Arsenic

By: Desiree’ Stewart1st Hr.Forensic Science

Type of poison…

Arsenic is an environmental

poison found throughout ones

natural environment. Arsenic is

Inorganic which is the most

harmful and are found in things

like mercury. It is also organic

which are found in things like

plants. Since Arsenic is

environmental we as human are

exposed to it which is why some

traces of it can be found in our

tissue.

Level of toxicity…

How much will make you sick?A one time oral does of arsenic (60 milligrams) is enough to make you sick. How much is lethal?The lethal amount of arsenic poisoning for an adult is about 70 milligrams for an adult and for a child is 6 milligrams. Measuring UnitMilligrams.

Chemistry of Arsenic…

Arsenic is a metal, has the Atomic number 33 and is As on the periodic table

Other Uses…

Aside from being a poison to humans arsenic is also used to kill rats. Traces of As could also be found in wallpaper, paint and even some tanning products.

Effects on the body…

What does Arsenic do to the body/ How does it interfere with the body?

Ingestion of arsenic can lead to vomiting, disturbance of blood circulation and some cancers.Long term effects are enlarged liver, change in skin color and brain damage.

All which can lead to death.

Detection...How does science trace the chemical? How do you get a diagnosis?

The starting symptoms are headaches, confusion, sever diarrhea, yellowing of the fingernails and horizontal lines across the nails. These symptoms give signs that the person should be tested for arsenic poisoning. Test can be ran through the urine, blood, hair and fingernails.

Urine is used for poisonings within the first 24-48 hours while blood, hair and fingernails are used for long term poisoning like 6-12 months.

Lasting effects of possible treatments…

In mild cases you are given 2 tablespoons of activated carbon in a room temperature. In acute cases you are a given a agent called DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) which is oral detoxing.

The Story of Margie Velma Barfield…

Margie was born October 29, 1932 in South Carolina, to an abusive father who she later ran away from. As she got older she got into a long line of drugs and in 1949 meet her husband Thomas Burke who later died in a house fire in 1969.

In 1970 she got remarried to Jennings Barfield who later did in 1971 from heart problems. After he died Velma took care of his mother Lillian Bullard but in1974 she started experience many symptoms of As poisoning, Lillian was her first victim. She later when on to work in more elderly homes and killed up to 7 people. She even killed her own mother.

How was she caught?

Velma was questioned by the police about her patents and there mysterious death and cracked under the pressure. She was found guilty and sentenced to death, she was the first woman to be executed my lethal injection

Forensic Evidence…

The bodies of all her victims were exude and all were checked for arsenic poisoning.

Work Cited…

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/arsenic.html

http://www.origen.net/tox.htmlhttp://safety.lovetoknow.com/Arsenic_Poison

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/arsenic/l-2/arsenic-7.htm#1 

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14947 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_poisoning http://dmsachelation.com/arsenic-poisoning/  http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/arsenic.html#health