Sparkle lamps and lava lamps: distinct toxic syndromes

To the Editor:

We were very impressed by the case of “Sparkle lamp ingestion: a rare cause of death” in the recent edition of Clinical Toxicology (2010; 48:854–856.).¹ The dramatic features of hypercalcemia and caustic erosions were present in this case.

The authors state that both the lava lamp and the sparkle lamps are common decorative products in homes in the UK, whereas lava lamps are the dominant products found in the US. We are writing to emphasize the difference in toxicity of these two luminescent and potentially toxic products.

In 1996, we published the first documented ingestion of a lava light.² The lava light contains water, chlorinated paraffin, microcrystalline wax, kerosene, and low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (200 MW). Our patient suffered from acute renal failure that required dialysis. The patient was discharged after 3 months with some residual renal insufficiency. We were able to confirm the presence of lava light contents in the blood and urine by gas chromatography – mass spectrophotometry.²

We were fascinated by the description of the toxicity of the sparkle lamp and were prompted to write in order to alert the readers of the two distinct toxic syndromes seen after sparkle lamp and lava light ingestions.