Calcium hydroxide is a white powder produced by mixing calcium oxide ("lime") with water. Calcium hydroxide poisoning occurs when someone swallows this substance.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Calcium hydroxide

• Cement
• Limewater
• Many industrial solvents and cleaners (hundreds to thousands of construction products, flooring strippers, brick cleaners, cement thickening products, and many others)
• Slaked lime

Note: This list may not include all sources of calcium hydroxide.

• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Loss of vision
  • Severe pain in the throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Gastrointestinal
  • Blood in the stool
  • Burns in the esophagus (food pipe)
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting blood
• Heart and blood
  • Collapse
  • Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
  • Too much or too little acid in the blood (leads to organ damage)
• Lungs
  • Breathing difficulty (from breathing in substance)
  • Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty)
• Skin
  • Burn
  • Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
  • Irritation