The most common victims of poisonings are the tiniest members of society, the ones most trusting of their often dangerous environments. Children ages 1 to 3 face the highest risk of being poisoned. Much of this is due to their inquisitive nature and inclination to put things in their mouths. But adults are to blame in some cases for carelessly or unknowingly leaving poisonous items within their reach. March 16 through 22 is National Poison Prevention Week.
Poisonings can come from known dangerous chemicals as well as common household substances.
The amount of exposure to a toxin needed to poison varies by the substance and by the individual. Typical houses are full of dangerous items, and not all are marked as poisons. Most medicines can be deadly, especially if taken in excessive amounts. Other household poisons are insect sprays, bleach, cleaners, antifreeze, gasoline and lamp oil. In 1996, Mississippi's Poison Control Center handled 14,722 cases of human exposure to toxins.