Pencil lead

Alternative names
Definition
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
Symptoms

Home Treatment
Before Calling Emergency
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
What to expect at the emergency room
Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names

Graphite

Definition Return to top

This poisoning is caused by ingestion of regular pencil lead.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Carbon
Graphite

Where Found Return to top

Regular pencils

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Gastrointestinal
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting

Note: There may be no symptoms.

Home Treatment Return to top

Graphite is relatively nontoxic. Contact Poison Control for further information.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
The time it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the person to the hospital. If it is necessary, bring a pencil sample with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed on the patient:

Observe the patient.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Since this chemical is normally nontoxic, recovery is likely.


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