Acute radiation syndrome | 3–16 hrs | Nausea, vomiting, with diarrhea usually < 2 days after
exposure | < 2 days | Nuclear accident fallout |
Aflatoxins | ~ 8 hrs | Vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, hematemesis, dizziness,
diarrhea, seizures | Several weeks | Peanuts, maize, soybeans, cassava |
Antimony | 5 min–8 hrs, usually < 1 hr | Vomiting, metallic taste | Usually self-limited | Metallic container |
Arsenic | Few hours | Vomiting, colic, diarrhea | Several days | Contaminated food |
Cadmium | 5 min–8 hrs, usually < 1 hr | Nausea, vomiting, myalgia, increase in salivation, stomach
pain | Usually self-limited | Seafood, oysters, clams, lobster, grains, peanuts |
Carbon monoxide | Varies | Nighttime vomiting headache, lethargy, nausea, drowsiness,
dizziness, weakness | Several hours | Combustion of carbon-based fuels |
Copper | 5 min–8 hrs, usually < 1 hr | Nausea, vomiting, blue or green vomitus | Usually self-limited | Metallic container |
Fumonisins | Unknown | Nausea, vomiting | Unknown | Foods made from corn |
Lead | Varies | Headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation | Several weeks | Lead dust, paint chips |
Nitrite | 1–2 hrs | Nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, dizziness, weakness, loss of
consciousness, chocolate-brown-colored blood | Usually self-limited | Cured meats, any contaminated foods, spinach exposed to excessive
nitrification |
Patulin | Unknown | Nausea, vomiting | Unknown | Apple juice, other nonfermented apple products |
Pesticides | Few minutes to few hours | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headache, nervousness, blurred
vision, twitching, convulsions, salivation and meiosis | Usually self-limited | Any contaminated food |
Sodium fluoride | Few minutes to 2 hrs | Salty or soapy taste, numbness of mouth, vomiting, diarrhea,
dilated pupils, spasms, pallor, shock, collapse | Usually self-limited | Dry foods (such as dry milk, flour, baking powder, cake mixes)
contaminated with sodium fluoride containing insecticides and rodenticides |
T-2 | 5 min–1 hr | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, “burning” in
mouth | 3–9 days | Food made with wheat, rice, corn or millet |
Thallium | Few hours | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, painful paresthesias, motor polyneuropathy,
hair loss | Several days | Contaminated food |
Tin | 5 min–8 hrs, usually < 1 hr | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea | Usually self-limited | Metallic container |
Vomitoxin | Few minutes to 3 hrs | Nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting | Usually self-limited | Grains such as wheat, corn, barley |
Zinc | Few hours | Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, myalgia | Usually self-limited | Metallic container |