METHEMOGLOBINEMIA CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENTAL CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING-WATER WITH SODIUM-NITRITE

Sodium nitrite is used commercially as a coloring agent, a food preser vative and a corrosion inhibitor. Accidental poisoning usually results from the ingestion of contaminated food and water and causes gastroin testinal irritation, vasodilatation and methemoglobinemia with subsequ ent tissue hypoxia. We describe an unusual case of sodium nitrite-indu ced methemoglobinemia following the ingestion of drinking water contam inated with a corrosion inhibitor. To our knowledge this is the first report of such a case.