Rising Cases of Thallium Poisoning: A Silent and Deadly Murder Weapon

10 Nov 2023

Context:

  • The cases of Poisoning by thallium as a murder weapon is increasing in India. 

Tragic Incident in Maharashtra: Two Women Accused of Poisoning Five Family Members with Thallium

  • Recently, In Mahagaon village (Maharashtra) two women allegedly killed five family members by lacing their food with Thallium.

Thallium Poisoning

Overview of Thallium: Properties, Applications, and its Dark History in Poisoning Cases

  • Thallium is a chemical element with the symbol Tl and atomic number 81. It is a soft, heavy, inelastic, gray post-transition metal that is not found free in nature. 
  • Characteristics: Thallium is tasteless and odourless and has been used by murder as it is difficult to detect.
  • Application: It is used in the manufacture of electronics, low temperature thermometers, Optical lenses, and imitation precious jewels it also has use in some chemical reactions and medical procedures.

Thallium Poisoning: Routes of Exposure and Normal Body Levels

  • Ingestion (through food or drink) is an important route of exposure. 
  • It can also be absorbed into the body by inhalation and skin contact.
  • The normal range of thallium in the body is between 0.15 to 0.36 units.

Effects of Thallium Poisoning: Symptoms and Timeline

  • Adverse effects are usually delayed by 12 to 24 hours in acute poisoning and reach their maximum by the second and third week after exposure (slow Poisoning cases).
  • Hair loss is a classic symptom of thallium poisoning.
  • Transient nausea and vomiting are seen first, followed by painful sensation in the arms/hands and legs/feet within 1 to 5 days(sometimes more)
  • Other Effects include rapid heart rate and high blood pressure; abnormal heart rythms; respiratory failures; headache; seizures, delirium, and coma

Thallium Poisoning Treatment: Prussian Blue and Other Approaches

  • Prussian blue is a pill that can help remove radioactive cesium and thallium from people’s bodies.
  • It  traps radioactive cesium and thallium in the intestines and keeps them from being reabsorbed by the body.

Thallium Poisoning

  • It reduces the time that radioactive cesium and thallium stay in the body, it helps limit the amount of time the body is exposed to radiation.
  • Other Treatments: Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are also used to remove thallium from the bloodstream. 
  • At a later stage of the treatment additional potassium is used to mobilize thallium from the tissue.

Source: The Hindu

 

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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