Today's Daily Dose: Mothball toxicosis

Untitled Document

“In general, naphthalene ingestion requires more aggressive treatment than paradichlorobenzene. If the type of mothball ingested is unknown and the owner has brought in a sample, perform the following test. Add three heaping tablespoons of table salt to tepid water, and mix vigorously until the salt will no longer dissolve. Place the mothball in the saturated water. Naphthalene mothballs float, and paradichlorobenzene mothballs sink.”

-Camille Declementi, VMD

From Toxicology Brief: Moth repellent toxicosis