Rubber cement

Definition

Rubber cement is a common household glue that is relatively non-toxic in small amounts. However, inhalation of large amounts of its fumes or ingestion of any amount by a small child can be extremely dangerous.

Poisonous Ingredient

• paradichlorobenzene (considered fairly non-toxic)
  
• trichloroethane (can cause neurologic and respiratory toxicity)
  
• acetone
  

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 Low Blood pressure develops rapidly
  o Collapse
  
• Skin
  o Irritation
  o Burn
  o Holes in the skin or underlying tissues (necrosis)
  
• Blood
  o Severe change in pH (too much or too little acid in the blood, which leads to damage in all of the body organs)
  

Home Treatment

• Seek emergency medical care immediately.
  
• DO NOT INDUCE Vomiting!
  
• Wash from the skin or irrigate the eyes for skin or eye exposure.
  
• For ingestion, drink water to dilute.
  

Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
  
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
  
• the time it was swallowed
  
• the amount swallowed
  

Poison Control, or a local emergency number
They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring the tube with you to the emergency room.