reported as loss of ‘grey-looking’, lightheaded, consciousness, nausea and vomiting. One caller said he was taking the kernels for ‘health Adult for reasons another said she was taking them a benefits’; ‘as other than cancer 12 the others did not specify why they were taking tonic’; treatment them. Child unintentional (accidental or 6 exploratory) Total 33 Table 6. NSW Poisons Information Centre (1 January 2004 to 5 January 2014) Total number of calls/reports on Circumstances Further information poisons centres’ databases As a cancer treatment. Reported as ingesting between 20–50 kernels in a few hours or a number of kernels daily over a period of weeks or years to treat cancer. General symptoms of cyanide toxicity: Adult intentional 11 swelling of face, increased heart rate, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. Some callers advised to attend hospital immediately, particularly those that had ingested 30 or more kernels. To improve general health, accidental (e.g. mistaken for almonds or using kernels in a home-made jam Adult unintentional or recipe) or reasons unknown. Reported as ingesting other than cancer 26 some, few, handful or specific amounts (2–30) of raw treatment or unknown apricot kernels. General queries for advice and concerns about or following consumption of apricot kernels (including General queries 27 recalls) to NSW poison information centre. Children (accidental) were asymptomatic but Child unintentional reported as sucked on a kernel, ingested a bit of a (accidental or 13 kernel or 1 whole kernel consumed. exploratory) Total 77
reported as ‘grey-looking’, lightheaded, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting. Adult for reasons other than cancer treatment 12 One caller said he was taking the kernels for ‘health benefits’; another said she was taking them ‘as a tonic’; the others did not specify why they were taking them. Child unintentional (accidental or exploratory) 6 Total 33 Table 6. NSW Poisons Information Centre (1 January 2004 to 5 January 2014) Circumstances Total number of calls/reports on poisons centres’ databases Further information Adult intentional 11 As a cancer treatment. Reported as ingesting between 20–50 kernels in a few hours or a number of kernels daily over a period of weeks or years to treat cancer. General symptoms of cyanide toxicity: swelling of face, increased heart rate, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. Some callers advised to attend hospital immediately, particularly those that had ingested 30 or more kernels. Adult unintentional or other than cancer treatment or unknown 26 To improve general health, accidental (e.g. mistaken for almonds or using kernels in a home-made jam recipe) or reasons unknown. Reported as ingesting some, few, handful or specific amounts (2–30) of raw apricot kernels. General queries 27 General queries for advice and concerns about or following consumption of apricot kernels (including recalls) to NSW poison information centre. Child unintentional (accidental or exploratory) 13 Children (accidental) were asymptomatic but reported as sucked on a kernel, ingested a bit of a kernel or 1 whole kernel consumed. Total 77
Hydrocyanic-Acid-in-Apricot-Kernels-Other-Foods-Decision-RIS.docx