Iron

Iron poisoning causes its metabolic effects in proportion to the concentrations of free iron, although the individual response is variable. Toxicity is therefore related to the dose ingested. The amount of iron in different salts varies, and iron concentrations may rise and fall, making plasma concentrations difficult to interpret in acute poisoning. Clinical features include severe gastrointestinal irritation, cardiovascular collapse and direct organ damage to the liver and kidneys. Unconsciousness occurs in severe cases. The chelating agent desferrioxamine is the antidote used, although there remains uncertainty about the optimal dose in individual patients.