Poisons

Toxins Poisons produced naturally by organisms Can cause: nausea, vomiting, paralysis, convulsions, death

Insect toxins – mild swelling, itchiness If allergic – dizzy, weak, confused, unconscious, dead

Metal Poisoning Ingestion, inhalation, absorption Stored in soft tissues Binds to organic molecules in cells, so molecules now don’t function right Leads to cell death Most serious - arsenic, lead, mercury, antimony, thallium

Ingested Poisons 90% at home – young kids swallowing household products Absorbed thru lining of digestive tract

Inhaled Poisons CO – replaces O2 in hemoglobin of RBCs  asphyxiation Symptoms: dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, death Sarin (nerve gas) – interferes w/ nerve impulses quickly Symptoms: convulsions, respiratory failure, death Can be treated if quick

Injected Poisons Heroin – instant euphoria, then drowsiness and sense of well-being In brain, converted to morphine Respiratory centers in brain become depressed  respiratory arrest

Absorbed Poisons Thru skin, eyes, mucous membranes Symptoms: redness, irritation, blisters, death Ex. Poison sumac – rash Ex. Mustard gas – blisters or difficulty breathing or blindness

Bioterrorism Ricin – injection, inhalation, or ingestion In body - inactivates ribosomes – cells die On skin – only fatal if mixed w/ solvent Inhaled – coughing, chest tightness, fever (w/in hours); resp cells die  resp failure Ingested – lesions on digestive tract  pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea Death – 3-5 days

Anthrax – bacterial spores Ingestion – rare – raw meat of infected animal - symptoms: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea On skin – blisters, not fatal; from contact with contaminated soil or animals

Inhalation – deadliest – airborne dried bacterial spores - latent period, then fever, chills, shortness of breath, headache; chest & abdominal pain; lungs fill with fluid; shock - in 80% of cases, death = 3-7 days after first symptom

Vaccines available for some bioterrorism agents CDC and Homeland Security involved