The toxic effect of heavy metals on photosynthetic reactions has been reported in wideranging studies, however there is paucity of data in the literature concerning thallium tl toxicity. Atmospheric emission and deposition from industrial sources have resulted in increased concentrations of thallium in the vicinity of mineral smelters and coalburning facilities. Small amounts of thallium are released into the air from coalburning power plants, cement factories, and smelting operations. Thallium is a toxic metal that causes serious fatigue. Thallium was the poison of choice for saddam hussein to use on dissidents, which even allowed for them to emigrate before dying. The reemergence of thallium as a heavy metal contaminant of human populations. The chosen idlh has been estimated from the data given by.
Symptoms are primarily related to the gastrointestinal and nervous system, while diffuse alopecia 3 weeks after ingestion is typical for thallium intoxication. The initial symptoms of thallium poisoning may include fever, gastrointestinal problems, delirium, convulsions and. The mean lethal dose of thalliumi sulfate for an adult is about 1 gram. The symptomatology of its toxicity is usually nonspecific due to the multiorgan involvement.
Batemsn department of chemistry, leland staxiord jr. Urine thallium concentration 20mcgl indicates toxicity blood levels are not considered reliable except in large exposures plain films may be useful in acute ingestion because thallium is radiopaque. Thallium poisoning begins mildly involves nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, followed by a symptomfree period of. Thallium poisoning an overview sciencedirect topics. Thallium poisoning california poison control system ucsf. Some of the newer anticoagulant compounds, termed secondgeneration anticoagulants, may cause human toxicity. Further support for the chosen idlh can be gained from the statement by deichmann. The exact mechanism of thallium toxicity is still unknown. Thalliums similar size to potassium results in early stimulation then inhibition of potassiumdependent processes.
Recognition and management of pesticide poisonings. Thallium poisoning is one of the most complex and serious toxicities known to man. Integrated risk information system iris september 2009. Many people have never heard of it, yet thallium toxicity is worse than lead, cadmium and mercury toxicity combined. It is generally present in the environment at low levels. Thallium has now shown up in my biofeedback test, only thing i can figure is that the hg being moved out by the cutler protocol is unearthing some thallium. The general use of these compounds by pest control companies, and their availability. Since thalliumi sulfate is a simple powder with indistinctive properties, it can easily be mistaken for more innocuous chemicals. In 1995, zhu ling was the victim of an unsolved attempted thallium poisoning in beijing, china. The thallium was slipped into bottles of cocacola at the carr and trepal homes. Feb 19, 2018 thallium accumulates in tissues with high potassium concentrations such as muscle, heart, and central and peripheral nerve tissue. Thallium poisoning is very rare and may occur accidentally, through occupational exposure and because of its potency, it is described as a weapon of intentional poisoning.
Biomagnification of thallium in aquatic ecosystems has been reported higher than 10,000fold lin et al. Acute toxicity values of thallium sulfate and thallium nitrate to daphnia magna, as lc 50, have been reported to be 8. Acute toxicity will produce a thallium concentration many times higher than the reference range of 05 ngml. Overlapping toxic effect of long term thallium exposure on. The clinical presentation of thallium toxicity can vary.
Thallium is excreted in breast milk and can cross the placental barrier. A few years ago the attention of one of the writerswas called. Thallium tl is a naturally occurring, highly toxic heavy metal and has been. Thallium is released into the environment through its use in rat poison in the manufacture of special glass, fluorescent colors and synthetic gemstones. Thallium is thought to combine with mitochondrial sulfhydryl enzymes at a. Few laboratories can perform an assay for thallium. Thallium 201tl chloride i is a sterile, clear and colourless solution for injection. Acute toxicity of trivalent thallium compounds to daphnia.
Despite fetal complications ranging from severe toxicity and permanent deficit to normal development, the only consistent effect was increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight. Heavy metal exposure affect plant productivity by interfering, directly and indirectly, with photosynthetic reactions. General issues, neurological symptoms, and neurotoxic mechanisms springerlink. A 24hour urine thallium concentration is the most accurate way to assess thallium toxicity but a spot urine level is likely to provide a more rapid and reasonably reliable answer. The anticoagulants, indandiones and red squill are less hazardous to humans and domestic animals. It is added to gasoline and released into the air by car exhaust. Thallium poisoning is more common in developing countries where thallium rat poisons are still available and where there are less rigorous health and safety workplace practices. It is particularly dangerous because compounds containing thallium are colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Thallium blood levels may be elevated after recent exposures, but it is cleared from the blood relatively quickly. Thallium poisoning in the dog iowa state university. Gastrointestinal findings may be mild or nonexistent, especially in chronic poisoning.
Thallium ti is a highly toxic metal that is anthropo genically. Acute thallium poisoning is usually due to ingestion of the salts, while chronic. Therapies of thallium intoxication combine forced diuresis, use of. Acgih 1971 that ld 50 values for different thallium compounds, by various routes of administration and for several species of animals ranged from 3 to 92 mgkg downs et al. Ever heard of the toxic heavy metal called thallium. Subacute signs and symptoms onset of days to weeks following ingestion after a substantial, acute exposure or chronic exposure to limited amounts of thallium might include those of a severely painful ascending neuropathy as well as ataxia, seizures. Thallium tl thallium can be assimilated transdermal through the skin, by inhalation, or by oral ingestion. Because of this high toxicity, the world health organization who recommends against the use of thallium in rodent and insect poisons.
The fda has approved prussian blue radiogardase as an antidote for thallium toxicity. Use of the antidote prussian blue has only been reported in two separate cases of thallium poisoning in pregnancy. Toxicological profile for thallium agency for toxic. Thallium poisoning is associated with these environment exposures. Since long back, thallium has been used extensively, and human exposure to thallium compounds has occurred naturally. The first resulted in the premature delivery of an infant at 6 months gestation after maternal thallium poisoning, and treatment with prussian blue at an unknown stage of pregnancy pai 1987. Thallium is a toxic heavy metal, which was accidentally discovered by sir william crookes in 1861 by burning the dust from a sulfuric acid industrial plant. Thallium is the element rat poison and industrial waste. Ingestion of toxic amounts of thallium might cause gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, most commonly abdominal pain. Thalliumi sulfate is soluble in water and its toxic effects are derived from the thalliumi cation. This presents as excruciating pain and hyperaestheia on the soles of the feet, along with extreme calf tenderness to the point where at times the weight of bedclothes touching the legs can be unbearable. Oct 26, 2016 thallium is released into the biosphere from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Pdf a 21yearold black male with painful neuropathy, abdominal pain, tachycardia and encephalopathy developed striking scalp alopecia 1.
Thallium enters food because it is easily taken up by plants through the roots. Reports of poisoning of domestic animals by thal lium were published as early as 1920. Health risks of thallium in contaminated arable soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater from a sulfuric acid plant in western guangdong province, china. Thallium toxicity to bacteria, fungi and primary producers 12. Toxicology tests are done to evaluate thallium concentrations in. The loec for thallium in bioassays with terrestrial invertebrates and plants in artificial soil ranged from 1 to 500 mgkg, which indicates an toxicity of thallium up to 100 times higher than that. Charcoal binds to thallium, keeping it within the intestinal tract. Thallium toxicity has multiorgan involvement and presents with vague symptoms that are often attributed to other causes. As a result, the symptoms are commonly dismissed by traditional health practitioners altogether and lead to a misdiagnosis of the patients condition 8. Jun 23, 2015 few laboratories can perform an assay for thallium. Thallium compounds have been used as rodenticides for many years. Toxicity data were found for five of these compounds thallium sulfate, thallium oxide, thallium nitrate, thallium acetate, and thallium carbonate. A multidose vial can contain from 1 to 10 ml of solution for injection. Thallium poisoning should be suspected in any patient with neurological symptoms and hair loss.
Thallium metal forms a brownish black oxide on exposure to air. This document includes nine of the commonly used thallium compounds. Therapies of thallium intoxication combine forced diuresis, use of activated. Michael rosenbaum, md, and ernest hubbard based on an interview with nancy faass, msw, mph townsend letter, the examiner of alternative medicine alternative medicine magazine articles are written by researchers, health practitioners and patients. Sep 26, 2019 the atsdr toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described here. The painful neuropathy, however, starts as early as the day after exposure, and should prompt concern about thallium toxicity.
Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about the bmj. Key enzymes involved in thallium toxicity include pyruvate kinase and succinate dehydrogenase. Thallium itself and compounds containing the element are highly toxic. Acute thallium poisoning is primarily characterized by gastrointestinal, neurological, and dermatological symptoms, while neurologic findings predominate with chronic exposure and tend to progress, even despite decreasing blood thallium levels. Once used as rat poison thallium was banned many years ago and has been associated to the loss of the ability to walk. Pdf naturai occurrence of thallium on the earth may be modest, but it has been u,idely used in various industrial activities. Once commonly referred to as inheritance powder, it was the assassins poison of choice since it is odorless, tasteless, colorless, dissolves in water, and can kill in anywhere from a few hours to a couple days creating a mystery as to what the true cause of death was. The clinical presentation of thallium toxicity can vary depending on the type, severity, and timeframe of the exposure. We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. This thallium falls out of the air onto nearby fruit and vegetable gardens. Jul 07, 2011 thallium is excreted in breast milk and can cross the placental barrier.