Or…

Why Halloween 1982 really, really sucked. Little Debbie Pober

Toxicology Study of exposure to and adverse effects of chemicals in living organisms

"All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy." Paracelsus ( ) The dose makes the poison.

Toxin Natural material exerting a life- threatening effect upon a living organism

Toxicant Toxic chemical of human origin

Poisons Subgroup of toxin Generally enter the body in a single massive dose, or accumulate to a massive dose over time Usually identifiable by the symptoms Effects may be reversed/mitigated by prompt treatment Most organ damage (except for serious CNS injury) may be repairable

Types of Reactions Pharmacological –Injury to central nervous system –Reversible unless critical level is reached Pathological –Injury to liver –Repairable if discovered early enough, but most occurs over months to a decade Genotoxic –Creation of benign or malignant tumors –Takes years

Individual Susceptibility Inherited factors –Seem to determine toxic effects of environmental chemicals, including carcinogenic responses Basic biological profile –Sex –Age –Pregnancy Diet Lifestyle

Forensic Toxicology Study of exposure to and adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms as applied to civil and criminal law (and cases) (and business!) Analysis of exogenous chemicals or their effects in an individual Forensic investigations of: –Poisoning death –Poisoning of the living –Urine Drug Testing –Effects testing –Occupational testing

Common toxin: BTXA/B One of the most deadly toxins known Naturally occurring toxin first used in 1930’s by U.S. and U.S.S.R. bioweapons programs 1 U: death in mice 3000 U: Death in humans 25 U diluted 1:4 in saline… Botox!

GC-MS Insecticide

Crystal Meth in Blood Plasma

Meanwhile, in MLB…

Why Halloween 1982 really, really sucked.

Case Study: Tylenol Tampering Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 1982: Seven people died in the Chicago area after taking cyanide-tainted Tylenol Coroner and toxicologists determined that cause of death was cyanide poisoning. Tox report: each individual ingested a capsule containing 65 mg of cyanide. –LD-50 of tylenol is 10,000+ mg –LD-50 of cyanide is ~50 mg

Case Study: Tylenol Tampering Specific toxicant: Potassium cyanide –Commonly used in the metal electroplating, metal extraction, photographic and cinematographic film processing industries Investigation determined that cyanide poisoning had occurred after the drug had left the factory

How it Affected Mrs. Haase Trick-or-treating 1982 almost cancelled; parents were scared of what their kids would get –FYI, this is when the razor-in-the-candy myths started

How It Affected You Case still unsolved; $100,000 reward still offered by Johnson & Johnson J&J stopped making capsules and introduced the caplet Resulted in product-tampering packaging you see today