The Poisoncast

Visit webPOISONCONTROL(r) at https://www.webpoisoncontrol.org/ or the National Capital Poison Center at https://www.poison.org/

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn how strychnine causes death.  Unknown to most people, this toxin has historically been used as both a poison and a therapeutic.  Learn why.

Thomas Hicks, the winner of the 1904 Olympic Marathon

strychnine homeopathy (worthless, don't buy it) on Amazon.

Some pics of gas mask training when (a much younger me) was in the Marine Corps (I'm the doofus looking into the camera).

(c) compound interest, used via creative commons license. 

Randomly came across this in my lab the other day

click on the graphic to go to an excellent website about Cholinesterase Inhibitors

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn what makes the Death Cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) arguably the deadliest of mushrooms.  Travel inside the liver with us to see how the diabolical toxin takes you down.

My Death Cap mushroom poem.  I made sure that it rhymes because we all know that the highest form of poetry is rhyming poety ;)

A picture I took of a local Milk Thistle, which is used in the drug Silibinin to treat Death Cap mushroom poisoning.

a-amanitin

A mongoose has small mutations in its DNA that make it impervious to the black mamba venom.  The Death Cap mushroom is similar in its ability to not get poisoned by its own toxins.

Click here to be taken to Cat Adam's great article on the Death Cap mushroom. @scienceismetal

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn how Urushiol, the active ingredient in poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac, injures you.  It's unlike any toxin we've discussed thus far, and you'll love it!

I don't have great pics, but below are my personal poison oak rashes for the Sierra Nevadas!

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn about Cortalus Artox, or the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.  This snake is responsible for biting more people than any other in the United States.  Get the low down on how this dangerous creature can kill you.

While looking for a different chemical in my lab, I randomly came across this.  What are the chances?

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn about Mustard Gas. Gaining notoriety for its use in WWI, mustard gas was so effective and terrifying that its use was banned in warfare in 1925.  Not only does it cause severe repertory distress and horrific skin blistering, but it is also a carcinogenic

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn how the world’s most deadly toxin, botulinum toxin from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, is also surprisingly versatile.  

On this episode of The Poisoncast learn how an otherwise adorable and innocent looking animal, the puffer fish (or fugu in Japanese) can kill you with one of the world's most deadly poisons, tetrodotoxin.