Zinc Poisoning

Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the earth and has wide application from paints to ointments like denture creams. That's not all! Other than these, cosmetics, wood preservatives and dyes are other substances that frequently expose us to this metal in one form or the other. Zinc is a mineral that is important for the various biological processes of our body and we get this metallic element in the required amounts through foods high in zinc. However, zinc is required in very small amounts by our body. Excess amount of this mineral can lead to zinc poisoning which if left untreated can lead to serious consequences.

Sources

Zinc is a very useful element that finds application in a large number of industrial products. It is mixed with other compounds to make paints, dyes and rust prevention coatings. Galvanized metals when heated or burned also release fumes of zinc. For healthy adults, the recommended intake of zinc ranges between 12 to 15 mg daily. However, if this element is ingested, inhaled or absorbed in excess amounts, one may suffer from zinc poisoning. Workers in factories who deal with zinc and alloys of zinc are at maximum risk of suffering from such a poisoning. Other than that, sometimes zinc is accidentally leaked to the soil by industries which are supposed to provide for safe disposal of the element. This zinc then reaches into deeper layers of the soil and contaminates the water table. People drinking water of this water table are then subjected to zinc poisoning. Not only human beings but animals are also at a risk of zinc poisoning. Zinc poisoning in dogs is very common as these animals are more prone to accidentally ingesting zinc than human beings.

Symptoms

Now we know some of the common causes of zinc poisoning, but the next question is how to understand if an individual has been poisoned due to excess amount of zinc entering his system? Here are some of the common symptoms of zinc poisoning that would enable one to identify a case of zinc poisoning:

• Pain in body
• Burning sensations
• Fever
• Cough
• Chills
• Convulsions
• Drop in blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Rash
• Breathlessness
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Numbness
• Tingling, pinching or sharp stabbing pain in limbs
• Shock
• Paralysis
• Urine retention
• Joint pain
• Yellow tinge in eyes or skin
• Intestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and nausea

These zinc poisoning symptoms are not exhaustive and an individual who is suffering from zinc poisoning may show just a few of the symptoms stated.

Treatment

If you suspect zinc poisoning in someone, your first preference should be to seek medical help immediately. Till medical assistance arrives, administer plenty of fluids preferably milk to prevent damage to kidneys. It also helps to know the patient's age and weight, the name of the product that is the source of poisoning. Try to ascertain the strength of the ingredients, the time and amount of the product ingested. All this information is important as this will help the health care professionals in gauging the level of poisoning and the line of treatment that they should resort to.

Depending on the extent of poisoning, another zinc poisoning treatment that medical professionals may resort to is known as gastric lavage. In this treatment, health care professionals insert a tube through mouth or nose of the patient and empty the content of the stomach. Antidotes to reverse the effects of zinc poisoning may also be given. If due to severe poisoning a person is suffering from acute anemia, blood transfusion may be required.

It is not just the industrially manufactured products that may cause zinc poisoning, excess of zinc supplement may also raise amount of zinc in the body to toxic levels. If there are children in the house, ensure that zinc supplements are out of their reach. Also keep an eye on what your pets eat or take into their mouth when they are out. This way you can reduce the possibility of zinc poisoning in your household.