rust products — Ammonium sulfide, naptha, oxalic acid   * Cleaning solvents (inflammable) — Petroleum hydrocarbons   * Cleaning solvents (noninflammable) — Carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene   * Dentifrices, mouthwashes — Hydrogen peroxide   * Furniture polish — Ordinary denatured spirit, resins, sodium hypochlorite (5%), oxalic acid   * Insecticide (spray) — Organochloro, organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides   * Lavatory cleaners — Mineral acids   * Marking ink — Aniline   * Mothballs — Naphthalene   * Paint removers — Sodium hydroxide, acetone   * Shoe polish — Aniline, nitrobenzene   * Straw hat cleaner — Oxalic acid

    \

Medical Household Poisons

  • Antiseptics — lodine, benzoin, phenol
  • Cough remedies — Codeine
  • Headache remedies — Asprin, phenacetin, analgin
  • Pep tablets — Benzedrine
  • Sleeping preparations — Barbiturates
  • Throat tablets — Potassium chlorate
  • Tonic syrup — Easton’s syrup (strychnine)
  • Others — Antidepressants, tranquilizers, antibiotics, analgesics, etc.

  \

Garden Poisons

  • Fungicides — Lead arsenate, copper compounds, organic mercurials, lime, sulfur
  • Insecticides pesticides — Nicotine, tar oils, organochloro and  organophosphorus compound carbamates, cyanides, etc.
  • Weed killers — Sodium chlorate, arsenious oxide (herbicides) and arsenites, dinitrocresol, paraquat

 \n \n