title: Examining the risk of methanol poisoning from methyl acetate-containing products.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study aims to review California Poison Control System data to qualitatively describe reported methyl acetate (MA) exposures and determine if a metabolic acidosis develops.
  
  
  METHODS
  We queried the Poison Control System data between January 1997 and December 1, 2010. Inclusion criteria were single MA ingestions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three cases were analyzed. Females made up 52% of study subjects. Seventy-five cases (90%) were 5 years or younger. Most (93%) ingestions were unintentional. Sixty-two cases (75%) were referred to a health care facility (HCF). Of these, 75% of cases referred to an HCF had no effect, and 25% of cases had a minor effect. There were no major effects, including deaths reported. One case received single-dose activated charcoal, and 1 case received intravenous fluids as therapy. All other cases were observed only. Of all cases, including home-managed and HCF cases, 63 (76%) had no symptoms. Vomiting was observed in 12 cases (14%), drowsiness in 1 case, ataxia in 1 case, abdominal pain in 1 case, and throat/oral irritation in 5 cases. Fifty-three percent of cases referred to HCF had at least 1 chemistry panel done (27% had >1 chemistry panel done). One patient had a mild metabolic acidosis without symptoms that resolved after a period of observation. There was no renal dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that minor ingestions of MA may be observed at home, but a prospective study is needed to exclude the risk of home observation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92103-8925, USA. abminns01@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alicia B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Minns
authors.forename: Anesia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McIlvoy
authors.forename: Alycia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: F Lee
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Cantrell
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D012997:Solvents; C046923:methyl acetate; D000432:Methanol