The direct answer to whether eating glue will result in death is complex, but in most cases involving common household products, fatality is rare. Adhesives range from nearly harmless water-based craft glues to powerful industrial products containing toxic chemicals. The actual danger depends on the specific ingredients, the quantity swallowed, and whether the substance causes chemical poisoning or a physical obstruction. This article focuses on the risks associated with common household, craft, and repair adhesives.
Common Household Glues and Safety
Many glues found in homes, particularly those used for school projects and crafting, are labeled as “non-toxic” for a specific reason. These products, such as white school glue and glue sticks, are typically water-based polymers, often containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA is a synthetic polymer with a very low acute oral toxicity, meaning it is not chemically poisonous in small amounts.
The most likely outcome of swallowing craft glue is mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea or vomiting, due to the foreign material irritating the stomach lining. The body is usually capable of passing the small amount of solidified material without medical intervention. The PVA itself is considered relatively harmless when taken orally, though large amounts are still not recommended.
Highly Toxic and Hazardous Adhesives
The potential for severe harm increases significantly with industrial-strength or specialized repair glues that contain reactive or volatile chemical components. Cyanoacrylates, commonly known as super glue, are mildly toxic, but the primary immediate danger comes from their rapid polymerization. This adhesive reacts almost instantly with the moisture in the mouth and throat, causing tissues like the lips or tongue to stick together. If a significant amount is swallowed quickly, the cyanoacrylate can solidify rapidly, potentially leading to obstruction in the esophagus or airway.
Other highly hazardous glues include solvent-based cements and rubber cements, which rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like toluene, xylene, or naphtha. Ingestion of these solvents can cause systemic poisoning, with short-term effects including headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Long-term exposure is linked to neurological or organ damage.
Epoxy glues contain a resin and a hardener, both of which can cause chemical burns and irritation to the digestive tract if ingested separately or partially mixed. Polyurethane adhesives, particularly those containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), pose a significant chemical risk. This MDI component reacts with the water and acid in the stomach, initiating a polymerization reaction that creates a large, rigid mass.
Physical Risks Beyond Chemical Toxicity
Beyond chemical poisoning, the physical properties of some glues create a mechanical danger. Any large bolus of glue, even a non-toxic one, can physically block the gastrointestinal tract. This obstruction can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and prevent the passage of food, often requiring medical intervention.
The most dramatic physical risk comes from expanding polyurethane glues, such as certain wood glues. When these glues encounter the warm, moist, and acidic environment of the stomach, they can expand to four to eight times their original volume within minutes. This rapidly expanding mass forms a hard, non-digestible foreign body that can cause gastric outflow obstruction, ulceration, or perforation of the stomach lining. Surgical removal is often the only effective treatment, as the mass is too large to pass naturally or be removed endoscopically.
Immediate Steps Following Accidental Ingestion
The immediate response to glue ingestion depends on the type of adhesive, but the most important action is to contact a medical professional immediately. If the person is experiencing difficulty breathing, seizing, or has collapsed, call 911 or your local emergency number first.
Calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222 will connect you with a local Poison Control Center expert. Be prepared to provide the following information:
- The person’s age, weight, and condition.
- The exact name of the product swallowed.
- The estimated time and amount swallowed.
If the glue was a solvent-based product, move the person to fresh air right away to minimize inhalation of harmful vapors.
It is imperative not to induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so by Poison Control or a healthcare provider. Inducing vomiting can be dangerous with solvent-based glues, as it increases the risk of chemical aspiration into the lungs. It is also dangerous with expanding glues, which could lodge in the esophagus.