Plastic resin hardener poisoning

Poisoning can occur from swallowing plastic resin hardener. Resin hardener fumes may also be poisonous.

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

Epoxy and resin can be poisonous if they are swallowed, or if their fumes are breathed in.

Where Found

Plastic resin hardeners are found in various epoxy and resin products.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of poisoning from plastic resin hardeners in different parts of the body.

Airways and lungs

• Breathing difficulty (from breathing in fumes)

  Breathing difficulty

  Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathingUncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Rapid breathing

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat

• Severe pain in the throat
• Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)

  Swelling

  Swelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Vision loss

Heart and blood vessels

• Low blood pressure (develops rapidly)
• Collapse

Stomach and intestines

• Severe abdominal pain

  Abdominal pain

  Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Vomiting, possibly bloody
• Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
• Blood in the stool

Skin

• Irritation
• Burns
• Holes in the skin or tissues under the skin

Home Care

Seek emergency medical help right away. If the resin is on the skin, wash the area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Contact poison control for further information.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• The person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
• The time it was swallowed or fumes were breathed in
• 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. 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 health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine
• Bronchoscopy (camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs)
• Endoscopy (camera down the throat to see burns to the esophagus and stomach)
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Intravenous (through a vein) fluids
• Laxatives
• Medicine to treat symptoms
• Surgery to remove burned skin (debridement)
• Tube through the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach ( gastric lavage )

  Gastric lavage

  Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Washing of the skin (irrigation) every few hours for several days

Outlook (Prognosis)

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

Swallowing this type of poison can have severe effects on many parts of the body. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible.

The outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the poison was swallowed. Death may occur up to a month later. Treatment may require removal of part of the esophagus and stomach.