common household poisons ms achala vithanage research officer national poisons and drug information...

COMMON COMMON HOUSEHOLD HOUSEHOLD

POISONSPOISONSMs Achala VithanageMs Achala Vithanage

Research OfficerResearch OfficerNational Poisons and Drug National Poisons and Drug

Information CentreInformation Centre

TOXIC SUBSTANCESTOXIC SUBSTANCES

Any chemical / mixture that may be Any chemical / mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled swallowed or human health if inhaled swallowed or absorbed through skin.absorbed through skin.

These toxic substance contained in These toxic substance contained in everyday household products. everyday household products.

Poisoning due to household Poisoning due to household substances is usually mild.substances is usually mild.

TOXIC SUBSTANCESTOXIC SUBSTANCES

Prompt recognition & early treatment Prompt recognition & early treatment is important.is important.

Implementation of preventive Implementation of preventive measures is essential.measures is essential.

Drugs and household cleaners are the Drugs and household cleaners are the most reported cases of poisoning.most reported cases of poisoning.

Easy availability of household product Easy availability of household product makes them one of the leading causes makes them one of the leading causes of poisoning.of poisoning.

POISONING DUE TO NON POISONING DUE TO NON MEDICINAL AGENTS 2000-2006MEDICINAL AGENTS 2000-2006

Poisoning due to household products Poisoning due to household products is a common hospital admission. is a common hospital admission. Annually there are about 15,000-Annually there are about 15,000-19,000 admissions and more than 19,000 admissions and more than 270 deaths in state hospitals.270 deaths in state hospitals.

POISONING DUE TO POISONING DUE TO NONMEDICINAL AGENTSNONMEDICINAL AGENTS

YearYear AdmissionAdmission DeathDeath

20002000 15 64115 641 328328

20012001 16 75116 751 342342

20022002 16 70816 708 281281

20032003 18 10818 108 234234

20042004 16 97816 978 226226

20052005 17 45617 456 230230

20062006 18 87818 878 316316

VICTIMSVICTIMS Usually under the age of five, majority were Usually under the age of five, majority were

toddlers between the age of 1-3 years.toddlers between the age of 1-3 years. These incidence are preventable These incidence are preventable

emergencies.emergencies. NPIC (Sri Lanka) 20 years NPIC (Sri Lanka) 20 years

experience:experience: Age distribution showed that 20% of Age distribution showed that 20% of

enquiries were for children less than 5 years.enquiries were for children less than 5 years. Utilization of the services of NPIC shows that Utilization of the services of NPIC shows that

accidental poisoning in children is a major accidental poisoning in children is a major concern.concern.

Acute childhood poisoningAcute childhood poisoning (Sri Lankan experience – Study period June 1984-(Sri Lankan experience – Study period June 1984-

1997)1997) Type of poisonType of poison NoNo

Household productHousehold product 10261026

DrugsDrugs 612612

Poisonous plantsPoisonous plants 160160

AgrochemicalsAgrochemicals 127127

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous 7575

TotalTotal 14421442

Commonly used harmful Commonly used harmful household productshousehold products

Cleaners:Cleaners: Used to remove dirt mostly contains Used to remove dirt mostly contains

fragrance, surfactants & pesticides. fragrance, surfactants & pesticides. Surfactants remove dirt & pesticides kill Surfactants remove dirt & pesticides kill

germ like bacteria and viruses. germ like bacteria and viruses. Glass cleaners – Ammonia, IsopropanolGlass cleaners – Ammonia, Isopropanol Dish washers – Cationic, anionic or Dish washers – Cationic, anionic or

nonionic detergents nonionic detergents Oven cleaners – Lye (Na/K hydroxide)Oven cleaners – Lye (Na/K hydroxide) All purpose cleaners – Ethylene glycol, Na All purpose cleaners – Ethylene glycol, Na

hyperchloritehyperchlorite


Rust removers:Rust removers: Mold and rust are kind of funguses.Mold and rust are kind of funguses. Pesticide chemicals found in these Pesticide chemicals found in these

products are chlorine, alkyl products are chlorine, alkyl ammonium chloride.ammonium chloride.

Very caustic and corrosive.Very caustic and corrosive.


Bleaches/Disinfactants:Bleaches/Disinfactants: Used to kill germsUsed to kill germs Depending on the specific product usually do Depending on the specific product usually do

not cause serious harm if a small amount is not cause serious harm if a small amount is swallowed.swallowed.

Average amount may cause serious poisoning Average amount may cause serious poisoning and even death.and even death.

Germicide chemical-acids, alkalis, pine oil, Germicide chemical-acids, alkalis, pine oil, phenol, chlorophenol etc.phenol, chlorophenol etc.


Combination disinfectants are more Combination disinfectants are more toxic.toxic.

E.g.: Pine oil + PhenolE.g.: Pine oil + Phenol


Petroleum products are hydrocarbons:Petroleum products are hydrocarbons: Commonly used household Commonly used household

hydrocarbons are: kerosene, petrol, hydrocarbons are: kerosene, petrol, thinner – fatal poisoning is rare always thinner – fatal poisoning is rare always cause lung damage. cause lung damage.

Turpentine – Pines and camphinesTurpentine – Pines and camphines

Break fluid, car coolant, antifreezer Break fluid, car coolant, antifreezer ethylene glycol, highly toxic – damage ethylene glycol, highly toxic – damage to heart, kidney & brain can cause to heart, kidney & brain can cause death. death.


Paints/PolishesPaints/Polishes Paints:Paints:

Water base - mostly used for indoors. Water base - mostly used for indoors. Main solvent is waterMain solvent is water

Oil base – mineral spirit and other Oil base – mineral spirit and other petroleum distillate. Used for out petroleum distillate. Used for out doors.doors.

Polishes:Polishes: Furniture polishes & metal Furniture polishes & metal cleaners – cleaners – petroleum distillate.petroleum distillate.


Laundry detergents:Laundry detergents: Used to clean stains Used to clean stains and loosen dirt from the household and loosen dirt from the household laundry.laundry.

These are responsible for many household These are responsible for many household poisoning by intentional and accidental poisoning by intentional and accidental swallowing.swallowing.

Contains cleaning agents with cationic, Contains cleaning agents with cationic, anionic or nonionic detergents. E.g.Prinsoanionic or nonionic detergents. E.g.Prinso

Commonly used harmful household Commonly used harmful household productsproducts

Prinso:Prinso: Prinso is an emerging fatal self Prinso is an emerging fatal self

poisoning in Sri Lanka (E.g. Southern poisoning in Sri Lanka (E.g. Southern Sri Lanka)Sri Lanka)

1.2g KMNO1.2g KMNO44 + 12.5g Oxalic Acid + 12.5g Oxalic Acid


Batteries:Batteries:1. Dry cell – Carbon + Heavy metal1. Dry cell – Carbon + Heavy metal2. Wet cell – used for vehicles, 2. Wet cell – used for vehicles,

lead and battery acid(Hlead and battery acid(H22SOSO44))3. Button/Disk battery single cell 3. Button/Disk battery single cell batteries used as an energy source batteries used as an energy source for for digital watches, calculators, digital watches, calculators, cameras etc.cameras etc.


Button & Disk Batteries:Button & Disk Batteries:

4.4.Contains heavy metals and potassium oxide Contains heavy metals and potassium oxide solution.solution.

5. If swallowed – majority no symptoms passed 5. If swallowed – majority no symptoms passed intact with intact with faeces. faeces.

6. If impacted in oesophagus – fever, dysphasia, 6. If impacted in oesophagus – fever, dysphasia, vomiting and anorexia.vomiting and anorexia.

7.7. Tissue damage cause by flow of electric Tissue damage cause by flow of electric current, potentially fatal.current, potentially fatal.

Thank youThank you

common household poisons ms achala vithanage research officer national poisons and drug information...

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