The Poisoner's Almanac

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Hello poison friends! I swear I am not making these this long on purpose! We are discussing art and history and poison and I just got too excited to leave anything out! We are discussing, in detail, toxic paints of the past and the artists that used them, including Vincent Van Gogh, Caravaggio and others. We also discuss a few famous musicians that may have been affected by lead poisoning. I may have gone pretty deep into the history of some of these artists, but they are fascinating. Vincent Van Gogh had many physical and mental ailments and they may very well have been exacerbated by the many toxic paints he was in contact with. Caravaggio had many an issue with anger and brawling and when researchers found and studied his bones, they were full of lead. Lead in wine may be why musicians such Handel and Beethoven lost their sight and hearing (respectively) and suffered other physical and mental ailments. 

We also go into more detail with dyes used in fashion as well as the mercurial process of hat making in the past. Deadly dresses (for many a reason), poisonous waistcoats, toxic wallpaper and toys. Let’s not forget the uranium glazed kitchenware from the early-mid 1900s. Do we have any collectors here?

I also made a promise to talk about epoxy and polyester resins so we do briefly discuss that as well. 

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

What is up, poison friends! This is a long one, because I was too stubborn to make it two parts. I feel it is time we discuss Measles. It is making a bit of a come back in Europe and in the US, but I don't think many people know much about the illness apart from it involving a rash and such. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases that we know of. It is not the same as chicken pox (though that one does such as well), and it can lead to lasting disabilities and death in some cases, especially in young children. Many of you may have seen the recent death of a Texas child because of Measles, for instance. While there are people who get through the virus unscathed, we cannot predict who will end up dying or left with longterm complications (even some that do not show up until years after the original infection). It is estimated that 1 in five people who catch measles will end up hospitalized.

We also discuss Mumps and Rubella this episode, because the typical vaccine for Measles also protects agains these two as well. Speaking of vaccines, we just had to go into the ingredients, purpose, and mechanisms of those in general and in the MMR vaccine specifically. Lastly, we need to discuss where the anti-vaccination stuff started and that involves the history of Andrew Wakefield and his fraudulent paper that was later retracted. This is the man who put forth (and still promotes) the reason for fears that have led to a decline in childhood vaccines. He lost his medical license but still makes good money off his supporters.

Let's get into it!

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello poison friends!! Spring is nearly upon us and I've been thinking about all the gardening possibilities but also the return of all the annoying pests that make gardening and being outside (especially in the South of the US) so difficult. So, I thought it would be a good time to discuss pesticides. Well, the ones we have not covered yet, because remember, arsenic, lead, mercury, cyanide, and many of the murderous elements and compounds we have discussed in the past were also used in pesticides.

I wanted to go big this time and discuss those used in large scale agriculture or pest control for disease spreading insect (like those pesky and sometimes deadly mosquitoes). We are talking about the organochlorines (mainly DDT), the organophosphates (which were also involved in chemical warfare), and a few others that were used for more nefarious purposes...like murder. We are looking into the history, uses, abuses, and consequences (short term and long term) of such chemicals, as well as when and why some were banned in various places.

The title here as a "double edged sword" really fits because, on the one hand, it kills disease causing insects, but there is always a cost...

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello dearest poison friends! I hope you are all well and staying safe! I was pondering the pollution of our worlds waterways this week and thought we could take on the discussion of some toxic and polluted (sometimes deadly) rivers. Obviously, I cannot speak on every single river that could qualify for these titles in one episode, so if you like this topic then we can do more in a future episode.

Today however we are visiting West Java, Indonesia, where the Citarum River supplies water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, and irrigation for crops for millions of people. There also happen to be around 2,000 industries on its banks dumping waste such as heavy metals and toxic byproducts into the water. Solid waste such as plastic, diapers, and other household trash is also dumped in and along the river by residents of the capital city of Bandung and many villages living near its waters. In some areas, you cannot even see the surface of the water and dead fish and other animals float alongside the rubbish. This along with livestock waste and human sewage has made the river dangerous to those living near it and using it on a daily basis.

We also discuss the Rio Tinto in Spain, where the water runs orange-red to blood red in color due to over 5,000 years of mining in the area. The water is acidic and filled with heavy metals and other mining byproducts. Oh, and we have to discuss the company that now operates the mine, conveniently called the Rio Tinto Company, and their many shady dealings all over the world.

The Ganges is well known for a few things: it is a holy site for Hindus and it is heavily polluted with untreated sewage, human remains, industrial waste, and agricultural run-off. The water quality has been so bad that the incidence for illness after getting into the water is over 65%. Even, so, many Hindu pilgrims come to bathe ritually in this river and to dispose of human ashes as it is considered a place where sins are forgiven.

I had to put at least one US river on here (because there are a lot of polluted rivers here as well), so I decided to go with the Ohio River (a hard decision as I was also thinking of the Mississippi and the Hudson as well). Most of the pollution here is caused by past industrial waste (including PFAs, dioxin, benzene, etc) and agricultural run-off.

Oh and as a bonus, we head to the jungles of Peru to talk about one of my favorite rivers.

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello poison friends! Happy (late) Valentine's Day! I wanted to discuss a bit of history behind the holiday for those interested and I though this would be a great time to discuss...parasites! Also, one such parasite is spread by a critter called the Kissing Bug, so thats fun. These particular bugs spread the parasite that causes Chaga's Disease which has affected mainly Central and South America, but is becoming a problem elsewhere as well. The bug and the illness has a long history and involves such characters as Charles Darwin.

Another parasite we are discussing is transmitted via the painful bite of the tsetse fly and is found in various parts of Africa. This parasite causes African Sleeping Sickness (there are two types in humans, basically). So lets learn about these parasites, their vectors, and the history behind these diseases as well as the symptoms, current status, and treatments. Also, lets learn how to avoid parasites...actual ones and, well, those among the human population ;)

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

Support us on Patreon:

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The Poisoner's Almanac on IG-

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello dear poison friends! I wanted to talk about a subject that we have hinted about before: Syphilis! Yes, this is an STD and we are mentioning the history and scientific side of this disease, but this will not be graphic apart from mentioning symptoms and causes. I just want to mention this for those with young children who sometimes listen. Keeping it clean, but do make your own judgment based on the content.

Alrighty then, the history of Syphilis is both fascinating an tragic. It broke out in Europe most likely beginning in the late 1400s, possibly brought from the Americas/Caribbean by Columbus and his crew, and spread from there rapidly. As we know, it was blamed more so on the four humors being out of balance or on having insulted the gods/God and being thus plagued. We are discussing the history of its name, symptoms, stigma, and treatments. This disease disfigured and killed many throughout history and created many difficulties in times of warfare. We are also looking at the progression of out understanding of it being caused by a bacterial agent and how antibiotics were a game changer for those infected. Finally, we cannot talk about Syphilis without mentioning the US Public Health's Tuskegee Experiment, as it was terribly unethical and racist. Just a heads up, there will be a pause in the middle of this episode where Adam departs for a school event with our daughter, and I bring in our bestie, Erin Fortenberry!

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello poison friends! I told you guys last week we'd cover a few power plant disasters and the uranium mines in the US on Navajo Nation lands. Three Mile Island is located in Pennsylvania in the US, and was the site of a relatively small nuclear power plant. I want to go into its history as well as what happened on March 28th, 1979, only three months after the second generator began operating, when there was a malfunction leading to a partial meltdown and risking the plant and those around the site. This incident was about 7 years before the accident at Chernobyl, and while it was not as serious, it did cause a lot of concern and fear about nuclear energy.

We also discuss the disaster that caused the meltdown at the Fukushima Power Plant in Japan. On March 11, 2011, there was a massive earthquake near the plant followed by a equally massive tsunami some time later. The natural disasters themselves left 20,000 people in the coastal area, where many plant workers lived with their families, dead or missing. The Tsunami made it over the sea wall of the plant, flooding and damaging generators, control systems, and cooling systems. Three of the six reactors had been online at the time and without coolant getting to the systems, meltdown was imminent.

Lastly, we have to discuss the abandoned Uranium mines in the Navajo Nation. Between 1944-1986, these mines were leased by the Navajo Nation to companies for the extraction of uranium for the creation of nuclear weapons and such. Many of those in the Navajo tribe worked these mines without proper protection or even ventilation. None of them were told about the possible effects radiation from the site could have on them.

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

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Adam-

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Becca-

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If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hey poison friends! Finally getting to post this one! Just a heads up, my voice still sounds funny thanks to being sick, but feel free to laugh with us as I fail to use words properly a few times this episode lol.

This week we travel to Indonesia to discuss the sulfur mines on an active volcano and the miners who collect it to be processed. While tourist travel to see the blue flames caused by the burning sulfur, most of the miners cannot afford such a thing or gloves. They normally cover their mouths with wet cloths and travel miles up steep, rocky, terrain to mine the sulfur and bring hundred of pounds back the same way, all the while facing blistering from longterm exposure to the sulfur and lasting respiratory problems. Oh and there are acidic lakes, too.

Next we move on to India, where pollution and toxic waste dumping have long been a problem. In the capital of Madhya Pradesh, one of the worst industrial accidents occurred in 1984, now known as the Bhopal Gas Disaster. How did it happen and what were its effects? For one, it killed and injured thousands, leaving many with serious longterm health problems. Also, the area has never been fully cleaned up, though recent measures have been announced. Lets get into it!

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

Support us on Patreon:

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Adam-

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Becca-

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Merch is finally live, with more to follow in the future!

https://www.poisonersalmanac.com

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.. 

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello poison friends!! We are bringing you the second part of our discussion of tuberculosis. This episode reviews the illness a bit but delves into some of the treatments attempted in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. This includes the institutions known as sanitariums (one starting in a cave, strangely enough) where tuberculosis patients (who could afford to) would travel for treatment regimens including routine sunning and fresh air sessions as well as rest and what was deemed as good nutrition. This was also a way to isolate those with the disease to keep them from spreading it. Some of these institutions were not the "health spas" they were made out to be, abusing, neglecting, and experimenting on patients instead.

We finally reach the discovery of antibiotics and possible vaccines and cures that were met with both joy and cynicism. Since the first use of these antibiotics, which were miraculous for the time for sure, more have been created to fight the illness more effectively, especially with antibiotic resistant strains becoming a problem. Lets travel through time and revisit the horrors of this illness, the petty disputes and drama of some of the scientists involved in trying to stop it, and the discovery of what worked.

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

Support us on Patreon:

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Adam-

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Becca-

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Merch is finally live, with more to follow in the future!

https://www.poisonersalmanac.com

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit 

https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy.. 

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/ 

Hello poison friends! I have wanted to discuss an illness so old and vile, it has made its mark on all of society and culture throughout centuries of its gruesome existence. Tuberculosis was also called the wasting disease, consumption, and the "white death," among other things and has plagued humanity for thousands of years. Lets look at its history and effects on societies and cultures throughout the world and how it finally became recognized as a bacterial infection (a vicious one at that). It eats away at the lungs and beyond as it can affect every organ system of the body and kills gradually. We'll discuss some of the more superstition reasoning for the disease given by earlier societies and the gruesome methods they tried to cure it. We also cannot talk about tuberculosis without mentioning its impact on fashion and beauty standards (yes you read that right) especially among the Victorians. This is too big a topic and too old a disease to not make into two parts! So lets get into it!

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi."

Support us on Patreon:

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Follow us on socials:

The Poisoner's Almanac on IG-

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Adam-

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠

Becca-

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠

Merch is finally live, with more to follow in the future!

https://www.poisonersalmanac.com