Lead poisoning

Uses Pottery and cookware Pewter Paints (last reported child death in 1990) Roofs Cosmetics Toys Plumbing Tetraethyl lead – was used as an anti-knocking agent in gasoline

Dangers seen for over 2000 years (miners and smelters, occupational exposure) – but not attributable to the lead Blood plasma > 150 mcg/100 ml – swelling of the brains leading to coma and death No safe level

Mostly from chronic exposure (longterm) CNS (insomnia, delerium, cognitive, tremors, hallucinations, convulsions) Kidney failure Lethargy Blue line on the gum and black edging to the teeth Acid breaks down (leeches) lead from pipes Sugar of lead (lead acetate) was used to sweeten wine

Handel Beethoven Andrew Jackson George III – possibly from acidic foods in lead lined containers Franklin expedition for northwest passage – lead from can solder

Cyanide CN 1- (solution) or HCN (gas) Binds to hemoglobin Prussian blue – treat methemoglobinemia Early earth?, interstellar gases Organic cyanides (nitriles) have low to no toxicity Amygdalin in some fruits and nuts (almonds) Some insect defense mechanisms

Jim Jones (1978) Nazis – Himmler, Goering, Hitler (with a gunshot) Tylenol Gas chamber Mystery novels

Ethylene glycol Antifreeze – sweet taste Bittering agents Suicides and pet deaths from leaks Jensen poisoning (1998)

From Ron Hines, DVM Every year more than ten thousand dogs and cats are accidentally poisoned with automotive antifreeze. Although dogs and cats account for most cases, ethylene glycol is toxic to all creatures - including people. This is the most common cause of poisoning of dogs and cats in the United States. The toxic ingredient in the antifreeze is its major component, ethylene glycol. It makes up 95% of the product. It only takes a small sip of antifreeze to poison your pet. Cats are approximately four times as sensitive to the poison as dogs. One to two teaspoons full will poison a cat and three tablespoons-full is enough to kill a medium size dog.

Ethylene glycol has an immediate and a long-term affect on the body. It is rapidly absorbed and metabolized once it has been consumed. Peak blood levels occur within three hours of ingestion. Within thirty minutes after drinking it, your pet will become ataxic or drunken in appearance. This phase continues for up to six hours. Eventually this tipsy behavior subsides and it appears that the problem is over. It is not however, because the ethylene glycol then enters the pet’s liver and kidneys where it is oxidized into toxic products that acidify the blood and destroy renal tubular cells in the pet's kidneys. When the kidneys are damaged, they loose their ability to cleanse the body of waste. The transformation of antifreeze leads from glycoaldehyde to glyoxcylic acid, formic acid, and oxalate. It is the glycolic acid and oxalate that is most responsible for kidney damage and resulting uremia. These compounds also seriously damage the central nervous system. There is no treatment that will reverse this damage. It can be so severe as to be fatal in a matter of a few days

Selenium Attempted murder using “gun blue” containing selenious acid (H 2 SeO 3 ) Diarrhea, vomiting, cramping, weight loss, loss of hair, discoloration of fingernails and toenails, “garlic” on breath Patient was tested for arsenic and thallium

Suspect carcinogen Highly water soluble, exists primarily as Tl 1+ and mimics alkali metals that are necessary Same ionic size as potassium Formerly used as rat or ant poison – thallium sulfate Prussian blue antidote (binds to Tl and removes it) Thallium

Noted poisonings Caroline Grills (1954) – 4 deaths (3 family and 1 friend) – Khokhlov (another former KGB) – did recover Moumie – Cameroon leader - killed by French secret police (1960) Graham Young - poison 70, killed 3 Carr family – thallium in Coca Cola

25 Russian soldiers earned an Honorable Mention in the Darwin Awards – white powder in a military dump site – used on tobacco and as a foot powder Iraqi cake (2008) – 10 of 12 ate cake – 4 died – 2 families Two American women in Russia (had emigrated to US) (no further data – privacy)

Thallium in movies/TV NCIS – Dead Man Walking Agatha Christie – “The Pale Horse” House Nigel Williams – “The Wimbledon Poisoner” The Shield Numb3rs CSI:Miami Movie – Big Nothing Movie – Edge of Darkness

Paraquat Used to destroy marijuana crops