Talcum powder poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Talcum powder is a powder made from a mineral called talc. Talcum powder poisoning may occur when someone breathes in or swallows talcum powder. This can be by accident or on purpose.
P 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.

T Poisonous Ingredient
P Talc can be harmful if it is swallowed or breathed in.

T Where Found
P Talc may be found in:
- Certain products that kill germs (antiseptics)
- Some baby powder
- Talcum powder
- As a filler in street drugs, like heroin
P Other products may also contain talc.

T Symptoms
P Most symptoms of talcum powder poisoning are caused by breathing in (inhaling) talc dust, especially in infants. Sometimes this happens by accident or over a long period of time.
P Breathing problems are the most common problem of inhaling talcum powder. Below are other symptoms of talcum powder poisoning in different parts of the body.
P BLADDER AND KIDNEYS
- Urine output is greatly decreased
- No urine output
P EYES, EARS, NOSE, and THROAT
- Cough
- Eye irritation
- Throat irritation
P STOMACH AND INTESTINES
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
P HEART AND BLOOD
- Collapse
- Convulsions
- Low blood pressure
P LUNGS
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Lung failure
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Wheezing
P NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
- Drowsiness
- Fever
- Lack of desire to do anything (lethargy)
- Twitching of arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Twitching of the facial muscles
P SKIN
- Blisters
- Blue skin, lips, and fingernails

T Home Care
P 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 breathed in the talcum powder, move them to fresh air right away.

T Before Calling Emergency
P Have this information ready:
- Person's age, weight, and condition
- Name of the product (ingredients, if known)
- Time it was swallowed
- Amount swallowed

T Poison Control
P 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.
P 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.

T What to Expect at the Emergency Room
P Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.
P The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate.
P The person may receive:
- Blood and urine tests
- Breathing support, including a tube through the mouth into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator)
- Chest x-ray
- EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
- Fluids through a vein (by IV)
- Medicine to treat symptoms
P The person may be admitted to the hospital.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P How well someone does depends on how much talcum powder they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery. Breathing in talcum powder can lead to very serious lung problems, even death.
P Use caution when using talcum powder on babies. Talc-free baby powder products are available.
P Workers who have regularly breathed in talcum powder over long periods of time have developed serious lung damage and cancer.
P Injecting heroin that contains talc into a vein may lead to heart and lung infections and serious organ damage, and even death.

T Alternative Names
P Talc poisoning; Baby powder poisoning

T References
P Blanc PD. Acute responses to toxic exposures. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 75.
P Cowie RL, Becklake MR. Pneumoconioses. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 73.
P Sue YJ, Pinkert H. Baby powder, borates, and camphor. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2007:chap 99.
P Zosel AE. General approach to the poisoned patient. In: Adams JG, ed. Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 143.

T Review Date 10/18/2015
P Updated by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

