Historically, infants developed methemoglobinemia from aniline dye. What was the source of their exposure to aniline?
Aniline dye was historically used as a diaper marking dye. The first cases of dusky newborns was reported in 1886 and the use of aniline as a dye on stamping diapers was used for several decades resulting in toxicity.
Howarth BE. Epidemic of aniline methemoglobinemia in newborn babies. Lancet 1951; 1:934-935.
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