Tar remover poisoning

Tar remover is used to get rid of tar, a dark oily material. This article discusses health problems that may occur if you breathe in or touch tar remover.

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

Tar remover contains compounds called hydrocarbons. These include:

• Benzene
• Dichloromethane
• Light aromatic naphtha
• Methane chloride
• Toluene
• Xylene

Where Found

Various tar removal products contain these compounds.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of tar remover poisoning in different parts of the body.

AIRWAYS AND LUNGS

• Breathing difficulty
• Throat swelling

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

• Severe pain or burning in the throat, nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Vision loss

HEART AND BLOOD

• Collapse
• Low blood pressure

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

• Abdominal pain -- severe
• Blood in the stools
• Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
• Nausea
• Vomiting (may be bloody)

NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Convulsions
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Feeling of being drunk (euphoria)
• Headache
• Loss of alertness (unconsciousness)
• Seizures
• Staggering
• Weakness

SKIN

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

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 person swallowed the tar remover, give them water or milk right away, if a provider tells you to do so. 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 fumes, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• The person's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (and ingredients, if known)
• The time it was swallowed
• The 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 look for burns in the airways and lungs
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Endoscopy: camera down the throat to look for burns in the esophagus and the stomach
• Fluids through a vein (IV)
• Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days
• Surgery to remove burned skin
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage )

  Gastric lavage

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

   

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Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much tar remover they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

Damage can continue to occur for several weeks after swallowing tar remover. Death may occur as long as a month later.