THALLIUM TOXICITY

Course overview

THALLIUM IS A TASTELESS, ODORLESS, AND WATER-SOLUBLE CHEMICAL ELEMENT FOR WHICH BOTH ACCIDENTAL INTOXICATION AND CRIMINAL POISONING HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THE OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR THALLIUM IS 0.1 MILLIGRAMS (MG) PER CUBIC METER OF SKIN FOR NO LONGER THAN 8 HOURS A DAY. LEVELS OF 15 MG PER CUBIC METER AND ABOVE ARE CONSIDERED ACUTELY DANGEROUS. THALLIUM IS READILY ABSORBED BOTH VIA INHALATION AND VIA THE SKIN. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH THALLIUM TOXICITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.