baby has just pulled a chunk of plaster off the wall and eaten it

[fisil]

what to do - on a scale from leave it up to A&E?

[harpsichordcarrier]

erm, no idea Fisil but thought I would bump it!
how old is s/he?
how big was the lump?
i would probably call my doctor to be on the safe side

[carlk]

depends how much
\link{http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2482/6/4\this} article suggests it's not toxic but can cause obstructions
\link{http://www.british-gypsum.bpb.com/PDF/SDS02v2.pdf\this is the coshh data sheet} but talks mainly of the raw powder form
There is a disorder called PICA where children eat things like dirt and plaster but that would only be repeat offenders IYSWIM

As far as I know set plaster from your wall is unlikely to be toxic, however what was the wall coated in? Paint most are non toxic nowadays, old paint could contain lead but not in sufficient quantities to do any real damage unless baby ate the whole wall
Wall papers and paste are also generally non toxic when set

I would rind NHS direct to set my mind at rest

[FlorrieN]

you should go to a and e if you think she may have it in her eyes fo have inhailed it. plaster is alkalina and can give the eyes a nasty burn. If you think she has just eaten it ring NHS24 for re-assurance, As carlk said, it can cause an obstruction if she has eaten a large amount, so let the professionals decide. They may know of a good plasterer, you never know!!!

[FlorrieN]

aka chapsmum!

[carlk]

Lime (alkali and custic)is used to make the plaster set and the chemical reation with water causes the heat and burns once set there is no or very little lime left and the plaster becomes inert

[FlorrieN]

beg to differ carl, have seen some very nasty eye burns from plater dust released from a crumpling set plaster wall.
It is the ph of the eye that causes damage rather than the heat of reaction and plaster in set form is still alkaline.

[fisil]

thanks for all your messages. I rang NHS Direct and they took the details and rang a toxologist. Almost exactly what carlk said - it is unlikely to be poisonous (and we would have seen irritation in his mouth if it was) the biggest risk is obstruction and so we just need to keep an eye on him in case he has trouble breathing or is sick.

It was probably 1930s plaster and had the anaglicta (sp?) that had been on for 20 years taken off yesterday. It looked like grit/sand and my biggest worry was the enamel on his teeth!

BTW for future information what I did was apparently the right thing - give him some water to wash out his mouth and drink (the drinking part is to know that he is able to swallow). If you have a choice go for milk first and then solids. And get a toxocologist to check it out.

Thanks for all your advice.

[carlk]

Ok no probs
plaster ph reduces with time, best to err on the side of caution