The radiotoxicology of Radithor. Analysis of an early case of iatrogenic poisoning by a radioactive patent medicine. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Radithor was a radioactive patent medicine that was touted as a metabolic stimulant and aphrodisiac. We have obtained several original samples of Radithor and have used these historical specimens and a computer-based calculation model to perform a retrospective analysis of a famous case of Radithor-related radium poisoning. Our data suggest that the victim's cumulative skeletal radiation dose may have exceeded 350 Sv by the time he died. This figure far exceeds most current estimates of what radiation exposure level would constitute a rapidly lethal dose if given acutely. The physiological response to longterm internal radiation exposure and the highly localized nature of alpha particle irradiation may require the development of new models for the assessment of risk in cases of internal alpha particle irradiation.

publication date

  • August 1, 1990

Research

keywords

  • Nonprescription Drugs
  • Radium

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0025296435

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1001/jama.264.5.619

PubMed ID

  • 2366303

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 264

issue

  • 5