Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1964; 13(35): 306.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1964, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Eleven caddies experienced nausea, severe vomiting and severe abdominal cramps within 15 minutes after consuming a "soft drink" at a Nassau County golf club on April 3- No diarrhea, or systemic symptoms were reported. None required hospitalization; all recovered without known sequelae. The beverage was commercially prepared by the mixture of syrup with carbonated water in a vending machine.

Epidemiologic investigation revealed that a pipe carrying water into the machine was connected to the recirculating hot water heating system instead of the drinking water system. Although the wrong connection had been present for one year, there had been no incidents reported previously. The day prior to this incident, 2 gallons of a rust and corrosive preventive were added to the hot water heating system; the product contained sodium bichromate, trisodium phosphate, and a 50 percent solution of sodium hydroxide.

Laboratory analysis revealed 440 ppm of hexavalent chromium in the water (pH 12.39) and 420 ppm in the carbonated water of the vending machine (pH 6.28).

(Reported by I.J. Tartakow, M.D., Deputy Commissioner, Nassau County Health Department, and Julia L. Freitay, M.D., Assistant Director, Office of Epidemiology, New York State Health Department.)