“Crazy Clown” spice, polonium-210 as a poison, deadly sarin attacks in Syria: Weekly Web Review in Toxicology

Crazy Clown Herbal Incense: Last week, at least 8 people aged 16 to 26 were treated in southern Georgia emergency rooms— some requiring admission to the ICU in critical kitchen according to very sketchy news reports — after smoking a form of Spice (synthetic cannabinoid) labelled as “Crazy Clown”. According to one neighbor says he heard “terrifying screams”: “Three girls foaming out the mouth. One rolling around on the ground and my nephew couldn’t walk.” According to some accounts, initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, weakness, and paralysis. Cardiotoxicity may supervene. There are suggestions that the product may also be sold as “Herbal Madness”. So far, there has been no identification of what chemical or chemicals are contained in the product. Nerve Agent Release in Syria: The Telegraph (U.K.) reports that medical workers from Médecins Sans Frontières have treated almost 4000 patients in Syria who have apparently been exposed to a nerve agent such as sarin. There were at least 355 deaths, although this figure is likely to increase. Another report describes what seems like clear-cut cholinergic toxidrome: miosis, increased salivation, blurred vision, respiratory distress, and seizures. MSF emphasized that they had not been able to demonstrate scientifically what agent was involved, nor who might be responsible. The Washington Post has a good piece on the science of nerve agents. Polonium-210 ...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical alexander litvinenko assassination blugaria poison ring crazy clown herbal madness nerve agent polonium-210 sarin spice synthetic cannabinoids syria Source Type: news