Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Toxicology
Dra Dando
12 February 2008
Joyce “,.
- causes seizures esp in children >2 y/o Organic: contaminated waters from
Permethrin industrial waste products, air, soil
- anti-pediculosis and scabies: cause seizure (methylmercury)
Effects of Pesticides:
- Endocrine disruption (cause problems in
reproduction and immune system)
- Neurodevelopmental effects (e.g autism,
cerebral palsy, mental retardation)
- Immune system (can cause cancer)
NON-PHARMACEUTICALS
Silica gel – gastric irritant
Chinese herbal meds (e.g. Ma-Huang – has
pseudoephedrine and ephedrine: precursor of
methamphetamine)
Button batteries
- in <7 y/o, the diameter of intestine is >1.5
cm
- can obstruct trachea, pyloric sphincter *Mercury vapor – amalgam fillings are chief sources
- endoscopy is done to get it manually of exposure to mercury vapor
Watusi
Yellow phosphorus – most dangerous Minamata Disease (d/t high levels of methyl
(protoplasmic: cause severe hypotension and mercury in big fishes, e.g. tuna)
hypoxia) In 1932, Nippon Chisso Hiyu started to operate an
acetaldehyde acetic venyl chloride manufacturing
Trinitrotoluene (present in dynamite and
plant using mercury as a catalyst. The plant had
bombs)
been directly discharging its industrial waste into
Potassium nitrate
Minamata Bay for 36 years with no adequate
Potassium chlorate facilities.
Moth balls
Naphthalene – causes hemolytic anemia in In 1958, Chisso redirected the outlet drainage canal
G6PD deficiency pts from Minamata Bay into the tributary of the
Camphor – most toxic Minamata River which resulted in the contamination
of a wider area of Yatshushiro Sea.
Para-dichlorobenzene – deodorizer (e.g.
Albatross) Increase in number of vaccines
- least toxic, causes recommended for routine use in infants
slight gastric irritation
HEAVY METALS
Mercury (a.k.a Asoge)
Sources:
Elemental: “quicksilver” metal, cinnabar
ore, dental amalgam, apparatus, Potential increased exposure of infants to mercury
thermometers from thimerosal in vaccines
Inorganic: antiseptics, vaccines
(merthiolate) Ethyl Mercury
PHARMACOLOGY: Toxicology – Dra. Dando
Page 7 of 8
Arsenic Poisoning
Keratotic lesions cancerous
Patients from Bangladesh dig a well
PLANT TOXINS
Jathropa Seeds
Contents: toxalbumins = ricin (toxic content
causing hemorrhagic gastritis), curcin, tannic
acid
Effects: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting,
hepatic injury, muscle twitching, weakness,
salvation, sweating, dehydration,
hemorrhagic gastritis
Tx: activated charcoal Specific Treatment
PHARMACOLOGY: Toxicology – Dra. Dando
Page 8 of 8
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Sedatives
Diazepam (Valium)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
Sleeping Pills (Stinox, Unisom)
*Ecstasy
- side effect: bruxism
- causes seizure, severe dehydration
- more toxic than shabu