| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | This poisoning is caused by an overdose of calcium phosphate. It can be found in some cosmetic products, as well as many industrial chemicals and cements. |
| Alternative Names | |
| Poisonous Ingredient | Calcium phosphate |
| Where Found | Some cosmetic products Some industrial chemicals and cements
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
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| Symptoms | Note: Most symptoms are seen with severe exposures/overdoses.RespiratoryBreathing difficulty (from inhalation) Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty) Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
Severe pain in the throat Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue Loss of vision Gastrointestinal
Severe abdominal pain Intestinal obstruction Vomiting Burns of the esophagus (food pipe) Vomiting blood Blood in the stool Heart and blood vessels
Hypotension ( low blood pressure ) develops rapidly Collapse Skin
Irritation Burn Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues Blood
Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs) |
| Home Treatment | Calcium phosphate is generally considered to be relatively nontoxic, but large ingestions or inhalations can result in serious toxicity.
DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING .
If calcium phosphate is on the skin or in the eye, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the chemical was swallowed, give milk or water to dilute it. Call Poison Control for more information.
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| Before Calling Emergency | Determine the following information: The patient's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known) The time it was swallowed The amount swallowed |
| Poison Control, or a local emergency number | They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring the poison container with you to the emergency room. |
| What to expect at the emergency room | Some or all of the following procedures may be performed: For swallowed poison
Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach Give IV fluids Admission to the hospital Give an antidote Treat the symptoms For inhaled poisons
A breathing tube may need to be inserted Oxygen Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs) For skin exposure
Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin) Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care |
| Expectations (prognosis) | Recovery is very likely, because this product is relatively nontoxic. However, with severe exposures, the prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the alkali was diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the alkali was swallowed, and death may occur as long as a month later. |
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