ABSTRACT
244Plant ingestion is a common cause of poisoning exposures in children under age 5 in the United States, and a significant cause of toxicity in adults (Table 11.1) (22). Each year more than 15,000 Americans are poisoned by plant ingestion (16). The incidence of calls into Poison Control Centers in the United States concerning plant ingestions is estimated to be in the range of 5% to 10% of all calls (21). Substances most frequently involved in human exposure
Substance
Number
% a
Cleaning substances
191,830
10.4
Analgesics
183,013
10.0
Cosmetics
153,424
8.3
Plants
112,564
6.1
Cough and cold preparations
105.185
5.7
Bltea/envenomations
76,941
4.2
Pesticides (including rodenticides)
70,523
3.8
Topteals
69,096
3.8
Antimicrobials
64,805
3.5
Foreign bodies
64,472
3.5
Hydrocarbons
63,536
3.5
Sedatives/hypnotics/antipsycholics
58,450
3.2
Chemicals
53,666
2.9
Alcohols
50,296
2.7
Food poisoning
46,482
2.5
Vitamins
40,883
2.2
From ref. 24. Despite a high frequency of involvement, these substances are not necessarily the most toxic, but often represent only ready availability.Percentages are based on the total number of human exposures rather than the total number of substances.
