Watercolors

Definition

This is poisoning caused by eating or swallowing watercolor paints.

Alternative Names

Poisonous Ingredient

• Aniline
• Gum cambogia

Note: Watercolor paints sold for home use are generally considered non-poisonous.

Where Found

• Various watercolor paints and paint kits

Symptoms

Several tubes of the artist's watercolors need to be eaten before symptoms occur.

Home Treatment

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Use soap and water to wash any paint off skin and clothes.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

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

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

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

A trip to the emergency room will normally not be necessary.

However, if the poisoning requires medical help, some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Fluids
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Medicines to cause vomiting
• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
• Breathing assistance

Expectations (prognosis)

• For home water colors -- Recovery very likely.
• For aniline -- Recovery is normally very likely if patient can survive the first 24 hours.
• For gum cambogia -- Survival past 48 hours usually indicates recovery will occur.