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We report a case of an intentional fatal overdose of sodium nitrite. A 17-year-old female reportedly drank approximately one tablespoon of sodium nitrite in a self-harm attempt. The patient was hypotensive and cyanotic upon EMS arrival.
- Matthew R. Neth, Jennifer S. Love, B. Zane Horowitz, Michael D. Shertz, Ritu Sahni, Mohamud R. Daya
- 2021
Jul 15, 2023 · Very high levels of sodium nitrite can kill you. Sodium nitrite can also harm you if you inhale it or if it’s soaked up through your skin. It can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, and throat.
Oct 27, 2022 · Sodium nitrite causes increased methemoglobin, resulting in systemic hypoxia, metabolic acidosis, and cyanosis. Since sodium nitrite is a preservative, the ingestion of foods containing an excessive amount of this substance can also cause acute intoxication up to death.
- 10.3390/ijerph192113996
- 2022/11
Misuse or excessive use of any medicine or product containing nitrates, whether unintentionally or intentionally, can lead to poisoning. Poisoning can result from swallowing, inhaling, or even skin contact. People have been poisoned after drinking nitrate-contaminated rural well water.
- Overview
- Sodium Nitrate
- Nitric Oxide
- Limits on Sodium Nitrate
This article is about the safety of sodium nitrate, a common preservative used in cured meat products. It explains how nitrates and nitrites serve an important bodily function and are found in vegetables as well as processed meats. The article also discusses the potential dangers of nitrosamines, which can be formed from sodium nitrate, and compare...
Sodium nitrate is a common preservative used in cured meat products, linked to heart disease and diabetes. The human body needs nitrates and nitrites which serve an important bodily function. Most of our nitrates come from vegetables.
85% of the nitrates in our diet come from vegetables, most notably celery, spinach and carrots. These provide the body with healthy carbs and fiber that help prevent conversion of nitrosamines into carcinogens.
The amount of sodium nitrate allowed in cured meat products varies depending on the type of meat but has strict limits set by USDA (e.g., bacon 120 ppm). Celery powder doesn't have these limits as it's not regulated like chemically processed sodium nitrates are by USDA; its residue is about 10 times higher than traditionally cured products'.
Acute acquired methemoglobinemia is the most important adverse health effect caused by excessive nitrate/nitrite exposure. The known toxic effects from nitrate exposure result from the conversion of nitrate to nitrite.
Nitrates/Nitrites Poisoning. Patient Education Care Instruction Sheet. Nitrates/ Nitrites Overview. How Can People Be Exposed to Nitrates/ Nitrites? Nitrates and nitrites are composed of nitrogen and oxygen that occur naturally in the environment as part of the nitrogen cycle. • Nitrogen is an important nutrient to plants and animals.