oxalic acid and its salts are used in industry as bleaching agent and in calico printing
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oxalic acid and its salts are used in industry as bleaching agent and in calico printing Its household use for bleaching has made it a dangerous substance Solutions containing oxalic acid cause falling off hair when poured on the head - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
oxalic acid and its salts are used in industry as bleaching agent and in calico printing
Its household use for bleaching has made it a dangerous substance
Solutions containing oxalic acid cause falling off hair when poured on the head
Oxalic acid is sometimes used to erase writing in attempts at forgency
Lecture on oxalic acid
Prepared by Dr. Amina Rao
K.M.S Medical College ,Sialkot
Difference between organic and inorganic acids
Organic acids differ from inorganic acids in two major respects:
1) They are weaker in action 2) They are usually absorbed into
circulation and so have both local and remote action
organic acid• Important poisons are oxalic, carbolic,
acetic and salicylic acids.• They have powerful rapid action • They act as strong irritants locally and
also possess a powerful remote action after absorption
Oxalic acid Oxalic acid is a corrosive acid.Oxalic acid is a constituent of many house
hold products. It is found in many disinfectants, household bleach, metal cleaning liquids, antirust products and furniture polishes.
Oxalic acid is found in several green leafy vegetables such as spinach, rhubarb, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots , cabbage lettuce etc. It also occur in fruits such as berries , concord grapes, figs, and plums etc. along with in some seeds, nuts and grains.
physical appearanceoxalic acid is crystalline substance resemble in appearance with magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate. It can be differentiated as features oxalic acid mgso4 znso4
ncetaste Sour and acidic
Bitter and
nauseating
Bitter and
metallic
reaction Strongly acid
neutral
Slightly acid
Heat sublimes Not so Not so
Sodium carbona
teEffervescence but
no ppt
No effervesce
nce but white ppt
No effervesce
ncebut white ppt
Ink or iron stain
bleaches Not so Not so
Signs and symptomsThe character and severity of symptoms depend upon the amount and conc. Of acid taken.
it has two distinct effects 1. Local effect2. Remote effecte.g. shock, hypocalcemia and renal damageA. Local effect: It readily corrodes the mucous membrane Of the
alimentary tract but rarely the skin.
REMOTE EFFECTA large concentrated dose would kill with in
a couple of hours by shock or hypocalcaemia (lowering of calcium levels in the blood).
A large dilute dose would cause kidney failure
Large doses causes rapid death from shock(narcotic effect).• There is a sour taste in the mouth and burning
sensation in throat and stomach.• This is followed by persistent vomiting. Vomit is
black in color (coffee ground)due to altered blood
If in a case of short duration, the intestinal tract is not affected but when life is prolonged
There is pain and tenderness over the abdomen, purging and tenesmus may appear after absorption, collapse may occur.
Oxalic acid in circulation react with free Ca in plasma to form Ca oxalates crystals causing dec. in free Ca in plasma inducing hypocalcaemia. Numbness and tingling indicate the effects of hypocalcaemia on the nervous system. Spasmodic twitching of the muscles of the face and extremities and even convulsions may be followed.
oxalic acid has a nephrotoxic action and irritation of kidneys may be found
There may be oliguria and urine contains albumin, blood and Ca oxalate crystals.
Presence of oxalic acid crystals in the urine is termed as oxaluria
Precipitation of calcium oxalate in the renal system (proximal tubules of the kidney) may lead to local necrosis of the tubular epithelium, producing kidney dysfunction and electrolyte imbalance. In renal tubular injury the path physiological factors at the cellular level are considered to be energy depletion, cell swelling, calcium influx, intracellular acidosis and enzyme activation . Obstruction of the renal tubules by the crystals is also a mechanism of renal damage
Fatal DoseThe average fatal dose of the poison is about 15-20gmsthe smallest recorded fetal dose is 5 gms
Fatal Period Death usually occurs within an hour.The longest recorded period is 5 days.
Treatment 1 Gastric Lavage wash the stomach using limewater. A soft stomach tube can be passed with care. Warm water should not be used as it dissolve more acid.2. Antidote Antidote is any Ca preparation which convertsthe poison into insoluble Ca oxalates.A suspension of 30gms of chalk in water or milk will neutralize about 20gms of oxalic acid.Alkalis such as soda, potash and ammonia should not be given as their oxalates are insoluble
Ca Gluconate may be given by mouthOr 10ml of a 10% solution intravenouslyIn severe cases, parathormone extract Should be givenThe rest of the treatment is symptomatic.
example A 50 years old woman swollen about 30gms of
oxalic acid in beer. In half an hour, she complained of burning
pain in stomach and was found rolling about. Chalk and water was freely given and she recovered
Postmortem appearance
• The mucous membrane of the tongue, mouth, throat is commonly white as if bleached but is sometimes reddened by irritation. Lips and chin don’t show staining
EFFECTS ON STOMACHo The stomach contains a dark brown gelatinous
liquid due to the formation of acid haematin.o The mucous membrane is corroded and
detached in varying degrees depending upon the conc. Of acid
Perforation however is rare. The blood vessels in submucosa layer may be seem distinctly as dark lines due to acid haematin. The outer coat of the stomach may be inflamed.
If the effect are only narcotic, there will be congestion of lung, liver, kidney and brain without any local changes where death has been delayed. Inflammation will be found on the upper portion of the small intestine and the kidney.
Medicolegal aspectsAccidental poisoning is due to being mistaken for
MgSO4 or sodium bicarbonateOxalates occur in the leaves of rhubarb and have
caused poisoning when the leaves are used as safe vegetables
Oxalic acid is sometimes taken with suicidal intention but rarely used for homicide on account of its sour taste and rapid action
oxalic acid and its salts are used in industry as bleaching agent and in calico printing
Its household use for bleaching has made it a dangerous substance
Solutions containing oxalic acid cause falling off hair when poured on the head
Oxalic acid is sometimes used to erase writing in attempts at forgery