BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPhotographic fixative poisoningPhotographic developer poisoning; Hydroquinone poisoning; Quinone poisoning; Sulfite poisoningPhotographic fixatives are chemicals used to develop photographs.This article discusses poisoning from swallowing such chemicals.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Poisonous ingredients include:Hydroquinones Quinones Sodium thiosulfate Sodium sulfite Sodium bisulfite Potassium aluminum sulfate Boric acidThe fixing agent, sodium thiosulfate, along with the preservative, sodium bisulfite, can break down (decompose) to form sulfur dioxide gas, which can damage the lungs and provoke asthma attacks. Where Found These chemicals are found in products used to develop photographs. Symptoms Poisoning symptoms may include:Abdominal pain Cough Shortness of breath Burning pain in the throat Blurred vision Eye irritation or burning Coma ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea (watery, bloody, green-blue colored) DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Skin irritation or rash Stupor (confusion, decreased level of consciousness) StuporDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ringing in the ears Lack of coordination Home Care Seek immediate emergency medical help. DO NOT make the person throw up. Give water or milk unless the person is unconscious or having convulsions. Contact poison control for further help.UnconsciousUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strengths, if known) The time it was swallowed The amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The person may receive:Activated charcoal, so that the poison that remains does not get absorbed into the stomach and digestive tract. Airway and breathing support, including oxygen. In extreme cases, a tube may be passed through the mouth into the lungs to prevent aspiration. Chest x-ray. Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing). ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and stomach. Fluids through a vein (by IV). Laxatives to move the poison quickly through the body. Medicines to treat symptoms. Tube through the mouth into the stomach (rare) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage).Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) How well a person does depends on how much of the poison was swallowed and how quickly the person received medical help. Swallowing these products can cause severe effects in many parts of the body. The faster treatment is received, the greater the chance of recovery.Open ReferencesReferencesHoyte C. Caustics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 143.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 10/6/2022 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Photographic fixative poisoningPhotographic developer poisoning; Hydroquinone poisoning; Quinone poisoning; Sulfite poisoningPhotographic fixatives are chemicals used to develop photographs.This article discusses poisoning from swallowing such chemicals.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Poisonous ingredients include:Hydroquinones Quinones Sodium thiosulfate Sodium sulfite Sodium bisulfite Potassium aluminum sulfate Boric acidThe fixing agent, sodium thiosulfate, along with the preservative, sodium bisulfite, can break down (decompose) to form sulfur dioxide gas, which can damage the lungs and provoke asthma attacks. Where Found These chemicals are found in products used to develop photographs. Symptoms Poisoning symptoms may include:Abdominal pain Cough Shortness of breath Burning pain in the throat Blurred vision Eye irritation or burning Coma ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea (watery, bloody, green-blue colored) DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Skin irritation or rash Stupor (confusion, decreased level of consciousness) StuporDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ringing in the ears Lack of coordination Home Care Seek immediate emergency medical help. DO NOT make the person throw up. Give water or milk unless the person is unconscious or having convulsions. Contact poison control for further help.UnconsciousUnconsciousness is when a person is unable to respond to people and activities. Doctors often call this a coma or being in a comatose state. Other c...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strengths, if known) The time it was swallowed The amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The person may receive:Activated charcoal, so that the poison that remains does not get absorbed into the stomach and digestive tract. Airway and breathing support, including oxygen. In extreme cases, a tube may be passed through the mouth into the lungs to prevent aspiration. Chest x-ray. Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing). ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and stomach. Fluids through a vein (by IV). Laxatives to move the poison quickly through the body. Medicines to treat symptoms. Tube through the mouth into the stomach (rare) to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage).Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) How well a person does depends on how much of the poison was swallowed and how quickly the person received medical help. Swallowing these products can cause severe effects in many parts of the body. The faster treatment is received, the greater the chance of recovery.Open ReferencesReferencesHoyte C. Caustics. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 143.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.