Tag Archives: Poison

Can Vitamin C + Prawns Poison Us With Arsenic?!

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Will eating vitamin C and prawns on the same day create toxic arsenic which has already killed one woman?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : Eating Vitamin C + Prawns Will Poison Us With Arsenic!

People are sharing this message on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that eating vitamin C and prawns on the same day can create toxic arsenic which has already killed one woman!

This is a long message, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Very Educative:

A woman suddenly died unexpectedly with signs of bleeding from her ears, nose, mouth & eyes. After a preliminary autopsy it was diagnosed that death was due to arsenic poisoning. Where did the arsenic come from?

The police launched an in-depth and extensive investigation. A medical school professor was invited to come to solve the case. The professor carefully looked at the contents. In less than half an hour, the mystery was solved.

The professor said: ‘The deceased did not commit suicide and neither was she murdered, she died of accidental death due to ignorance!’

Everyone was puzzled, why accidental death? The professor said: ‘The arsenic was produced in the stomach of the deceased.’ The deceased used to take ‘Vitamin C’ everyday, which in itself is not a problem.

The problem was that she ate a large portion of shrimp/prawn during dinner. Eating shrimp/prawn is not the problem that’s why nothing happened to her family even though they had the same shrimp/prawn. However at the same time the deceased also took ‘vitamin C’, that is where the problem was!

Researchers at the University of Chicago in the United States , found through experiments, food such as soft-shell contain much higher concentration of five potassium arsenic compounds.

Such fresh food by itself has no toxic effects on the human body.

However, in taking ‘vitamin C’, chemical reaction occurs and the original non-toxic elements change to toxic elements.

Arsenic poisoning has magma role and can cause paralysis to the small blood vessels. Therefore, a person who dies of arsenic poisoning will show signs of bleeding from the ears, nose, mouth & eyes. Thus as a precautionary measure,

DO NOT eat shrimp/prawn when taking ‘vitamin C’.

After reading this; please do not be stingy. It’s our duty to take care of our friends.
Pls share with then.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Prawns and Vit C cannot be eaten together.

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Here is an older version that has been going around since 2014:

This is a story that happened to the relative of a friend of mine. If you love your family and your friends, just tell them about this story.

There was a woman who suddenly died with blood coming from her eyes, ear, mouth, nose, skin and tongue. After the authorities investigated, they claimed she died of food poisoning.

Before she died, she ate a lot of shrimp, but so did the rest of her family and they didn’t die. It turns out that the problem was that she drank a liquid vitamin C supplement immediately after she ate the shrimp.

Basically, Shrimp contains an Arsenic Pentoxide (As2O5) and when she ate shrimp, she drank Vitamin C at the same time. This caused a chemical reaction in her stomach. The Arsenic Pentoxide (As2O5) in the shrimp become Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3), which was very poisonous. Her heart, liver, kidneys, and blood vessels failed, and she died from massive blood loss.

So, be careful if you eat shrimp. Wait a few hours before you take Vitamin C. Don’t allow vitamin C and shrimp to occupy your stomach at the same time.

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Recommended : Can Bak Kut Teh Herbal Soup Cause Liver Damage?!

 

Truth : Eating Vitamin C + Prawns Will Not Poison Us With Arsenic!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : This Is An Old Hoax

The claim that eating prawns together with vitamin C can poison you with arsenic isn’t new. It’s been circulating on email since at least 2001, before being shared on WhatsApp and social media in more recent years.

Fact #2 : Hoax Is Based On Actual Research

While many fact checkers immediately dismissed this as fake news, I need to point out that this hoax is based on actual research by the University of Illinois.

In 1985, three researchers in the University of Illinois’ animal sciences department reported that they unexpectedly found that vitamin C and cysteine can convert harmless arsenic pentoxide into strongly poisonous arsenic trioxide.

The unexpected finding by Gail Czarnecki, David Baker and John Garst concerns the way molecules of arsenic compounds are constructed. If atoms within the compounds share five electrons with neighboring atoms, they are said to be ”pentavalent” and are fairly harmless.

Several foods, especially shrimp and prawns, may contain high concentrations of such arsenic compounds. What the Illinois researchers found is that high doses of vitamin C convert the pentavalent compounds into trivalent arsenic, a highly toxic poison.

Cysteine, a chemical sometimes given as a treatment for heavy metal poisoning, also converts arsenic to the trivalent, highly toxic form.

That said, I have to point out that this research does not appear to have been published. None of the three scientists listed any paper on vitamin C’s effect on arsenic compounds:

While that does not mean that they were wrong about their findings, I should also point out that this finding does not appear to have been confirmed or even reviewed by other scientists / researchers.

Recommended : Lead + Cadmium High In Many Dark Chocolate!

Fact #3 : Risk Is Not Limited To Prawns / Shrimps

The researchers did not say that eating prawns / shrimps while consuming vitamin C can kill you through arsenic poisoning. They merely pointed out that shellfish, particularly prawns and shrimps, “may” contain high levels of normally harmless arsenic pentoxide.

In other words – any food that contains high levels of arsenic pentoxide can present with these risks. Not just prawns or shrimps. Common foods that contain higher amounts of arsenic include rice, Brussel sprouts, chicken, mushrooms, beer and wine.

Fact #4 : Risk Involves High Doses Of Vitamin C

The researchers also pointed out that the risk of harmless arsenic in food being converted to poisonous arsenic trioxide involves high doses of vitamin C – megadosing with vitamin C, as they called it.

Normal consumption of vitamin C would not convert sufficient amounts of arsenic to make a difference.

Fact #5 : Danger Was Long-Term Cancer Risk

Finally, the researchers never said that eating prawns / shrimps while taking megadoses of vitamin C can kill you with arsenic poisoning. They were worried about “chronic exposure” to arsenic which is carcinogenic, and can cause cancer if exposed for a long time.

Chronic exposure to arsenic is known to cause cancer in humans. We now must wonder whether megadosing with vitamin C increases the risk of cancer by changing the form of arsenic in food.

Recommended : Does Steaming Food Cause Cancer From Chlorine?!

Fact #6 : Acute Arsenic Poisoning Does Not Present That Way

You can die if you consume too much arsenic, but you won’t die bleeding from your ears, nose, mouth and ears.

Acute arsenic poisoning presents with diarrhoea and stomach pain, cramps and vomiting (with or without blood), blood in the urine, and convulsions.

I should point out that there is no known case of anyone dying from arsenic poisoning after consuming both vitamin C and prawns / shrimps.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Is There Poison In COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kits?!

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Is there a poison called sodium azide in COVID-19 rapid test kits?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : There Is Poison In Rapid Antigen Test Kits!

The Internet is now abuzz with the warning by the National Capital Poison Center that COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits contain a poison called sodium azide.

“Sodium azide is a very potent poison,” says the National Capital Poison Center, which is not a government agency, “and ingestion of relatively low doses can cause significant toxicity.”

“When swallowed, sodium azide can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, and heart palpitations. In more severe cases, seizures, loss of consciousness, and death may occur.”

Rapid Antigen Test Poison Fears : Only Dangerous If Misused!

This is yet another example of collective alarmism, based on a relatively innocuous warning by the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC) – an independent, non-profit organisation.

For those who want a quick summary, here are the key points :

  1. Sodium azide is used in some (but not all) rapid antigen test kits as a preservative, in very small amounts.
  2. Sodium azide is poisonous, but the amount is too small in rapid test kits to pose a real danger if accidentally swallowed by adults.
  3. NCPC never said that rapid antigen test kits are dangerous or poisonous, only that the buffer solution in those kits should not be swallowed or dripped into eyes, nose or mouths.

 

Rapid Antigen Test Poison Fears : What You Need To Know…

For those who want to learn more, here is what you need to know about sodium azide – the “poison” in the COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.

Fact #1 : NCPC Was Warning About Potential Misuse

The NCPC article on sodium azide in COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits was first published on 18 January 2022, but only went viral 6-7 weeks later.

The author, medical toxicologist Maryann Amirshahi, did NOT claim that these COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are poisonous, and should therefore be avoided.

She only warned about the dangers of MISUSING the buffer liquid inside rapid antigen test kits. Specifically, the potential dangers of accidentally swallowing it, or dripping it onto eyes or nose or skin.

Some people may accidentally confuse them with medications and apply the drops into their eyes or nose, which may cause irritation. People also may spill it on their skin which can cause skin irritation or chemical burns. Small children may accidentally swallow the contents of the vial or choke on the vial’s small cap.

Fact #2 : Sodium Azide Is Used As Buffer Preservative

In COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits, sodium azide is used as a preservative, to prevent bacterial growth. If you read the instruction sheet of your rapid antigen test kit, you may see warnings like this :

The buffer contains <0.1% sodium azide as a preservative which may be toxic if ingested. When disposed of through a sink, flush with a large volume of water.

Fact #3 : Sodium Azide Only Used In Some Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Sodium azide is not used in all rapid antigen test kits – manufacturers may opt to use other preservatives, like ProClin 300.

If you are worried, you can check the active ingredient list of the test kit. It should tell you whether sodium azide is used in the buffer solution.

Fact #4 : We Should Avoid Contact With Buffer Solution

At no point in time during the RAT / RTK test process, are you supposed to consume the buffer solution, or come into contact with it.

To avoid accidental consumption, the buffer solution is kept is a sealed squeeze bottle or test tube, which is to be disposed off in the provided biological waste pouch / plastic bag.

Perhaps the greatest risk of contact is when people do not follow instructions, and dip their swabs into the buffer solution before swabbing the nasopharynx and/or throat. Or unsupervised children may drip some into their mouth for a taste.

Fact #5 : Toxicity Depends On The Dose

To be clear, sodium azide is a potentially deadly chemical, but we need to remember that the toxicity of any chemical depends on the dose.

Even if you accidentally touch or consume the buffer, please do NOT panic.

As mentioned earlier, the buffer solution may not even contain sodium azide. Even if sodium azide is present, it is a very small amount – less than 0.1% of buffer volume.

There is usually only about 0.35 ml of buffer solution in each test kit, so we are talking about 0.0035 ml (65 mg) of sodium azide.

Based on its LD50 dose of 20 mg/kg (rabbit), a child weighing 10 kg will only be at significant risk on consuming 200 mg of sodium azide – that’s the amount of sodium azide in 3 buffer bottles.

An adult weighing 50 kg will need to consume about 15 buffer bottles to be at significant risk of toxicity. The NCPC article also states as much :

Fortunately, the amount of sodium azide in most rapid antigen kits is much lower than the amount expected to cause poisoning if swallowed by an adult.

Nevertheless, you should still avoid consuming, or coming into contact with the buffer solution. And obviously, you should never let a child handle the test kit!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Health | Fact Check | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!