Varnish poisoning

Varnish is a clear liquid that is used as coating on woodwork and other products. Varnish poisoning occurs when someone swallows varnish.

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

Varnish contains both resins and solvents.

The harmful substances in the resins are:

• Amber
• Balsam
• Rosin
• Various substances produced from plants and insects (such as the lac insect and urethanes)

The harmful substances in the solvents are:

• Ethanol
• Mineral spirits
• Turpentine

Where Found

Some varnishes contain these substances.

Symptoms

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

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

• Loss of vision
• Severe pain in the throat
• Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

• Blood in the stool

  Blood in the stool

  Bloody stools often are a sign of a problem in the digestive tract. Blood in the stool may come from anywhere along your digestive tract from your m...

   

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• Burns in the food pipe (esophagus)
• 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.

   

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• Vomiting
• Vomiting blood

  Vomiting blood

  Vomiting blood is regurgitating (throwing up) contents of the stomach that contains blood. Vomited blood may appear either a bright red or dark red c...

   

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KIDNEYS AND BLADDER

• Blood in the urine

  Blood in the urine

  Blood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...

   

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• Kidneys stop working ( kidney failure )

  Kidney failure

  Acute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...

   

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LUNGS AND AIRWAYS

• Breathing difficulty
• Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)

HEART AND BLOOD

• Collapse
• Low blood pressure that develops rapidly

  Low blood pressure

  Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough ...

   

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NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
• Dizziness
• Impaired memory
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Loss of coordination
• Sensation of being drunk
• Severe brain damage
• Sleepiness
• Stupor (decreased level of consciousness)
• Walking difficulties

SKIN

• Burns
• Irritation

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the varnish is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person swallowed the varnish, give them water or milk right away, unless a provider tells you not to. DO NOT give anything to drink if the person has symptoms that make it hard to swallow. These include vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness. If the person breathed in varnish fumes, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (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 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:

• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including a tube down the throat into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator).
• Bronchoscopy. Camera placed down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs.
• Chest x-ray
• Endoscopy. Camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach.
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Fluid through the vein (by IV)
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Surgery to remove burned skin
• Washing of the skin (irrigation). Perhaps every few hours for several days.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much varnish they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery. Varnish can cause extensive damage in the:

• Lungs
• Mouth
• Stomach
• Throat

The outcome depends on the extent of this damage.

Delayed injury may occur, including a hole forming in the throat, esophagus, or stomach. This can lead to severe bleeding and infection.

If varnish gets in the eye, sores may develop in the cornea, the clear part of the eye. This can cause blindness.