Poison Plot

My favorite headline of the week came from the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose man accused of poison plot.  What did he do?  Put ricin in Adrian Peterson's and Christian Ponder's food after the Vikings beat the 49ers.  Or maybe gassing the Republican headquarters.  After all it is California in an election year.  But no such fun.  As with most plots this one involves love, money and nursing homes. 

It just happens that an older gentleman's girlfriend is living in a nursing home.  In order to gain control of her finances he tried the age-old trick of poisoning her.  Fortunately, he picked the wrong poison.  He snuck her bottles of water that had chlorine added to them and encouraged her to drink.   The nursing staff eventually found a bottle that smelled like pool water.  The police were notified and the poisoner is now in jail. 

Chlorine is in our water and used to keep our pools clean.  We use it to disinfect counters and whiten clothes.  So what's the deal?  As with everything else, "Poison is in everything and no thing is without poison.  The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy."  In the case of chlorine it is the concentration that makes the poison.  Very dilute chlorine, as in pool water, will not do much when ingested.  Your kidneys do a good job of handling it.  But concentrated chlorine is corrosive and can cause severe oral and esophageal burns.  This victim was checked out at an ED and returned to her nursing home.    

Poison plots, love and money.  The story that always has a new chapter.

Smiles

It seems that nearly everyday I hear about a new designer drug.  One source of information is my morning paper.  The typical story is a teenager who tries the new drug and subsequently dies.  The article will quote the parents and the police.  Last week I read this  YAHOO Shine  report on 2C-I. 

"Smiles" or 2C-I is the latest designer hallucinogenic amphetamine.  It follows other designer drugs with similar names.  The effects all seem the be the same.  The users describe vivid hallucinations, or a friend finds the user dead.  These new drugs are all illegal in the US and many other countries.  Originally developed by a psychopharmacologist many years ago as new research compounds.  The compounding process has been simplified and is available for basement chemists to make their own drug.  So why did the teenager is this article die?  How about quality control.  I do not believe there is the same concerns with quality when someone is making a drug in their basement as compared with Abbott making Vicodin.  When you purchase a street drug do you really have any idea what is in it?  Does that chocolate bar have just enough drug for a nice high?  or a lethal dose.  Whereas you know every Vicodin tablet has the correct anount of hydrocodone.  I equate the use of designer drug to eating puffer fish.  Eat a meal prepared by a high quality Fugu chef and your mouth tingles from just the right amount of the neurotoxin in the fish.  Eat puffer fish prepared by some guy in an alley and you get a load of the neurotoxin and stop breathing. 

Its all about quality control.  Are designer drugs safe?  Certainly not.  Do they kill every user.  No.  Remember, its all about the dose.

Suboxone tablets

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) today Reckitt-Benckiser has decided to withdraw suboxone tablets from the market.  Suboxone is a drug used to treat opiate dependence.  It has a fascinating effectiveness profile that you will hear about in class next week.  Withdrawal of the drug was based partially on AAPCC data.  AAPCC has data from all US poison centers and includes every exposure called into a center.  Reckitt-Benckiser reviewed that data and had concerns over the number of poor outcomes following pediatric exposures to suboxone tablets. 

The AAPCC stated that, "Our analysis of the combined data sets indicated that the rate of unintentional exposure for young children is several times higher for Suboxone tablets compared to Suboxone oral film.  This effect persisted when the availability of the drug was considered.   Based on the data, RBP decided to withdraw their Suboxone tablet product from the market. We were not involved in that decision and did not know about the press release until we saw the news stories that quoted the press release."

Fascinating!  Here is an example of post-marketing surveillance and a decision based partially on a source of safety/toxicity data. 

Every call into a poison center makes a difference.   It makes a difference for the patient and in this case makes a difference for public health.

Led Zeppelin

Today is the anniversary of the death of John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin (September 25, 1980).  In the 24 hours prior to his death Bonham drank 40 shots of vodka.  He drank so much that he could not protect his airway, vomited, asphyxiated and died.  Following his death Led Zeppelin disbanded, closing the door on one of the greatest rock bands of history.

Enjoy this video.

Caffeine

Like all of you I could not wait to get to my computer to read about the horrible call that gave last night’s Packer game to Seattle.  But this headline caught my eye instead.   Hamilton injury blamed on caffeine.    
 

Josh Hamilton is an amazing baseball player.  He has lead the Texas Rangers to the last two World Series.  He is fast, plays center field and can hit.  Today he is leading all of baseball in homeruns.  Josh Hamilton also has a long history of substance abuse.  It was only after he conquered his demons did his baseball career take off.  But how did he hurt himself with caffeine?  Trip on a can of Monster?  Spill coffee on his hands?  According to ESPN his caffeine consumption was so high he developed ocular keratitis.  He couldn’t focus.  Not a good thing when holding a bat while someone is throwing a 98 mph baseball at you.  It turns out Josh Hamilton drinks a lot of coffee during the day, has an energy drink before the game and tops off his evening with some theobromine (chocolate).  Caffeine is well known to cause tremor, headache, tachycardia, hypertension and GI irritation.  Now you can add ocular keratitis to the list.  Josh Hamilton may be a superb athlete but he really is just one of us. 

Do you think the NFL replacement refs get enough caffeine?

Ocular Keratitis:  Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea — the clear, dome-shaped tissue on the front of your eye that covers the pupil and iris. Keratitis may or may not be associated with an infection.  Noninfectious keratitis can be caused by a relatively minor injury, wearing your contact lenses too long or other diseases. Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.  (www.mayoclinic.com)

 

Ban on booze

Government bans hard liquor! That is a headline that grabs my attention. In Texas we lived in a dry county.  Is Ozaukee County now going dry!?  Is prohibition back?  Most importantly, can I still buy beer before tonight's Packer game?

The Czech Republic has banned the sale of any liquor with an alcohol content of greater than 20 %.  They are having a moonshine problem.  Many people around the world make their own alcoholic beverages.  Home brewed beer and wine is pretty common in this country.  But distilling hard liquor in your backyard is little different.  The problem in the Czech Republic is that the homemade hard liquor is being made, labeled and sold are the real deal.  Someone is making a buck, what's the big deal?    Check out this link.    The tox problem is that the counterfeiters are adding methanol to their liquor. The methanol adds to the alcohol content, stretches the volume produced, and is cheap and tasteless.  Perfect.  But it causes blindness and death. Over 20 people have died and many more are sick and/or blind.  

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that in the body metabolizes to formic acid and formaldehyde. The formic acid causes a severe metabolic acidosis, blindness and death. Clearly, "stretching" your moonshine with a little methanol is a big deal. Methanol outbreaks from tainted alcohol have happened before, and will happen again.

Arsenic and Rice

Judy Buenoano, aka the “Black Widow” decided that arsenic was her friend.  She used it to poison her husband and a boyfriend and collect life insurance money.  Obviously, arsenic is horrible.  But wait, we use arsenic (Trisenox®) to treat cancer.  So it must be good for us.  So what is it, a horrible poison or a lifesaving pharmaceutical? 

 This week I have had two family members ask me about the report of arsenic in rice.  According to Consumer Reports arsenic has been found in high levels in rice.  (ABC News report)  Brown rice more than white.  Arkansas rice more than California.  Urvashi Rangan, director of consumer safety and sustainability at Consumer Reports, said "we think that consumers ought to take steps to moderate their consumption."  Consumer Reports even threw chickens under the bus for having arsenic in their feed.  For a more balanced report read this FDA update.    “It is critical to not get ahead of the science,” says Michael R. Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods. “The FDA's ongoing data collection and other assessments will give us a solid scientific basis for determining what steps are needed to reduce exposure to arsenic in rice and rice products.”  Good, now I can get back to eating more than just Raisin Bran Crunch.  

 Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is ubiquitous in the environment.  It is in our soil, our water and our food.  We breathe it and ingest it every day.  In large doses it can kill and it is a known carcinogen.  But at what dose is it a problem?  As with everything the “dose makes the poison”.  The FDA is continually investigating to set safe levels.  But logic tells me we are safe where we are at.  Rice is a food staple worldwide.  Eat in Uganda, Mexico or China and rice will be on your plate.  So how is it the world is over-populated if rice is so bad for you? 

By now you are totally confused.  To eat rice or not?  Here is one more item for you to read to help you make up your mind.    Maybe my dinner tonight will be a chicken breast on a bed of rice.  Yum.  But I will not be drinking apple juice for breakfast, there’s poison in it! 

Drugs and self-portraits

On the first day of class we defined toxicology as "a science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems involved (as clinical, industrial, or legal)".  Of course there are many ways to study poisons.  Analytically and clinically are the first that come to mind.  But personal experience can be fascinating.  My favorite website (www.erowid.org) is full of descriptions of drug experiences.  This person goes one step further.  Brian Lewis Saunders is an artist who is painting self-portraits of himself while on different drugs. Some of the drugs are prescription, and some are not. Check it out, the paintings are great!

Toxic Tattoo

For years where toxic and tattoo were used in the same sentence it was an urban myth.  Supposedly drug dealers hung around schools to give kids little stick on tattoos that contained LSD.  Not true.  So today I was a surprised to see something about toxic tattoos in my in-box. 

The American Academy of Clinical toxicology sent our this tidbit...

"A 19-year-old female calls the poison center stating she received a tattoo on her upper arm one month ago and now has what sounds like red papules in and around the site of the tattoo. The tattoo consists of a large red rose and most of the ink used was bright red in color. What is the likely source of these red papules?"

Good question.  The tattoo below has a red rose, but it looks clean.  So what is the problem?  I doubt it is LSD.  Maybe hepatitis?  Interesting?

"Based on recent reports and cautions issued by the FDA, these red papules likely represent nontuberculous mycobacterial infection from contaminated tattoo ink. The caller should be referred to a knowledgeable dermatologist or other physician for treatment. The cited reference points out that “Antibiotic choices are limited by the susceptibility profile of the organism and prolonged treatment may be necessary to clear the infection.” They go on to note that many persons treated with macrolides have had “favorable response” to this therapy. A recently reported outbreak found contaminated ink in an unopened contained and “thus, contamination could have occurred at various points in the ink-production process-for instance, from unsanitary manufacturing processes or the use of contaminated ingredients such as water, glycerin or pigments." (LeBlanc PM et al. Tattoo ink-related infections-awareness, diagnose, reporting and prevention. 2012 NEJM 367(11):985-987)" 

Toxic tattoos from contaminated ink!  Thank you AACT for the fun note.  

Vitas Gerulaitis

Vitas Gerulaitis?  Even I have to think for a minute about that name.  As I recall he was a tennis "star" in the late 70's and early 80's.  He was far more famous for his blond hair (google his hair, its 70's amazing) and reputation as a partier.  What does he have to do with today? 

This morning I went out for an early morning run and was a little surprised at the temp.  It was chilly.  As I look out the window I see trees turning color.  For many that means fall.  For toxicologists it means carbon monoxide season.  Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion.  Burn wood, charcoal, gasoline or propane and carbon monoxide results.  When sitting around a campfire or tailgating at a Brewers game, no problem.  When the carbon monoxide builds up in your home, that is a different story.  Carbon monoxide first displaces oxygen off your hemoglobin.  Your blood carries carbon monoxide instead of oxygen, not good.  Even worse, as levels in your body increase carbon monoxide eventually blocks cellular respiration.  Thankfully the antidote is close by, fresh air. 

Why is fall CO season?  As people fire up their furnaces for the first time some are bound to fail.  Others heat their homes with poorly vented fireplaces.  Calls to poison centers regarding CO greatly increase in fall and winter.  Patients show up in emergency departments with headaches, dizziness and other vague symptoms.  Low level CO poisoning.

Vitas Gerulaitis?  He was staying in a summer cottage of a friend's in Long Island.  To prepare for winter the owner had a new propane heater installed.  On the morning of September 18, 1994 the heater failed and a tennis star died of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Flumazenil and Lifetime Learning

Every practicing professional has their own way of keeping informed on the latest and greatest in their chosen field.  The desire for lifetime learning is one of the cornerstones of higher education.  Some use journals, others electronic newsletters.  But it seems that everyday there is another paper published that impacts pharmacy.  As a member of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology I receive a monthly "Current Awareness" newsletter that lists important papers published in the last month.  My September current awareness includes, "A Poison Center's Ten-year Experience with Flumazenil Administration to Acutely Poisoned Adults".  Perfect timing!  Last Wednesday I talked about the use of flumazenil as a benzodiazepine antagonist in the poisoned patient.  This paper is now posted on Angel in the "readings" folder.  The conclusion you heard last week was that the flumazenil is rarely used due to the risk of seizures.  This paper reviewed 904 patients who received flumazenil.  Of those patients 13 had a seizure and one died.  So the seizure rate is actually low.  The authors conclude that only 13/904 (1.3 %) of patients developed seizures and that those seizures were significantly associated with the ingestion of a medication that is pro-convulsants.  The authors also also note that most of the patients had an improved mental status after flumazenil administration.  So what did I learn from this that I can carry into my practice?  Flumazenil does work, but its risks are significant.  Each patient must be very carefully screened before it can be administered.  The ingestion of a pro-convulsant drug would be an absolute contraindication to flumazenil. 

Lifetime learning, so what are your plans?          

Botulism

Botulism, the grandaddy of food poisoning.  Botulism is the reason we don't buy dented cans.  And, more importantly, where Botox come from.  When people get botulism the outcome is not always good.  As with any potentially fatal illness early diagnosis is important. 

To help clinicians diagnose botulism we have the "Dozen D's":

1. Dry mouth;
2. Diplopia;
3. Dilated pupils;
4. Droopy eyelids;
5. Droopy face;
6. Diminished gag reflex;
7. Dysphagia;
8. Dysarthria;
9. Dysphonia;
10. Difficulty lifting head;
11. Descending paralysis; and
12. Dyspnea from diaphragmatic paralysis.

In any patient who displays three or more of the "Dozen D's" botulism should be considered.   Just the kind of thing we should be injecting to take care of wrinkles!  

Thank you to the AACT question of the day and Zane Horowitz.  (Horowitz BZ. Botulinum toxin 2005 Crit Care Clin 21:825-839)

Burns from OTC Dermal Pain Relievers

Over-The-Counter Topical Muscle and Joint Pain Relievers: Drug Safety Communication - Rare Cases of Serious Burns

AUDIENCE: Consumer, Health Professional

ISSUE:  FDA is alerting the public that certain over-the-counter (OTC) products that are applied to the skin for the relief of mild muscle and joint pain have been reported to cause rare cases of serious skin injuries, ranging from first- to third-degree chemical burns, where the products were applied. When applied to the skin, the products produce a local sensation of warmth or coolness.These products should not cause pain or skin damage, however, there have been rare cases of serious burns following their use. Some of the burns had serious complications requiring hospitalization

BACKGROUND: OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers are used to temporarily relieve minor muscle and joint aches and pain. These OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers are available as single- or combination-ingredient products that contain menthol, methyl salicylate, or capsaicin, and are marketed under various brand-names, such as, Bengay, Capzasin, Flexall, Icy Hot, and Mentholatum. The various formulations include creams, lotions, ointments, and patches.

RECOMMENDATION: Consumers using an OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever who experience signs of skin injury where the product was applied, such as pain, swelling, or blistering of the skin, should stop using the product and seek medical attention immediately. When recommending OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to patients, healthcare professionals should counsel patients about how to use the products appropriately and inform them about the risk of serious burns.

Jimi Hendrix

Today in 1970 Jimi Hendrix was found dead in London.  Jimi was a well know heroin, LSD and marijuana user.  Early the morning of his death he ingested multiple Vesparax (combination barbiturate and hydrozyzine).  His autopsy reported the cause of death to asphyxiation, he choked on his own vomit.  A sad ending to a 27 year-old musical legend.   

Jimi Hendrix and the closing of Woodstock.

Hydrocodone/APAP Recall

Qualitest Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets 10 mg/500 mg: Recall - Potential for Oversized Tablets

AUDIENCE: Consumer, Health Professional

ISSUE:  Today, Qualitest, a subsidiary of Endo Health Solutions,issued a voluntary, nationwide retail level recall for one lot of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets, USP 10 mg/500 mg. Bottles from the affected lot may contain tablets that have a higher dosage of acetaminophen, and as a result, it is possible that consumers could take more than the intended acetaminophen dose. Unintentional administration of tablets with increased acetaminophen content could result in liver toxicity, especially in patients on other acetaminophen containing medications, patients with liver dysfunction, or people who consume more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen 10 mg/500 mg tablets are indicated for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain. The affected lot, C1440512A, was distributed between May 14 and Aug. 3, 2012 to wholesale distributors and retail pharmacies nationwide. The lot number can be found on the side of the manufacturer’s bottle. Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets are approximately 16.51 mm in length, pink, capsule-shaped tablets, with "3600" debossed on one side of the tablet and "V" on the other.

RECOMMENDATION: Consumers who have lot C1440512A should contact Qualitest at 1-800-444-4011. Consumers who are unsure if they have the affected lot number should consult their pharmacy or health care professional. Pharmacists and wholesalers are asked to check their inventories for lot C1440512A, segregate any material from the lot, and to contact MedTurn at 1-800-967-5952 for instructions on product return.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Press Release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm319058.htm

Poison Center Visit

There have been questions raised regarding a visit to the Poison Center.  Unfortunately, I do not have any good answers.  Let me talk to the staff at the Poison Center.  From that I can determine group size, time at the center and a good date for a visit.  Thank you for your patience. 

Health Effects of 911

Today is the anniversary of thew World Trade Center attack in New York City.  Today many of the wounds that were opened that day have healed.  The World Trade Center once again towers over the New York skyline.  Last week when I flew into New York we had a incredible view of the Statue of Liberty and the New World Trade Center.  It was inspiring! 

But today there are many people who still suffer the effects of the attack.  Post traumatic stress syndrome has effected many.  The inhalation of ash and dust has also lead to a myriad of toxicologic issues.  Asthma rates have skyrocketed.  Lungs diseases have increased.  It remains early for anyone to judge cancer rates.

There are many hysterical reports about the dire effects of the dust from 911.  There are an equal number of reports castigating those that suffer.  Here is a non-biased report on the health effects as written by the NYC health department.  New York City Health Department link. It is a short read to remind all of us of the long term toxicologic effects that will be forever tied to the attack. 

Yes many of the wounds of that day have healed, but many remain. 

Opioid Prescribing

By now all pharmacists should be aware that accidental deaths secondary to drug use are on the rise.  The number of people that die each day, directly or indirectly, from drug use is alarming.  OxyContin has gotten the reputation as both a leading cause of drug abuse, "Hillbilly Heroin", and as a effective tool in the treatment of chronic pain.  But how can it be both?  Can a drug be both a life sustaining treatment and cause the death of those patients that use it?  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been running an occasional series of articles on prescription pain killer use and conflict of interest.  Sunday's article was especially compelling. Here is the link to the article.   

The concern for patient safety has lead many emergency rooms to restrict the prescribing of opioid pain killers. "ERs in Milwaukee County restricting opioid prescriptions" (link).   Appropriately prescribed to the correct patient within the appropriate healthcare framework, opioid pain killers can be life changing.  But life in the ED finds the wrong patients in the wrong healthcare setting.  

An interesting pair of articles. 

Medication Error

People really do mix up their meds an end up in emergency rooms.  Just ask Tom Brokaw (New York Daily News link).

International Espionage

Georgi Markov was a well-known Bulgarian novelist and playwright.  He was also a communist dissident that escaped to England.   While in England he was a broadcaster with the broadcasting from BBC World Service where he frequently targeted the communist party. 

 On September 7, 1978 Georgi Markov was waiting for a bus when he felt a sting in his thigh.  That evening he became very ill and he died three days later.  Initially death was declared due to septicemia.  On autopsy a small pellet was found in his thigh.  After investigation the cause of death was changed to murder.  Murder by ricin, delivered through a pellet that was implanted under the skin by a specially designed umbrella.   

The most frequent exposure to ricin in the US is through the ingestion of castor beans in small children.  Fortunately, castor beans are very hard, extremely difficult to chew and hard to digest.   Seldom are children every injured. 

 

Here is a brief paper on Georgi Markov that explains the toxicity of ricin.

 

Underage Drinking, Alcohol Poisoning and Legal Immunity

That is the title of today's blog entry from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.  Do you think underage drinkers should be arrested and prosecuted for consumption after calling 911 in a medical emergency?  Check out this posting.

Bites and Stings

While it is exciting to think of rattlesnake bites and jellyfish stings, bee stings cause a far greater number of deaths.  According to this morning Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel a 46 year old Mequon man died yesterday after being sting by a bee.  This is a reminder that while it is fun to learn about the exotic, it the what is just outside the door that effects us every day.  Do you know what to do when a bee sting happens?  Check this out: Insect Sting Kills Mequon Man.

Antivenoms, another adverse effect, your bill!

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/05/scorpion-sting-leaves-arizona-woman-with-huge-bill-and-bite/?test=latestnews

The sting of an Arizona scorpion (Centuroides sp.) is not that big of a deal, maybe some localized swelling and pain, hardly ever a significant systemic effect. The news story describes a $53,000 hospital bill for a woman who received scorpion antivenom for what looks like a very trivial injury. Her pain probably could have been treated with some local anesthetic and morphine...total cost maybe a couple hundred dollars vs. thousands! If the antivenom were needed to save her life, then Yes, give and worry about the cost later. If they just gave a $40,000 med to manage pain that could have been managed in a more conventional manner, well then that $40,000 cost seems too excessive.  seems like the whole story is not being told here

Recalls and Bratwurst

Recalls....  It seems that everyday we read about a car being recalled due to safety.  Or it was a crib because the slats were too far apart.  Some recalls may be small, others massive.  So companies recall their products when there is a potential for harm.  Others wait until the harm is done and the FDA issues the recall. 

Here is a recall from a local company near and dear to my heart.  Would you be surprised to find a pen in your bratwurst patty?

Wisconsin Establishment Recalls Frozen Bratwurst Patties

Klement Sausage Company Inc. is recalling approximately 2,920-lbs. of frozen bratwurst patties because they may contain foreign materials—pieces of a plastic pen. 

The products subject to recall include:

·         10-lb. cases containing 4-oz. patties of Klement Sausage Co. Bratwurst Patty

All products were produced on July 6, 2012. The packages bear the establishment number “EST. 2426B” in the USDA mark of inspection and the batch number “21097” on the case label. The products were distributed for foodservice use in Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Jeff Klement, the company’s vice president of special projects, at 414-744-2330. ext. 244.

For more information: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_recalls/RNR_060_2012/index.asp

Lab safety has come a long way

The concept of "safe laboratory practices" is a relatively recent phenomenon. Most all scientists understand that lab coats, gloves, and safety goggles are important for protecting the health of the researcher, and in most chemistry labs, food and drink are expressly verboten. This is, in large part, due to the efforts of toxicologists to bring our expanding knowledge of carcinogens an harmful agents into public consciousness.

The following image is taken from the journal Organic Syntheses in 1927. At the height of the Roaring Twenties, organic chemists would routinely engage in activities that would horrify chemistry students today, most notably "mouth-pipetting" and smoking. This particular article, which describes a chemical synthesis of hydrogen cyanide, describes a practical application of this second activity:

As you can see, Prof. Ziegler rightly wanted to alert the reader to the potential vaporization of the potently poisonous HCN. This is a rather creative approach to testing the safety of a fume hood, in the absence of the sophisticated equipment we use today. Of course, if you are playing with cyanide and the lab begins to smell like almonds, you're already in deep trouble, smoking or not.

September 4

Question regarding readings; Is there a schedule for when the articles should be read? 

I really don’t have one.  My thought was to post articles you would find interesting.  Or would make good reference material in the future.  They are not required.  Although any faculty may require that an article be read.  So far the articles posted are for you enlightenment.  Hopefully which papers go with which lecture will be obvious.

Clams

Labor Day weekend.  For many it signals an end to summer and a start of fall (football season).  To me it is the perfect time to spend on or in the water.   As part of our holiday weekend we went clamming.  As a product of the Midwest with a sojourn to Texas, clamming is new to me.   Yet somehow we found ourselves wading into Peconic Bay (Peconic Bay lays in the north end of Long Island and empties in the Atlantic Ocean.)   We caught a nice basket of clams.  I learned that like walleye the big ones go back.  As I was consuming our catch, raw with a little lemon juice, I could not help but think about paralytic shellfish poisoning.  What is that saying…? “You can only eat shellfish in a month that ends in R”.  Its September 1, I’m OK!  

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a food borne illness caused by saxitoxin, a sodium channel blocking neurotoxin, and characterized by tingling or numbness beginning in the perioral area and spreading to the neck and face followed by headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  Saxitoxin is produced by marine algae, mostly dinoflagellates (genus Alexandrium) which are consumed and bioconcentrated in shellfish.  Implicated sources include saltwater mussels, saltwater clams, oysters and pufferfish.  Toxin containing shellfish are primarily found in the cold water regions on the coasts of northeast and northwest of the U.S.  PSP is a problem in the coastal water of northern New England, but has been reported in the waters off Long Island. 

 
Clamming was fun and the clams were delicious.  Thankfully, it was Labor Day weekend