Can thallium poisoning be detected?
Diagnosis. Thallium may be measured in blood or urine as a diagnostic tool in clinical poisoning situations or to aid in the medicolegal investigation of suspicious deaths.
How can thallium be detected?
Only elevated thallium levels in hair, nails, blood, urine, feces and saliva can make a definitive clinical diagnosis. A 24-hour urine thallium concentration, assayed by atomic absorption photospectrometry, is the standard method. Although a urine spot test is faster, it has a high false-positive rate.
How can I test to see if I’m being poisoned?
Your doctor also can perform tests to find the cause. Most poisons can be detected in your blood or urine. Your doctor may order a toxicology screen. This checks for common drugs using a urine or saliva sample.
How long does it take for thallium to leave the body?
It can be found in urine as long as 2 months after exposure. About half the thallium that enters various parts of your body leaves them within 3 days.
Where can thallium be found?
Thallium is found in several ores. One of these is pyrites, which is used to produce sulfuric acid. Some thallium is obtained from pyrites, but it is mainly obtained as a by-product of copper, zinc and lead refining. Thallium is also present in manganese nodules found on the ocean floor.
How should schedule 1 poisons be stored?
Poisons must be kept in an impervious, suitably strong container and must, in the case of those listed in Schedule 1 (which includes both Part I and many Part II listed poisons) be stored: in a cupboard or drawer reserved solely for poisons.
How do you isolate thallium?
The thallium is leached either by the use of a base or sulfuric acid from the material. The thallium is precipitated several times from the solution to remove impurities. At the end it is converted to thallium sulfate and the thallium is extracted by electrolysis on platinum or stainless steel plates.
Is thallium still in rat poison?
Thallium was used historically as a rodenticide, but has since been banned in the United States due to its toxicity from accidental exposure.
When was thallium banned in the US?
Thallium was also widely used as a rodenticide. Its use as a household rodenticide was banned in the United States in 1965 after multiple unintentional poisonings. Commercial use was banned a decade later.
How do you know if someone is poisoning you?
Things to watch for in a suspected poisoning include: Unusual stains or odors on clothes or skin. Unusual odor on breath. Drowsiness, stomach pain, vomiting, sweating, drooling, irritability, signs of fear, or other sudden changes in behavior.