COMMON HOUSEHOLD

POISONS
Ms Achala Vithanage
Research Officer
National Poisons and Drug
Information Centre
 TOXIC SUBSTANCES
 Any chemical / mixture that may be
harmful to the environment and to human
health if inhaled swallowed or absorbed
through skin.
 These toxic substance contained in
everyday household products.
 Poisoning due to household substances is
usually mild.
 TOXIC SUBSTANCES
 Prompt recognition & early treatment is
important.
 Implementation of preventive measures is
essential.
 Drugs and household cleaners are the
most reported cases of poisoning.
 Easy availability of household product
makes them one of the leading causes of
poisoning.
 POISONING DUE TO NON
MEDICINAL AGENTS 2000-2006
 Poisoning due to household products is a
common hospital admission. Annually
there are about 15,000-19,000 admissions
and more than 270 deaths in state
hospitals.
 POISONING DUE TO
NONMEDICINAL AGENTS
Year Admission Death
2000 15 641 328
2001 16 751 342
2002 16 708 281
2003 18 108 234
2004 16 978 226
2005 17 456 230
2006 18 878 316
 VICTIMS
 Usually under the age of five, majority were
toddlers between the age of 1-3 years.
 These incidence are preventable emergencies.
 NPIC (Sri Lanka) 20 years
experience:
 Age distribution showed that 20% of enquiries
were for children less than 5 years.
 Utilization of the services of NPIC shows that
accidental poisoning in children is a major
concern.
 Acute childhood poisoning
(Sri Lankan experience – Study period June 1984-1997)

Type of poison No

Household product 1026

Drugs 612

Poisonous plants 160

Agrochemicals 127

Miscellaneous 75

Total 1442
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Cleaners:
 Used to remove dirt mostly contains fragrance,
surfactants & pesticides.
 Surfactants remove dirt & pesticides kill germ
like bacteria and viruses.
 Glass cleaners – Ammonia, Isopropanol
 Dish washers – Cationic, anionic or nonionic
detergents
 Oven cleaners – Lye (Na/K hydroxide)
 All purpose cleaners – Ethylene glycol, Na
hyperchlorite
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Rust removers:
 Mold and rust are kind of funguses.
 Pesticide chemicals found in these
products are chlorine, alkyl ammonium
chloride.
 Very caustic and corrosive.
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Bleaches/Disinfactants:
 Used to kill germs
 Depending on the specific product usually do
not cause serious harm if a small amount is
swallowed.
 Average amount may cause serious poisoning
and even death.
 Germicide chemical-acids, alkalis, pine oil,
phenol, chlorophenol etc.
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Combination disinfectants are more
toxic.
 E.g.: Pine oil + Phenol
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Petroleum products are hydrocarbons:
 Commonly used household hydrocarbons
are: kerosene, petrol, thinner – fatal
poisoning is rare always cause lung
damage.
Turpentine – Pines and camphines
Break fluid, car coolant, antifreezer
ethylene glycol, highly toxic – damage to
heart, kidney & brain can cause death.
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Paints/Polishes
 Paints:
Water base - mostly used for indoors.
Main solvent is water
Oil base – mineral spirit and other
petroleum distillate. Used for out
doors.
 Polishes: Furniture polishes & metal cleaners –
petroleum distillate.
 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Laundry detergents: Used to clean stains
and loosen dirt from the household
laundry.
 These are responsible for many
household poisoning by intentional and
accidental swallowing.
 Contains cleaning agents with cationic,
anionic or nonionic detergents. E.g.Prinso
Commonly used harmful household
products
 Prinso:
 Prinso is an emerging fatal self poisoning
in Sri Lanka (E.g. Southern Sri Lanka)

 1.2g KMNO4 + 12.5g Oxalic Acid

 Commonly used harmful
household products
 Batteries:
1. Dry cell – Carbon + Heavy metal
2. Wet cell – used for vehicles,
lead and battery acid(H2SO4)
3. Button/Disk battery single cell
batteries used as an energy source
for digital watches, calculators,
cameras etc.
 Commonly used harmful
household products
Button & Disk Batteries:
4. Contains heavy metals and potassium oxide
solution.
5. If swallowed – majority no symptoms passed
intact with faeces.
6. If impacted in oesophagus – fever, dysphasia,
vomiting and anorexia.
7. Tissue damage cause by flow of electric
current, potentially fatal.
Thank you