Poisoning deaths from

From prospective data (74,77), it has been estimated that around 58 000 people take paracetamol in overdose each year in England and Wales and that these episodes of poisoning prompted 3.3% of inquiries to US regional poisons centers (78), 10% of inquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service (79), and up to 43% of all admissions to hospital with self-poisoning in the UK (80). Despite the availability of effective antidotes for patients who seek medical intervention early after an overdose, in the USA paracetamol alone accounted for 4.1% of deaths from poisoning reported to American poison centers in 1997 (78). 

Carbon monoxide is among the leading causes of death from poisonings. Subsequent to the experiments of Haldane, 1 ata oxygen alone or in com-... 

Simonsen, J. and Pedersen, P. K. (1975) Accidental deaths from poisoning with dextropro-poxyphene. Ugeskr. Laeg., 137, 2605. 

The extent of the problem of analgesic nephropathy is illustrated by the finding that it is the second most common cause of end-stage renal failure in New South Walcs(6 ). In Switzerland, 331 deaths from analgesic nephropathy were notified between 1967 and 1971. The total number of deaths from poisoning in the same period was 1088 (3 ). 

The worst disaster in the history of the chemical industry occurred in Bhopal, in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India, on December 3, 1984. A leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) from a chemical plant, where it was used as an intermediate in the manufacture of the insecticide car-baryl, spread beyond the plant boundary and caused the death by poisoning of more than 2,000 people. The official figure was 2,153, but some unofficial estimates were much higher. In addition, about 200,000 people were injured. Most of the dead and injured were living in a shanty town that had grown up next to the plant. 

Death from overdose of barbiturates may occur and is more likely when more than 10 times the hypnotic dose is ingested. The barbiturates with high lipid solubility and short half-lives are the most toxic. Thus the lethal dose of phenobarbital is 6—10 g, whereas that of secobarbital, pentobarbital, or amo-barbital is 2-3 g. Symptoms of barbiturate poisoning include CNS depression, coma, depressed reflex activity, a positive Babinski reflex, contracted pupils (with hypoxia there may be paralytic dilation), altered respiration, hypothermia, depressed cardiac function, hypotension, shock, pulmonary complications, and renal failure. 

Garcia-Repetto R, Soria ML, Gimenez MP, et al. 1998. Deaths from pesticide poisoning in Spain from 1991 to 1996. Vet Hum Toxicol 40(3) 166-168. 

O Brien KL et al. Epidemic of pediatric deaths from acute renal failure caused by diethylene glycol poisoning. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998, 279(15) 175-78. 

Omarov GG, Kazanbieva MA, Ashurbekov TR, et al. 1981. [Distribution of macro- and trace elements in the organs of experimental animals at different times after death from hydrogen sulfide poisoning],... 

In animals, deaths from acrylonitrile have been reported in several species following inhalation, oral or dermal exposure. In most species, death appears to be related to cyanide poisoning. That the cyanide moiety is involved in human toxicity of acrylonitrile has been reported in a case study in which a human male was sprayed with acrylonitrile when a valve burst (Vogel and Kirkendall 1984). This individual suffered symptoms characteristic of cyanide poisoning, and treatments designed to reduce cyanide levels in the blood were required in order to save his life. 

Poisoning and sometimes death from eating (unidentified) mushrooms is well known. In particular, Amanita sp. are particularly dangerous, with much emphasis on the death cap fungus , Amanita phalloides.24 The best known toxins are the amatoxins and phallotoxins, which are complex, bicyclic peptides. An unusual feature relates to sulfur a tryptophan (or substituted tryptophan) unit is linked to a cysteine sulfur at the carbon atom next to the NH group of the pyrrole ring, forming the unit, -CH2-S-C(NH)=C, e.g. in... 

Death from acute poisoning usually occurs by mechanisms that involve vital systems such as respiration, circulation, or the CNS. Match each clinical picture with the causative agent. 

In domestic pigs, copper toxicosis results from eating diets containing 250 mg Cu/kg ration and is characterized by anemia, jaundice, elevated levels of Cu in serum and liver, and elevated serum AAT activity (USEPA 1980). Shortly before death, copper-poisoned pigs had white noses, poor balance, stomach histopathology, orange cirrhotic livers, anorexia, and anemia (Higgins 1981). 

Subadults (death from lead poisoning) Liver 30 FW 64... 

Japanese infants poisoned (128 deaths) from consumption of dry milk contaminated with arsenic average exposure of 3.5 mg As daily for 1 month. Severe hearing loss, brain wave abnormalities, and other CNS disturbances noted 15 years after exposure... 

Deaths from overdoses of other types of hallucinogens are rare, but not with PCP. Poisoning with this drug is a major medical emergency and requires great skill in management. Fortunately, the means are available for successful treatment. 

No studies were located in humans regarding the oral absorption of 1,2-dibromoethane. However, there is evidence to suggest that oral absorption occurs in humans. Death and poisoning resulting from suicide attempts (Olmstead 1960 Saraswat et al. 1986) and from consumption of contaminated fruits, grains, and drinking water (ERA 1983), indicate that absorption occurred. 

---