Metal Toxicity

The Dose Makes The Poison... -Paracelsus

:Poison: Legally, It’s a Substance (Solid, Liquid or Gas) which if introduced in

living body (i.e In Contact) will produce ill-health or death. (By its Constitutional or Local effects or Both)

Basic Information

:The Poison Act (1919): This act prohibits (except in condition of license) the import, possession

for sale, and sale (wholesale or retail) of any specified poison.

CLASSIFICATION OF POISON

CORROSIVE IRRITANT SYSTEMIC

1 • Neurotoxic

2 • Cardiotoxic

3 • Asphyxiants3

1• Inorganic

Irritants

2 • Non Metallic

3• Metallic

Irritants

1 • Strong Acids

2 • Organic Acids

3 • Alkalies

There are total 23 Heavy Metals

large amounts of any of these

may cause Acute or Chronic Toxicity

Apart from Allergies, repeated long-term contact with some

metals or their compounds may even cause cancer.

Heavy metals become toxic when they are not metabolized by the body

and accumulate in the soft tissues

• Mental disorders• Pain in muscle and

joints• Gastro intestinal

disorders• Vision problems• Chronic fatigue• Susceptibility to

fungal infections

The Symptoms

SOURCES OF POLLUTION FROM HAZARDOUS METALS

1.Natural Sources2. Anthropogenic Sources

Natural Sources

Seepage From Rocks

Volcanic Activities

Forest Fires

These toxic elements enter the

human body mostly through Food and Water

S O ME C O MMON T O X I C ME T A L S

Arsenic

1. Arsenic is the most common cause of acute heavy metal poisoning in adults and is number 1 on the ATSDR's "Top 20 List.“

2. Metallic Arsenic (Shiny Grey) And Not Poisonous.(insoluble in water)

3. Post Mortem Findings: > Red Inflammed Mucosa> Body is Emaciated (Shrunken)

SOME FACTS ABOUT ARSENIC

(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

Compounds Of Arsenic: Arsenic Oxide & Arsenic Trioxide(As2O3) [White Arsenic] Arsenites [Sodium arsenite, Potassium Arsenite] Arsenic Acids [Obtained By heating Arsenious Oxide] Arsenates [Potassium arsenate, Sodium Arsenate] Arsenic Sulphides [Red and Yellow Arsenic] Arsenic Trichloride and Tri-Iodide

SOME FACTS ABOUT ARSENIC

Fatal Dose: 100 – 300 mgFatal Period: 1 To 2 Days

Initial Deposit : Liver> Kidney > Spleen

SOME FACTS ABOUT ARSENIC

SYMPTOMPS

• Vomiting • Abdominal Pain

• Diarrhea• Dark urine (termed black water urine)• Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells)

• Vertigo• Delirium• Shock• Death

1. Homicidal: Since, Cheap, Colorless, Tasteless, Odorless, Easily Obtainable.

2. Suicidal: Rare, As it causes too much pain.3. Accidental: Occupational Exposure

Drinking well ContaminationMistaken For Food Item (Baking Powder)

4. May be Used As Cattle Poison.

Medico- Legal Aspect of ARSENIC

Treatment of ARSENIC Poisoning

1. Remove from source of Exposure 2. (A- Airways Maintained, B- Breathing ,C-

Circulation, D-Drugs)3. Freshly Prepared Ferric Oxide

4. Administer BAL (Dimercaprol or British anti-Lewisite)5. Vitamin B complex given6. Symptomatic Treatment

Arsenic has been classified as a

Carcinogen by the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA).

2. Lead

1. Lead is number 2 on the ATSDR's "Top 20 List2. It is a very soft metal and was used in pipes, drains, and

soldering materials for many years.3. Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body,

often over a period of months or years

SOME FACTS ABOUT LEAD

SOURCES

• Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings.

• Contaminated air, water and soil. • Adults who work with batteries

SYMPTOMPS

• High blood pressure• Constipation• Muscle pain

• Declines in mental functioning• Headache, Memory loss, Mood disorders

. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the

World Health Organization state that a blood lead level of 10 μg/dL

or above is a cause for concern

3. Mercury

1. It’s Number 3 on ATSDR's "Top 20 List" is mercury.

SOME FACTS ABOUT MERCURY

SOURCES

•Mining operations•Chloralkali plants•Paper Industries

SYMPTOMPS

• Damage to the brain, kidneys and lungs.• Mercury poisoning can result in several

diseases, including Acrodynia (pink disease), Hunter-Russell syndrome, and Minamatadisease.

The saying “Prevention is better than Cure”

applies to environmental

pollution as it does to diseases

Polluted environment in any case leads to disease and ill

health

Thus technological options should not just be confined to remediation strategies, but

concentrate on mitigation strategies through reduction–either by total

replacement of heavy metals/minerals by alternatives or refining the existing

technologies for reducing the requirement.

Comment:

:PRESENTATION BY:

Anand PrakashPara 15

Detain The Dangerous!!!Mahamaya Rajkiya Allopathic Medical College

Ambedkar Nagar

THANK YOU