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“Scientist Fatally Poisoned by Tiny Chemical Droplet”

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A tragic incident unfolded when a teacher and scientist met a fatal end after being exposed to a minute droplet of a chemical known as dimethylmercury, no larger than a raindrop. Karen Wetterhahn, a research chemist at Dartmouth College in the US, inadvertently became a subject in her own research on the effects of heavy metals on living organisms.

In the summer of 1996, while handling dimethylmercury, a tiny drop from the pipette she was using landed on her latex glove. Despite promptly changing her gloves following safety procedures, the compound had already seeped through her skin and entered her bloodstream unbeknownst to her.

Months later, Karen began experiencing alarming symptoms such as balance issues, speech difficulties, and vision problems, leading to her hospitalization in January of the following year. Medical tests revealed she had been severely poisoned by mercury, with levels exceeding the safe limit by a staggering 4000 times.

Dr. Ben Miles emphasized the lethal nature of dimethylmercury, stating that even a single drop of the substance could have life-altering consequences. The chemical breaks down inside the body, releasing mercury ions that aggressively bind to sulfur atoms, particularly abundant in brain neurons and the central nervous system, leading to their malfunction and death.

Reports suggest that dimethylmercury can swiftly permeate clothing layers and penetrate the skin within 15 seconds. Despite medical efforts to remove the mercury from her system, the damage proved irreversible. Ten months after exposure, Karen slipped into a coma, ultimately succumbing to the effects of the poisoning while on life support.

Her mercury levels peaked 39 days after the incident, triggering a rapid deterioration in her condition. This tragic event had a profound impact on scientific and research communities, leading to the establishment of an award in Karen’s memory by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

In response to the incident, enhanced safety protocols were introduced in laboratories handling dimethylmercury, acknowledging its ability to penetrate materials like latex, PVC, and neoprene almost instantly. The implementation of stricter safety measures aimed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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