Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia


 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Shellac poisoning

 

Shellac poisoning can occur from swallowing shellac.

This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

The substances in shellac that can be harmful are:

  • Ethanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Methanol
  • Methyl isobutyl ketone

Where Found

 

These substances are found in:

  • Paint remover
  • Shellac
  • Wood finishing products

Other products may also contain these substances.

 

Symptoms

 

Below are symptoms of shellac poisoning in different parts of the body.

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

  • Blindness
  • Blurred vision
  • Wide pupils

HEART AND BLOOD

  • Low blood pressure
  • Severe change of acid level in the blood, which can cause organ failure
  • Weakness
  • Collapse

KIDNEYS

  • Kidney failure

LUNGS AND AIRWAYS

  • Rapid, shallow breathing
  • Fluid in the lungs
  • Blood in the lungs
  • Stopped breathing (see Breathing difficulties - first aid )

MUSCLES AND BONES

  • Leg cramps

NERVOUS SYSTEM

  • Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Convulsions

SKIN:

  • Blue-colored skin, lips, or fingernails

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

 

Home Care

 

Do NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. Seek medical help right away.

If the shellac is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the shellac was swallowed, give water to the person right away, unless instructed otherwise by a provider. Do NOT give water if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

 

Before Calling Emergency

 

Have this information ready:

  • Person's age, weight, and condition
  • Name of the product (and ingredients, if known)
  • Time it was swallowed
  • Amount swallowed

 

Poison Control

 

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

 

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

  • Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator)
  • Bronchoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
  • Chest x-ray
  • EKG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)
  • Endoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
  • Hemodialysis (kidney machine)
  • Fluids through a vein (IV)
  • Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
  • Surgery to remove burned skin
  • Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage )
  • Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Isopropanol and methanol are extremely poisonous. As little as 2 tablespoons (14.8 mL) of methanol can kill a child, while 2 to 8 ounces (59 to 236 mL) can be deadly for adults.

How well a person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

 

 

References

Jacobsen D, Hovda KE. Methanol, ethylene glycol, and other toxic alcohols. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2007:chap 32.

White SR. Toxic alcohols. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 155.

 

        Self Care

         

          Tests for Shellac poisoning

           

             

            Review Date: 11/4/2015

            Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Attending Physician at FDR Medical Services/Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

            The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

             
             
             

             

             

            A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



            Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.