Tin toxicity
Background
- True tin toxicity is rare, as tin is poorly absorbed in the GI tract (<5%)
- Inorganic tin does not cross blood-brain barrier
- Information on effects of toxicity based primarily on animal/in vitro studies and extrapolation from other heavy metals
Clinical Features
- Inhalation of tin chloride may cause irritation of mucous membranes
- Occupational exposure to tin oxide has be reported to be associated with a benign pneumoconiosis, stannosis
- Not associated with fibrosis or loss of pulmonary function
- Eating canned food from unlacquered tin cans may cause mild GI upset due to irritation from unabsorbed tin
Differential Diagnosis
Heavy metal toxicity
- Aluminum toxicity
- Antimony toxicity
- Arsenic toxicity
- Barium toxicity
- Bismuth toxicity
- Cadmium toxicity
- Chromium toxicity
- Cobalt toxicity
- Copper toxicity
- Gold toxicity
- Iron toxicity
- Lead toxicity
- Lithium toxicity
- Manganese toxicity
- Mercury toxicity
- Nickel toxicity
- Phosphorus toxicity
- Platinum toxicity
- Selenium toxicity
- Silver toxicity
- Thallium toxicity
- Tin toxicity
- Zinc toxicity
Evaluation
Management
- Stop exposure
- Decontaminate if topical exposure
- Role of chelation not established