::: SerTox :::

Four people died on Tuesday as a result of a toxic gas leak at a tannery in Bataguassu, Brazil

Toxic Leak Kills 4 in Brazil.laht.com. February 01, 2012. Four people died and 16 others became ill on Tuesday as a result of a toxic gas leak at a tannery in the southwestern Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, authorities said. The accident occurred at a tannery that is part of an industrial complex in Bataguassu, 340 kilometers (211 miles) from Campo Grande, the state capital. Five of the 16 poisoned survivors are in serious condition and have been admitted to the hospital in Bataguassu, paramedics said.

Cadmium pollution to affect 300-km section of river in Guangxi

Toxic spill threatens Chinese water.upi.com. January 31, 2012. A cadmium spill in the Longjiang River in southern China threatens the freshwater water supply for millions of residents.The spill is thought to have originated in the upstream city of Hechi, one of China's most important mineral producers, some time before Jan. 15, but wasn't reported until nearly two weeks later when hundreds of dead fish surfaced in the river.Cadmium, a heavy metal used in the production of batteries, paint and solar cells is a known carcinogen that can also damage the lungs and kidneys.

Fake medicine in Lahore: Unofficial death toll reaches 117

PIC suo motu: With 117 dead, interim report to be submitted Feb 6.tribune.com.pk. January 31, 2012. Advocate General of Punjab Ashtar Ausaf, during a suo motu hearing of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) free medicine case on Tuesday, told the Supreme Court that an interim report in the case will be submitted to the court on February 6. Ausaf informed the court that samples of the drugs were sent out to Switzerland, Belgium and England for tests and the results are awaited. Read also related: Fake medicine, unofficial death toll reaches 112

Trivia # 178: a Didelphimorphia marsupial

Toxicological Trivia from Jamuary 24, 2012: commenting on the killing with carbofuran of more than 30,000 birds in Gualeguychu, Entre Rios, it was mentioning that other animals perished with indirect poisoning by eating poisoned carcasses. Among them was mentioned Opossums (a Didelphimorphia marsupial). What is the scientific name of the species in Argentina?

a) Didelphis albiventris;

b) Mustela nivalis;

c) Lutreolina crassicaudata.

Trivia # 177:cosmetics poisoning in Sertox

Toxicological Trivia from January 23, 2012: In December 2007 in Sertox, from 15.111 cases attended in the past 10 years, only 340 were for cosmetics (2.25%). 87.5% are children under 10 years (70% under 2 years), predominantly male (58.7%), 94.5% are INIH (unintentional household poisonings), 85.7% oral, 77.5% passed without the symptoms and the rest had mild cases. Regarding the type of cosmetics involved, the most common were:

a) Perfumes and colognes;

b) Hair dyes;

c) Nail polish remover.

Trivia # 176:Kombucha Tea, banned in Argentina

Toxicological Trivia from January 20, 2012: The ANMAT (National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology) from A>rgentina banned the marketing and use throughout the national territory of all products made from Kombucha, for the reasons stated in the preamble to the resolution, in the year:

a) 2004;

b) 2005;

c) 2006.

Trivia # 175: German paint from pollution

Toxicological Trivia from January 19, 2012: University of Erlangen developed an interior paint that purifies the air and neutralize pollutants. The painting that scientists have developed the inner German university transform real contaminated lungs. And the bowl cleaner is not only for the interiors also works outdoors and may be used in:

a) Tunnels;

b) Heavily traveled street facades;

c) Both previous assertions are correct.

Trivia # 179: epidemic of paco in Argentina

Toxicological Trivia from January 25, 2012: "Paco" or "drug of the poor". "This is the Argentines name to a drug composed of scraps from the production of cocaine, most highly t�xic. United Nations refered, the consumption of this substance increased by 200% in Argentina in the last four years (2004-2007), an increase that exceeds that of other Latin American countries. This news, in our website in July/2007, was from:

a) Elmundo.es;

b) BBC world;

c) Deutsche Welle in Spanish.

Trivia # 174:about Worldmapper

Toxicological trivia from January 16, 2012: Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest.

There are now nearly 700 maps. Maps 1-366 are also available as PDF posters. Use the menu above to find a map of interest. To learn a little more about this and other map projections read this: Worldmapper and map projections.For example, the map image: how is it related?:

a) Surface of the countries;

b) Births attended:

c) Water resources.

New article about Prevalence of Polypharmacy Exposure in Hospitalized Children in USA

Prevalence of Polypharmacy Exposure Among Hospitalized Children in the United States. Chris Feudtner,Dingwei Dai, Kari R. Hexem, et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(1):9-16. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.161. See Full Text.

See also Editorial extract: Pediatric Polypharmacy.Time to Lock the Medicine Cabinet?