Toxicity of oxalic acid can cause fatalities

Oxalic acid is a compound that is found in plants such as spinach, rhubarb Swiss chard, beet greens and certain vegetables forms an insoluble salt with calcium (calcium oxalate).

It is the metabolic product of many molds. There are a large number of applications of this compound, including indigo dyeing; calico printing; removal of paint, rust and ink stains; metal polishing; bleaching leather; in pesticide compositions and manufacture of oxalates.

Nutritionists normally refer to oxalic acid as an anti- nutrient. Oxalic acid interferes with essential minerals iron, magnesium and especially calcium.

Oxalic acid is strong poison. The toxin symptoms from ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea and severe gastrointestinal disorder, renal damage, shock, convulsion, and coma.

Convulsions are thought to be the result of hypocalcaemia due to the calcium-complexing action of oxalic acid, which depresses the level of ionized calcium in body fluids.

Ingestion of as little as 5 g has caused fatalities. The toxicity arises as oxalic acid reacts with calcium in the tissues to form calcium oxalate, thereby upsetting the calcium/potassium ratio.

Deposition of oxalates in the kidney tubules may result in kidney damage. The destruction usually doesn’t become evident until a sufficient amount of the toxic metabolite has accumulated to cause damage.
Toxicity of oxalic acid can cause fatalities