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Brunka Z, Ryl J, Brushtulli P, Gromala D, Walczak G, Zięba S, Pieśniak D, Sein Anand J, Wiergowski M. Selected Political Criminal Poisonings in the Years 1978-2020: Detection and Treatment. TOXICS 2022; 10:468. [PMID: 36006147 PMCID: PMC9413450 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10080468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Criminal poisonings are among the least frequently detected crimes in the world. Lack of suspicion of this type of event by police officers and prosecutors, clinical symptoms imitating many somatic diseases and technical difficulties in diagnostics, as well as high research costs make the actual frequency of these events difficult to estimate. The substance used for criminal poisoning is often characterized by: lack of taste, color and smell, delayed action, easy availability and difficulty to detect. The aim of the study was to analyze selected cases of political poisoning that took place in the years 1978-2020, to describe the mechanisms of action of the substances used and to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment. The analyzed cases of criminal poisoning concerned: Georgi Markov (ricin), Khalid Maszal (fentanyl), Wiktor Yushchenko (TCDD dioxin), Jasir Arafat (polonium 210Po isotope), Alexander Litvinenko (polonium 210Po isotope), Kim Jong-Nam (VX), Sergei Skripal (Novichok) and Alexei Navalny (Novichok). Contemporary poisons, to a greater extent than in the past, are based on the use of synthetic substances from the group of organophosphorus compounds and radioactive substances. The possibility of taking appropriate and effective treatment in such cases is the result of many factors, including the possibility of quick and competent rescue intervention, quick and reliable detection of the toxic substance and the possibility of using an antidote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Brunka
- Student Scientific Society of the Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jan Ryl
- Student Scientific Society of the Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Brushtulli
- Student Scientific Society of the Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Daria Gromala
- Student Scientific Society of the Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Walczak
- Student Scientific Society of the Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sonia Zięba
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dorota Pieśniak
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jacek Sein Anand
- Division of Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
- Pomeranian Center of Toxicology, Kartuska 4/6 Str., 80-104 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marek Wiergowski
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
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