Poisoning thallium

Bowel movements - blood or black (hematochezia) (melena) Chest, ant - pain/pressure/burning [8] 

Extremities, hands/nails - Aldrich-Mees lines [11] Extremities, hands/palms - red (palmar erythema) Extremities - abnormal sensations (dysesthesias) [1, 2] Extremities - tremors [10] 

retina/optic nerve - inflammation Eyes, vision/binocular - loss, total (blindness) 

vision - loss, subtotal Gait - ataxic [ 1 ] 

Hair - pigmentation, increased Heart rate - increased (tachycardia) [8] 

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A variety of therapies for thallium poisoning have been suggested by neutralising thallium in the intestinal tract, hastening excretion after resorption, or decreasing absorption. Berlin-Blue (fertihexacyanate) and sodium iodide in a 1 wt % solution have been recommended. Forced diuresis hemoperfusion and hemodialysis in combination results in the elimination of up to 40% of the resorbed thaHous sulfate (39). 

Thallium metal, 24 627—629 Thallium nitrates, 24 633 Thallium organometallics, 24 633—635 Thallium oxides, 24 632—633 Thallium poisonings, 24 637, 638-639 Thallium stress test, 24 629 Thallium sulfates, 24 628, 633 Thaumatin, 72 43, 24 241-242 Thaumatin II, 24 242 Theaspiranes, 24 572 Thebaine, 2 89 Thenardite, 22 863, 5 785t Thenoyltrifluoroacetone molecular formula, 5 712t Theobroma cacao, 6 350 Theobromine, 2 105-106... 

In all forms, thallium is very toxic if inhaled, when in contact with the skin, and in particular, if ingested. Mild thallium poisoning causes loss of muscle coordination and burning of the skin, followed by weakness, tremor, mental aberration, and confusion. 

Nikiforov A, Slozina N, Neronova E, et al Cytogenic investigation of thallium-poisoned people Pilot study. J Toxicol Environ Health A 58(8) 465-8, 1999... 

Thallium chloride is highly toxic. Acute toxic effects are those of thallium poisoning. 

Thompson DF, Called ED Soluble or insoluble Prussian blue for radiocesium and thallium poisoning Ann Pharmacother 2004 38 1509. [PMID 15252192]... 

In Stingeder s group the unique capabilities of sector field ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS were employed to reconstruct details of a homicide by thallium poisoning, which took place about 40 years ago in Austria.29 Thallium was determined in several human bone samples after acid digestion in a microwave oven. The thallium concentration measured by ICP-MS and GF-AAS varied from 1.07-2.63 p,gg 1, which was up to 170 times higher compared to the concentration found in persons who died due of natural causes. LA-ICP-MS was employed to analyze a thumbnail from the poisoned person compared to a control person. Thallium peaks were detected in the nail of the victim at a distance of 2.5 mm from the younger edge of nail.29... 

The treatment of thallium poisoning is rather ingenious. It takes three forms diuretics eliminate thallium through increased urine production Prussian blue dye traps thallium excreted into the gut, preventing its reabsorption and potassium chloride supplements displace the thallium that has already been absorbed into the tissues. These measures allowed the unfortunate child from Qatar to make a complete recovery. 

In 1989 an even more mysterious case of thallium poisoning occurred in what was then the Soviet Union. In two separate towns, one in the Ukraine and the other in Estonia, dozens of children began to exhibit the symptoms of thallium poisoning. Doctors confirmed the presence of thallium in their bodies. 

Of course, what the students are really interested in is why thallium is poisonous. Surprisingly, thallium is toxic because it mimics potassium in the body. But why would thallium behave like potassium As we study the periodic table and chemical periodicity, there is no immediate reason to suspect that these two elements would have similar properties. A close look at the electron shell arrangement of thallium and potassium, however, reveals that both form +1 ions. Since Tl+ ions also happen to be similar in size to K+ ions, they are able to replace potassium ions in cellular processes. (Thallium poisoning is treated with a compound called Prussian blue, which binds to +1 ions and thus facilitates their removal from the body.) It is clear then that we cannot understand the toxicity of thallium without studying its atomic structure and electron distribution. But chemistry is only part of the story. The effects of thallium poisoning only make sense if the... 

State. When both iron environments contain only iron(II), the resulting salt is not colored (Prussian White). The oxidation state localization in PB has been studied extensively. Structures, electrochemical behavior (electrodes batteries), and uses in medicine (treatment of Cs and of thallium poisoning) of Prussian Blue are mentioned in a review of cyanide complexes. In cobalt-iron Prussian Blue analogues, NaxCo3,Fe(CN)6-zH20 electronic and spin states are controlled by temperature and the ligand field strength around the Co + ions, which in turn is determined by the Co Fe ratio. ... 

CDC (1987). Thallium poisoning an epidemic of false positives -Georgetown, Guyana. Morb. Mori. Weekly Report 36 481-2, 487-8. 

Tromme I, Van Neste D, Dobbelaere F, et al. (1998) Skin signs in the diagnosis of thallium poisoning. British Journal of Dermatology 138 321-325. 

Unlike exposure to most metal salts, gastrointestinal symptoms of thallium toxicity are relatively minor, and constipation is more characteristic than diarrhea. The major manifestations of toxicity consist of a rapidly progressive, ascending, extremely painful sensory neuropathy and alopecia. Other potential symptoms of overexposure are nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting seizure, tremor and psychosis. Thallium is one of the most toxic of all metals. It is a cumulative poison with an estimated lethal dose of 8-20 mg kg in humans. It is difficult to predict the out come of thallium poisoning. With high exposure, death results very soon. 

Thallium crosses the placental barrier and can be active in the last trimester of pregnancy. Loss of hair, and nail deformation are noted in exposed newborns. Loss of vision plus the other signs of thallium poisoning have been related to industrial exposures. 

Regardless of the entry route, the major symptoms of thallium poisoning are gastrointestinal stress, neurological problems, and hair loss. Pain develops, fingers become numb, motor weakness is noted, and lower limbs may become paralyzed. The eyes become inflamed and retrobulbar neuritis with some loss of central vision follows. Intraocular hemorrhage, formation of cataracts, and optic nerve atrophy can occur. 

Prussian blue s safety profile is superior to that of other proposed therapies, and that it should be considered the drug of choice in acute thallium poisoning. 

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