Common plant toxicology: A comparison of national and Southwest Ohio data trends on plant poisonings in the 21st century

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2010.10.022· OSTI ID:21587789

Data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and the Cincinnati-based Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) were analyzed to determine the incidence and trends of human plant poisonings since the year 2000. Approximately 3.4% of the approximately 4.3 million annual calls to the AAPCC centers involved plants, with a higher fraction (4.5%) for pediatric exposures. Nearly 70% of plant exposures occurred in children under six. Only 8% of cases required treatment in a health-care facility, and only 0.1% (in 2008) were considered severe outcomes. The most prominent groups of plants involved in exposures are those containing oxalates, and the most common symptom is gastroenteritis. The top 12 identified plants (in descending order) nationally were Spathiphyllum species (peace lilly), Philodendron species (philodendron), Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinssettia), Ilex species (holly), Phytolacca americana (pokeweed), Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy), Capsicum (pepper), Ficus (rubber tree, weeping fig), Crassula argentea (jade plant), Diffenbachia (dumb cane), Epipremnum areum (pothos) and Schlumbergera bridesii (Christmas cactus). Broad overlaps between the DPIC and the AAPCC incidence data were noted, with essentially the same plant species in each dataset. The nature of the various toxins, the symptomatology and potential treatments are discussed for the highest ranking plant species.

• OSTI ID: 21587789
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 254; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AGE GROUPS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
CACTI
CAPSICUM
CHILDREN
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRUGS
EUPHORBIA
EVALUATION
FOOD
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
PEPPERS
PLANTS
POISONING
PRIMATES
RUBBER TREES
SYMPTOMS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
TREES
USA
VEGETABLES
VERTEBRATES