Here are some specifics comparing the toxicity of various
consumer products according to the frequency with which they cause consumer
poisonings. Note that four out of the top five leading causes of
poisoning fatalities are caused by drugs approved as safe by FDA.
LEADING CAUSES OF FATALITIES REPORTED TO POISON CENTERS
Comparison of Categories of Poisonings
Category
1989
1988
Fatal
Major
Fatal
Major
Antidepressants
140
1315
135
1187
Analgesics
126
705
118
663
Sedatives
78
1020
77
985
Heart
drugs
70
286
65
246
Stimulants & street
drugs
64
276
101
295
Fumes, gases,
vapors
46
129
39
128
Household
cleaners
24
173
19
168
Pesticides
12
111
12
113
PLANTS, all
1*
32
1*
21
One death was reported for each of the two years covered by this report. The cause of death and plants involved are unknown.
HERBS AS CAUSES OF CONSUMER POISONING
In a thorough search of the scientific literature for plant toxicity incidents we found only a handful of cases of consumer poisoning by any botanical contaminant of foods. Specific statistical information about adverse reactions to herbal products is currently not available from any known source. The AAPCC** collects data from major poison centers across the country, but has no specific information on and in fact, no category for reporting incidents involving herbal products. According to the Association’s President Dr. Toby Litovitz, M.D., “Herbal poisonings are definitely infrequent, especially compared to the tens of thousands of ornamental plant poisonings.” Even when ornamental plants are included, plant based poisonings provide little cause for alarm compared to other categories, as indicated by the table above.
**American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC)
