MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pencil lead

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Pencil lead

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Care Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Alternative Names

Graphite

Definition Return to top

This poisoning is caused by swallowing or eating pencils containing lead.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Carbon
Graphite

Where Found Return to top

Regular pencils

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Gastrointestinal
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting

Note: There may be no symptoms.

Home Care Return to top

Graphite is relatively non-poisonous. Contact Poison Control for further information.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control Return to top

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Return to top

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

Medicines to treat symptoms

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Recovery is likely.

Update Date: 5/23/2006

Updated by: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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