Thallium Poisoning

 

Why in News?

Recently, Multiple family members in Mahagaon village, Maharashtra, were exposed to thallium poisoning, a chemical that operates silently and evades detection.

Key Facts about Thallium

1. About:

• Sir William Crookes discovered Thallium (Tl), a chemical element with an atomic number of 81, in 1861.
• Thallium, a tasteless and odorless poison, has been utilized by murderers as a difficult-to-detect poison.

2. Appearance:

• A soft, silvery-white metal that tarnishes easily.
• It is a soft, heavy, inelastic metal.

3. Sources:

• Thallium, a by-product of copper, zinc, and lead refining, is found in pyrites, a type of ores used to produce sulfuric acid.
• The substance is present in trace amounts within the Earth's crust.

4. Uses:

• Thallium's use is restricted due to its toxic nature.
• Thallium sulfate, a rodent killer, is now banned for household use in many developed nations.
• The technology is utilized in the electronics industry specifically for photoelectric cells.
• Thallium oxide is utilized in the production of high-refraction glass and low-melting glass.
• This material is utilized in the production of low temperature thermometers and imitation jewels.

5. Health Hazards:

• Thallium can cause neurological damage, including headaches, weakness, and irritability, and repeated exposures can lead to tremors, hallucinations, coma, and even death.

6. Antidote:

• Prussian blue is utilized in non-radioactive thallium poisoning.

 

 

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