Symptoms
Oxalic acid poisoning symptoms include weakness, burning in the mouth, death from cardiovascular collapse, on the respiratory system, throat – burning in the throat, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and coma.
Treatment
Acute Exposure: If oxalic acid is swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow. If acute exposure occurs to the eyes, irrigate opened eyes for several minutes under running water. Chronic exposure: in some patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1, pyridoxine treatment (vitamin B6) may decrease oxalate excretion and prevent kidney stone formation.
Health Effects
Because it binds vital nutrients such as calcium, long-term consumption of foods high in oxalic acid can be problematic. Healthy individuals can safely consume such foods in moderation, but those with kidney disorders, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or certain forms of chronic vulvar pain (vulvodynia) are typically advised to avoid foods high in oxalic acid or oxalates. The calcium oxalate precipitate (better known as kidney stones) obstruct the kidney tubules. Conversely, calcium supplements taken along with foods high in oxalic acid can cause calcium oxalate to precipitate out in the gut and drastically reduce the levels of oxalate absorbed by the body (by 97% in some cases.) Chronically high levels of oxalic acid are associated with at least 2 inborn errors of metabolism including: Type...
Adverse Effects
Toxic Pneumonitis - Inflammation of the lungs induced by inhalation of metal fumes or toxic gases and vapors.
Exposure Routes
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion. Serious local effects by all routes of exposure.
Toxicity Summary
The affinity of divalent metal ions is sometimes reflected in their tendency to form insoluble precipitates. Thus in the body, oxalic acid also combines with metals ions such as Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ to deposit crystals of the corresponding oxalates, which irritate the gut and kidneys. (2) Therefore the toxicity of oxalic acid is due to kidney failure caused by precipitation of solid calcium oxalate, the main component of kidney stones. Oxalic acid can also cause joint pain due to the formation of similar precipitates in the joints. Ingestion of ethylene glycol results in oxalic acid as a metabolite that can also cause acute kidney failure.
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity (not listed by IARC). (L135)