Alternative names 
Epoxy; Plastic casting resin

Definition
Poisoning from an ingestion of plastic casting resin.

Poisonous Ingredient

 
• Epoxy  
• Resin

Where Found

 
• Various plastic casting resin products

Symptoms

 
• Respiratory       o Breathing difficulty (from inhalation)       o Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)  
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat       o Severe pain in the throat       o Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue       o Loss of vision  
• Gastrointestinal       o Severe abdominal pain       o Vomiting       o Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)       o Vomiting blood       o Blood in the stool  
• Heart and blood vessels       o Hypotension (low blood pressure) develops rapidly       o Collapse  
• Skin       o Irritation       o Burn       o Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues

Home Treatment
For ingestions or toxic exposure, seek emergency medical care immediately. If the resin is on the skin, wash the area thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Contact Poison Control for further information.

Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:

 
• The patient’s age, weight, and condition  
• Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)  
• The time it was swallowed  
• The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number
See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

 
• For swallowed poison       o Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach       o Activated charcoal administration       o Endoscopy - the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach       o Give IV fluids       o Admission to the hospital       o Give an antidote       o Treat the symptoms  
• For inhaled poisons       o A breathing tube may need to be inserted       o Oxygen       o Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit       o Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs)  
• For skin exposure       o Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days       o Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)       o Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care

Expectations (prognosis)
Recovery and prognosis depend on the amount of exposure and the time to treatment. Serious toxicity may occur. Seek emergency medical care immediately.

Medical Encyclopedia

All ArmMed Media material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.