ABSTRACT
Iron is distributed throughout all life forms and is one of the most abundant and important of the biological trace metals. Although written reports of the toxic effects of iron have been known for more than 100 years, (1) iron has been used medicinally for several centuries (2,3). Iron and its compounds were once widely regarded as relatively harmless, and most adults and some medical personnel still may not be fully aware of iron’s serious potential as a poi son (3). Iron poisonings still occur each year in the United States. Although the mortality rate today is less than 5% (4,5), at one time, it was as high as 50% in serious poison ings (3,6-8). The decline in mortality rate is due, in part, to the use of the chelating agent deferoxamine (Desferal) but, in addition, better supportive medical care has become available (8).
