Mercury Fast Facts:– Naturally occurring heavy metal– ‘Hg’ on the periodic table (atomic no.80)– Used in car batteries and thermometers– Low levels not particularly toxic to adults and harmless if touched– Inhaled vapour attacks the brain and lungs– The cause of the Iraqi poisoned grain disaster– Suggested as a possible cause of death of Mozart…
Research
A to Z Challenge: L (poisons & stories of their use)
Little Apple of Death Fast Facts:– Commonly known as the Manchineel tree– Modern-day Spanish name is manzanilla de la muerte (little apple of death)– Native to Caribbean, Florida (where it’s endangered), Bahamas, Central and northern South America– One of the most toxic trees in the world– Every part of the tree (bark, leaves, fruit) contains…
A to Z Challenge: K (poisons & stories of their use)
Kokoe poison frog Fast Facts:– Also known as poison dart frog– The frogs excrete the poison: batrachotoxin– About 136 micro grams is a lethal dose– One frog has about 1100 micro grams– It affects nerve and muscle cells resulting in cardiac failure– Believed to be the poison that killed navigator Ferdinand Magellan When touched or…
A to Z Challenge: J (poisons & stories of their use)
Just about anything… Fast Facts:– Anything in the right dose can kill– Consider ever chemical to be a poison– Water and salt have poisoned and killed According to toxicologist Paracelsus (circa 1500), “the dose makes the poison”. What this means is that every chemical can be considered a poison – if you have enough of…
A to Z Challenge: I (poisons & stories of their use)
Insecticides & Pesticides Fast Facts:– Technically, insecticides are a type of pesticide– Pesticides are chemical or biological agents that deter, incapacitate or kill pests– Insecticides are substances that specifically kill insects– Herbicides (which kill plants) account for about 80% of all pesticides– May cause acute and delayed health effects in people who are exposed– In…