Ricin as a weapon of mass terror--separating fact from fiction.

In recent years there has been an increased concern regarding the potential use of chemical and biological weapons for mass urban terror. In particular, there are concerns that ricin could be employed as such an agent. This has been reinforced by recent high profile cases involving ricin, and its use during the cold war to assassinate a high profile communist dissident.

Diethylene glycol poisoning.

Introduction: Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a clear, colorless, practically odorless, viscous, hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste. In addition to its use in a wide range of industrial products, it has also been involved in a number of prominent mass poisonings spanning back to 1937. Despite DEG's toxicity and associated epidemics of fatal poisonings, a comprehensive review has not been published.

The adverse effects of hydrogen cyanamide on human health: an evaluation of inquiries to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre.

Introduction: Hydrogen cyanamide is used in New Zealand to induce bud break in kiwifruit vines. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the calls received by the New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC) attributed to acute hydrogen cyanamide exposure, and to ascertain the clinical effects of such exposures.

Methods: Call data from the NZNPC telephone collection databases regarding human hydrogen cyanamide exposures were analyzed retrospectively for the years 1990-2006.

The use of myocardial and testicular end points as a basis for estimating a proposed tolerable daily intake for sodium monofluoroacetate (1080).

This paper presents the development of a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) using the quantal myocardial and testicular toxicity end points derived from the traditional NOAEL and newer benchmark dose (BMD) methods. 1080 is a highly toxic vertebrate pesticide that has been proven to be effective in controlling possums and other pests. By convention, the TDIs are derived using the traditional no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) and applying appropriate default uncertainty factors (UF).

A benchmark dose analysis for sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) using dichotomous toxicity data.

The use of a benchmark dose (BMD) as an alternative to a no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) approach was investigated as a means to improve current risk assessment values of sodium monofluoroacetate (1080). The feasibility of implementing the two approaches was investigated for three critical toxicological end points, namely cardiomyopathy, testicular toxicity and teratogenic effects identified from the few available critical studies. The BMD provides better representation of the dose-response relationship, offering an advantage over the current NOAEL approach.