Toxic dose

Toxicity varies depending on the dose and essential oil ingested. Toxic doses and clinical effects of common essential oil ingestions in children are listed in Toxic doses and clinical effects of common essential oil ingestions in children. In adults, the toxic dose of essential oils is less clear, but there is potential for toxicity with any deliberate self-poisoning, as these usually involve larger volumes than accidental ingestions.

Table 1. Toxic doses and clinical effects of common essential oil ingestions in children
Essential oil	Toxic dose in a 10 kg child	Clinical effects
camphor	150 to 300 mg	minor CNS depression
camphor	1 g	severe CNS depression, seizures
clove oil	5 mL	CNS depression, seizures, aspiration pneumonitis, respiratory depression, kidney failure, hypoglycaemia, lactic acidosis, acute liver injury, multiorgan failure
eucalyptus oil (100%)	2 to 3 mL	minor CNS depression, aspiration pneumonitis
eucalyptus oil (100%)	7.5 mL	severe CNS depression, aspiration pneumonitis
oil of wintergreen (98% methyl salicylate)	1 to 2 mL	mild to moderate salicylate toxicity
oil of wintergreen (98% methyl salicylate)	4 mL	severe salicylate toxicity
pennyroyal oil	5 mL	gastrointestinal symptoms, acute liver injury, multiorgan failure