This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at organophosphates, a diverse group of compounds used everywhere from agriculture to chemical warfare.

We walk through two real-world poisoning cases: an accidental exposure from a head lice treatment and an intentional ingestion of phorate, illustrating just how wide the spectrum of organophosphate toxicity can be. Along the way, we break down their mechanism of action, why their effects can be so severe, and the key treatment approaches clinicians depend on.

We also revisit the Salisbury poisonings, exploring the devastating impact of organophosphate nerve agents and the wider implications for public health and emergency response.

Join us as we unpack the chemistry, the clinical realities, and the far-reaching consequences of these powerful compounds.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkaf096/8300174?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1581362/full

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re exploring a series of fascinating and unusual poisoning cases, each with its own toxic twist.

From hair straightening treatments and bearded fireworms to midodrine, isotocyanozene, and sodium azide, we discuss the mechanisms, clinical presentations, and toxicological challenges behind each case.

Join us as we unpack what these cases reveal about the diverse and sometimes surprising ways that chemicals and compounds can cause harm.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2577706?src=

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2541702

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2546073

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2528995

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2528990

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re turning our attention inward to errors in toxicology.

From calibration and maintenance mistakes to reporting issues and even instances of fraud, we unpack how things can go wrong in the analytical process and what that means for the credibility of our field.

We explore the real-world consequences of these errors and most importantly, what we can learn from them to strengthen toxicology as a discipline.

Join us for a candid look at accuracy, accountability, and the human side of science.

Hope you enjoy!

Link to the paper we discussed:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X25000580

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing brorphine — a novel synthetic opioid that briefly appeared on the drug market around 2020.

We explore its emergence and pharmacology, including data on its activity at the µ-opioid receptor. We also discuss one of the few documented case studies describing an individual presenting for detoxification following brorphine use. Finally, we review recent research examining its in vitro and in vivo metabolites, highlighting how these findings may offer new ways to detect this short-lived substance.

Although brorphine is now under international control, could other “orphine” analogues step into the spotlight, potentially replacing nitazenes as the next wave of synthetic opioids?

Join us as we unpack the chemistry, the risks, and what the story of brorphine reveals about the constantly shifting landscape of synthetic opioids.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://academic.oup.com/jat/article-abstract/44/9/937/5879253?login=false

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379073821003091?via%3Dihub

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re celebrating our 50th episode — and one whole year of toxicology talk! 🎉

Join us as we look back on some of our most memorable moments from the past year, revisit a few topics with new updates, and share what’s next for The Tox Lab.

Whether you’ve been here since episode one or you’re just joining us, thank you for being part of our growing community of toxicologists, scientists, and curious listeners. Here’s to another year of exploring the science behind the substances!

Hope you enjoy!

Link to ketamine paper we mentioned:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251373058

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re revisiting one of history’s most infamous poisons — arsenic.

Once dubbed the king of poisons, arsenic still poses real risks today. We discuss recent research on arsenic in the water supply and how prenatal exposure may influence birth outcomes in the United States. We also review two unusual cases of intentional elemental arsenic ingestion, exploring the unexpected clinical effects observed, along with a case of chronic arsenic toxicity.

Join us as we uncover how this Victorian-era poison continues to challenge toxicologists in the modern world.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835321

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2496223

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12328-024-02045-3

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re embracing autumn and diving into the fascinating, and sometimes dangerous, world of mushrooms.

We explore ten years of mushroom exposure data reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service, examining the species most often involved and the mechanisms behind their toxicity. We also take a look at commercial products containing mushrooms and discuss a paper showing that some may not always contain what they claim.

Join us as we unpack the science, the surprises, and the toxicology of mushrooms this autumn.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to papers we discussed:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2507357

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2838765

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/sabs/Documents/2024-sn-015.pdf

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at clozapine, a highly effective antipsychotic with a complex toxicological profile.

We review a study from Western Sydney examining cases of self-poisoning and adverse drug reactions, discuss a case of chronic clozapine toxicity, and explore new research into its effects on cardiac mitochondria.

From clinical outcomes to cellular mechanisms, we unpack the risks, challenges, and unanswered questions around this fascinating but unpredictable drug.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10522536/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11954577/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025001088?via%3Dihub

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing medetomidine and its unexpected association with hallucinations.

We review a recent paper highlighting its emergence in the drug supply and the apparent increase in hallucinatory effects reported with its use. Although medetomidine has been linked to reducing post-operative delirium, we also discuss a case report of dexmedetomidine-induced delirium in a patient with schizophrenia — adding to the complexity of this picture. And yes, we even wonder what dogs might be dreaming about when they come round from their vet visit.

We then explore a possible mechanism for these effects, including the hypothesis that activity at the kappa opioid receptor could play a role.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this, so please get in touch!

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.70024

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11312422/

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re taking a closer look at diphenidine and other diarylethylamines — a class of drugs that briefly emerged as alternatives to ketamine.

We explore their history, reported effects, and the fatalities linked to their use before they faded from the drug scene.

With current discussions around reclassifying ketamine, we ask: could diphenidine — or similar substances — make a comeback?

Join us as we unpack the toxicology, the risks, and the lessons from their short but impactful appearance.

Hope you enjoy!

Link to the paper we discussed:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251349203?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab

Email us here: [email protected]