Question: A typical cigarette contains from 9 mg to 30 mg of nicotine, inhalation through smoking is only about 0.5-2 mg per cigarette. The estimated toxic dose of nicotine in non-addicted adults is 4-8 mg. What is the lethal dose of nicotine after one-time ingestion in children?
Answer: The cited reference notes the lethal dose of nicotine after one-time ingestion among children is reported as 40-60 mg. (Malazia M, et al. Acute intoxication with nicotine alkaloids and cannabinoids in children from ingestion of cigarettes. Hum Toxicol 1983; 2:315e16 and Novotny TE et al. Tobacco and cigarettes butt consumption in humans and animals. 2011 Tobacco Control 20 (Suppl 1): i17-i20)
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