The Tox Lab

In this week's episode, we discuss a couple of interesting case reports including a case series on 'Death Coffee' and a complex suicide case involving penconazole. Hope you enjoy! Links to papers we discussed: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/npr2.70013 https://clinicaterapeutica.it/ojs/index.php/1/article/view/1195/812 Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_to...

A suspicious will led to the exhumation of Kathleen Grundy—and toxicology revealed a shocking truth. In this week's episode, we examine the forensic testing that exposed Shipman’s crimes, from hair analysis to post-mortem drug screening and how this case changed the UK’s Coronial process forever. Hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Email us here...

A trusted doctor. A quiet town. And a trail of unexplained deaths. In this episode, we trace Harold Shipman’s fall from promising physician to prolific killer. From his pethidine addiction to his use of diamorphine as a murder weapon, we uncover the early suspicions that could have stopped him—long before his final victim. Hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagram:...

In this week's episode, we explore nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. We'll discuss its historical use, pharmacological effects, potential toxicities, and the evolving legal landscape surrounding its use. Join us as we uncover the complexities of this seemingly innocuous gas and its implications for public health. Hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: All opinions are our own. Find us on instagr...

In this week's episode, we delve into the unexpected hazards associated with poppy seed consumption. We'll explore recent cases of thebaine poisoning in Australia linked to non-food-grade poppy seeds and the risks of opioid toxicity from unwashed seeds. Join us as we examine the chemistry behind these toxicities, share real-world cases, and discuss the implications for public health and safety.​ H...

A WWII soldier on meth, a smuggler in freefall, and a bear on cocaine. In this week's episode, we break down Aimo Koivunen’s unbelievable survival after a methamphetamine overdose, then uncover the real story of Andrew Carter Thornton II, whose botched drug drop led to the infamous ‘Cocaine Bear'. Join us as we discuss the toxicology behind these wild cases and seperate fact from fiction. Hope you...

Interpreting toxicology results after death isn’t always straightforward—especially when time is a factor. In this episode, we discuss the post-mortem interval (PMI) and how it complicates toxicological interpretation. We explore how decomposition affects drug concentrations and why traditional methods of estimating PMI have limitations. Could omics-based approaches, like metabolomics and proteomi...

In this week's episode, we break down synthetic cathinones, a group of powerful stimulants linked to severe health effects. We discuss what they are, their toxicology, and the latest ACMD report on their risks and regulation. Tune in as we explore the evolving dangers of these substances and their impact on public health. Hope you enjoy! Find us on Instagram: @the_tox_lab Links we've discussed: ht...

Some viral trends are more dangerous than they seem. In this episode, we break down the toxicology behind risky TikTok challenges. From alcohol poisoning to deadly overdoses, chemical inhalation, and neurological damage, we explore the real health risks and long-term consequences of these shocking stunts. Hope you enjoy! Find us on Instagram: @the_tox_lab

In this week's episode, we delve into the rising concern of nitazenes in the recreational drug market. Our discussion centers on a recent study that examines 15 previously uncharacterized nitazene analogues, assessing their potency, μ-opioid receptor activity, and effects in mice. Join us as we break down the study's findings and discuss their real-world implications for public health and safety....

In this week's episode, we explore the unexpected ways loud music might influence methamphetamine toxicity in mice. We discuss the behavioural and neurological changes observed after mice were exposed to tracks by the Prodigy, potential mechanisms behind the effects and how this might impact humans in similar situations. Hope you enjoy! Find us on instagram: @the_tox_lab Link to the paper we discu...

In this week's episode, we delve into the chilling reality of slushie poisoning. We discuss real-life cases making headlines, explore the symptoms of glycerol intoxication, and break down the metabolic pathways potentially affected in these scenarios. Join us as we uncover the hidden dangers lurking in seemingly innocent treats. Hope you enjoy! Find us on instagram @the_tox_lab Link to the paper w...

In this week's episode, we explore the growing impact of street benzodiazepines on drug-related deaths across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Join us as we delve into the latest trends in benzodiazepine detections and discuss the implications for toxicology and public health. Hope you enjoy! Link to the paper we discussed: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13979

What happens when scientific curiosity crosses ethical boundaries? In this week's episode, we examine the infamous 1962 experiment involving Tusko the elephant and a massive dose of LSD, discuss what went wrong, and what we can learn from this cautionary tale. Hope you enjoy! Links to papers we've discussed: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.138.3545.1100 https://link.springer.com/articl...

As the New Year kicks off, countless resolutions center around weight loss and fitness. But in the quest for quick results, how far is too far? In this week's episode, we dive into the dark side of two substances, caffeine and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4 DNP), and how their misuse in the world of fitness can have deadly consequences. Hope you enjoy! Links to papers we've discussed: https://casereports....

Have you ever wondered how toxic your festive flora is? Does Nutmeg have a dark side? In this week's episode, we discuss poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe to try and determine if they really are as toxic as we are all led to believe. We also talk about nutmeg and its potential for abuse. We will be taking a break for a couple of weeks after this episode but will be back on the 6th of January. Hope...

In this week's episode we aim to answer the question: can people really be trusted to report their own drug use? We discuss a paper by Wolfe et al. which looks at self-reported drug use compared to the results of laboratory testing from patients presenting to a london emergency department with acute drug toxicity. Hope you enjoy! Link to the paper we've discussed: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/f...

In this week's episode, we discuss the methanol poisonings in Laos, and a paper by Doreen et al. which covers methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol in Uganda in 2017. Hope you enjoy! Links to papers we have discussed: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7204301/

In this week’s episode we discuss a paper by Linqvist et al. on Swedish poisoning deaths from 2000-2022 and a paper by Rhode et al. on sauna deaths in Sweden. Is there a link between carbon monoxide deaths and saunas? Hope you enjoy! Papers we have discussed: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcpt.14097 https://journals.lww.com/amjforensicmedicine/abstract/2008/03000/sauna_deaths_in_swed...

In this week’s episode, we discuss a paper by Ellefsen et al. on Bromazolam detections in post-mortem cases in Travis County Texas, and a paper by Mérette et al. on Desalkylgidazepam detections in forensic investigations in British Columbia. Hope you enjoy! Papers we have discussed: https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkae079/7756913?redirectedFrom=fulltext https:...

In this week's episode, we discuss a paper by Kopra et al. covering psychedelic- related deaths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over a 25 year period and a paper by Palamar et al. on 'shrooms' seizures in the US from 2017-2022. We also discuss a paper by Abrams et al. which talks about the different effects seen in spinal cord injury patients after serotonergic psychedelic use. Hope you enj...

In this week’s episode, we discuss the recently published ONS data on deaths related to drug poisonings in England and Wales in 2023. We also discuss a paper by Jørgensen et al. on semi-synthetic cannabinoids in cannabis products in Eastern a Denmark, and a case series by Lefeuvre et al. on N-Ethylhexedrone. Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we have discussed:  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopul...

In this week’s episode we discuss the recent OHID report talking about synthetic opioid deaths in England. We also discuss a paper by Bedard et al. talking about Xylazine withdrawal in mice and its receptor binding activity, and a paper by Love et al. discussing how Xylazine alters opioid overdose patient’s outcomes.  Hope you enjoy! Links to the papers we have discussed: https://www.gov.uk/govern...