Glazes Health Article

Definition

This poisoning is caused by a glaze, a product that adds a shiny or glossy coating to a surface.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Hydrocarbons (including basalt, borax frit, and zinc oxide)
• Lead

Where Found

• Various glazes (paint, ceramic)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Muscles and joints
  • Paralysis
  • Muscle soreness
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Joint pain
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Yellow eyes
  • Visual problems
  • Metallic taste
• Skin
  • Yellow skin
  • Pale skin
• Gastrointestinal
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Increased thirst
• Heart and blood
  • Low blood pressure
  • High blood pressure
  • Convulsions
• Nervous system
  • Easily excitable
  • Coma
  • Hallucinations
  • Lack of desire to do anything
  • Irritable
  • Uncooperative
  • Headache
  • Inability to sleep
  • Confusion
  • Tremor
  • Twitching
  • Uncoordinated movements

Note: These symptoms are generally seen only in poisonings that occur over a long (chronic) period of time.  

Home Treatment

DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.

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

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

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

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called 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 U.S. 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.

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

See National Poison Control center.

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

• Fluids by IV
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Activated charcoal
• A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage) Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
• Oxygen
• Breathing tube
• Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
• Irrigation (washing of the skin) -- perhaps every few hours for several days
• Skin debridment (surgical removal of burned skin)

Expectations (prognosis)

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

Damage can continue to occur for several weeks after the poison was swallowed.

Death may occur as long as a month after the poison was swallowed. Those who survive may have some permanent brain damage.