ZINC TOXICITY FOLLOWING MASSIVE COIN INGESTION

This is the first reported case of human fatality associated with zinc intoxication following a massive ingestion of coins. Four hundred and sixty-one coins were removed from the gastrointestinal tract of a sch izophrenic patient during the course of hospitalization. Many of the p ost-1981 pennies, which consist primarily of zinc, showed severe corro sion due to their prolonged contact with acidic gastric juice. The pat ient presented with clinical manifestations consistent with the local corrosive as well as systemic effects of zinc intoxication and died 40 days after admission with multi-system organ failure. Tissue samples of the kidneys, pancreas, and liver obtained at autopsy revealed acute tubular necrosis, mild fibrosis, and acute massive necrosis, respecti vely, and contained high levels of zinc. The overall effects of zinc i ntoxication on the various organ systems, possible hematological deran gement, and the impairment of copper absorption as well as the outcome with treatment are discussed.