title: What toxicity may result from the xenobiotic responsible for the finding on this plain film? Answer: reduced iron, found in heating pads and instant hand warmers, may result in elevated serum iron concentrations and subsequent iron toxicity.
abstract: Disposable heating pads are commonly used products, with reduced iron as their active ingredient. Reduced iron is not expected to cause significant toxicity when ingested orally. We report a case of accidental heating pad ingestion seen on abdominal plain films that resulted in significantly elevated serum iron concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Hennepin Regional Poison Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. jonbcole@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jon B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stellpflug
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lintner
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal
chemical_list: D007501:Iron