Poisons

A rsenic Poisoning

What is Arsenic ?

Arsenic is a semi-metallic naturally-occurring chemical. It is all around us in the environment and we are all exposed to small doses on a regular basis.

It is difficult to detect as it is generally odourless and flavourless, meaning people have little idea when it is around.

What is the risk?

Arsenic can kill humans quickly if consumed in large amounts, although small, long-term exposure can lead to a much slower death or other illness.

Studies have linked prolonged exposure to arsenic with cancer, diabetes, thickening of the skin, liver disease and problems with the digestive system.

It has also been associated with nervous system disorders - feeling tingling or losing sensation in the limbs - and hearing difficulties.

What happens if you are poisoned?

A person exposed to large amounts of arsenic - either through eating or drinking it - will usually die, and symptoms will appear within 30 minutes of exposure.

There is a similar outlook for people who breathe large amounts of it, although the onset of symptoms may be delayed as the concentration is likely to be lower.

Physical contact with arsenic can cause, initially, the skin to thicken and, with prolonged contact, blood flow to the heart to become decreased.

What are the symptoms?

The first sensations include a metallic taste in the mouth, excessive saliva production and problems swallowing.

The next stage is to suffer vomiting and diarrhea coupled with garlic-like breath, stomach cramps and excessive sweating.

As the poison's effects progress, the patient will suffer seizures and go into shock, dying within a few hours. If death does not occur at this stage, it will happen a few days when the kidney fails.

What is the treatment?

Arsenic poisoning can be treated if it is caught early enough, through a series of injections into muscles.

The patient needs 2.5mg to 5mg per kilogram of body weight of a drug called dimercaporal every four hours for the first two days followed by two injections on the third day then one a day for the next five days.

What is the environmental threat?

There is growing concern about levels of arsenic in the environment, both from natural occurrence and from pollution.

Forty million people in West Bengal and Bangladesh are thought to be at risk from arsenic-contaminated water supplies, although studies are continuing into what effect the poisoning is having - click HERE to find out more..

The contamination is thought to have occurred naturally, as a result of arsenic being released from rocks into underground water supplies.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has an ongoing research programme to look into arsenic in the environment and to establish what constitutes a safe level.

What are the benefits?

Small doses of arsenic have been shown to send some forms of cancer into remission, and it can also help thin blood.

Homeopathists have also used undetectable amounts of it to cure stomach cramps.

However, therapies involving the chemical are still in the experimental stages.

 

Lead Poisoning

What is it?

The name "plumber" originates from the Latin plumberium "worker of lead". Lead has been used throughout the ages due to its resistance to corrosion.

The metal is poisonous when ingested or inhaled through dust, fume or vapour. Lead is present in many products including leaded petrol, solder, pipes, lead paints, scrap metal, pottery glazes, antique toys and antique paintwork.

It is illegal in the UK to use lead solder or pipes in systems used for drinking water. However, there are some older systems that do contain lead. The water flowing through these systems pick up lead particles which are then ingested.

Lead dust when inhaled has the same effect, both can cause serious poisoning.

How are people poisoned and what happens?

Lead enters the bloodstream and accumulates in organs (especially the liver, kidneys and brain), tissues, bones and teeth.

Prolonged and repeated exposure increases the levels of lead in the body. The human body absorbs and expels lead very slowly, it is a cumulative poisoning as it can take from weeks to years for the body to expel lead after exposure.

Symptoms and the damage done by lead poisoning differ from adults and children. Children absorb lead more easily than adults so are at a greater risk. People who work with lead should be aware that they can bring lead dust into their homes on their clothes.

Children

Low level lead poisoning can be hard to spot as the symptoms don't always make themselves obvious till a later age.

Symptoms of those exposed to higher levels of lead can include headaches, a blue line around the gums, tiredness, anaemia, abdominal pain and cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, hearing problems, slow growth, foot drop, wrist drop, lack of physical co-ordination, convulsions, coma and death.

Lead poisoning causes permanent brain damage, damage to the central nervous system, a drop in IQ, learning disabilities and behavioural problems.

Adults

In adults the symptoms can include headaches, tiredness, a blue line around the gums, anaemia, abdominal pain and cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, hearing problems, insomnia, lack of concentration, memory loss, problems with the kidneys, lack of physical co-ordination, high blood pressure, foot drop, wrist drop, abnormal behaviour, convulsions, coma and death.

Lead poisoning can cause infertility, hearing difficulties, kidney disease, kidney failure, permanent brain damage and damage to the central nervous system.

In women lead poisoning can cause stillbirth, miscarriage, premature birth and foetal development problems.

Treatment of both adults and children involves removing the source of the lead.

In low level lead poisoning this can be all that is needed for the patient to start to recover. In cases with a higher exposure to lead, chelation drugs are used to help the body remove it.

Lead poisoning can cause permanent damage to the brain, vital organs, central nervous systems and can be fatal.


Who is at risk?

People who work with lead are at a higher risk of poisoning as are children and pregnant women.

Plumbers and those in the construction industry should take care not to ingest or inhale lead particles. People with old plumbing systems should ensure that lead has not been used in any part which comes into contact with drinking water. Water can be easily tested for traces of lead.

Always wash clothes covered in lead dust separately. Be aware that lead based paints in older properties are a source of lead poisoning – especially in children - always take great care and get expert advice when dealing with lead based paints.

Lead Pipes

If you live in a house built pre 1970 and have never had your pipework replaced, you may have lead pipes in your home. Look in or behind kitchen cupboards or even in other places such as the cupboard under the stairs, to find any pipes that lead to the kitchen taps.

Lead is dull grey in colour. If you find any pipes you suspect are lead, you can test them by scraping the surface gently with a knife, lead is a soft metal and a shiny, sliver coloured surface should be exposed.
 

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