A Consumer Product Safety Commission report finds a 37% spike in child poisoning deaths in 2021. Fifty nine children under the age of five years died after gaining access to prescribed or illicit drugs. Nearly 12 children died after ingesting cell or coin batteries from 2017 through 2021. The agency is encouraging consumers to protect their families by taking control of all potentially harmful household products, including medications, drugs, button batteries, laundry packets, and cleaning supplies. National Poison Prevention Week, which was March 20 - 24, 2023 is the 61st year it has been observed. Tough federal laws caused a decrease of 73% in child poisoning deaths since 1972. Laws include the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 and the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act … [Read more...]
Warning For Mushroom Foragers in Ohio: Be Careful
A warning for mushrooms foragers in Ohio and elsewhere: be careful about what you pick and eat. Unless you really know what you are doing and are very experienced, eating wild mushrooms can have catastrophic consequences. About 250 species of wild mushrooms that grow in North America are poisonous, according to the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. And some look very much like mushrooms that are safe to eat. Even buying wild mushrooms from farmers markets and street vendors can be risky. And even experts can be fooled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that about 1328 emergency department visits and 100 hospitalizations were associated with accidental poisonous mushroom ingestion in 2016. During the time period of 2016 to 2018, 8.6% of … [Read more...]
National Poison Prevention Week is 60; Drop in Child Poisoning Deaths
National Poison Prevention Week is 60 years old. There has been a dramatic drop in child poisoning deaths over the decades since this was started because of the efforts of the government and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement, "Decades of diligence and collaborative efforts have contributed to a dramatic decline in children being poisoned. Yet, progress is not guaranteed. Recent increases in fatalities demonstrate the need for continued vigilance and work to limit and eventually eliminate these preventable tragedies." National Poison Prevention Week started in 1962. Since then, this community, which includes the American Association of Poison Control Centers, consumer advocates, … [Read more...]
Symptoms of Heavy Metal Poisoning From Foods
Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning from foods can be serious and can cause long term health complications and illness. Food Poisoning Bulletin has often reported about foods and dietary supplements that are recalled for heavy metal contamination. The heavy metals most often involved include lead, arsenic, and mercury. Heavy metal poisoning can be both acute and chronic. Chronic poisoning is usually from long term exposure to smaller amounts of these compounds. Symptoms of this type of poisoning develop over time. Heavy metal poisoning can be difficult to diagnose, since many of the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other health problems, although some symptoms and illnesses, such as reduced IQ and cancer, are more unique to the metals. Acute heavy metal poisoning can occur … [Read more...]
