Saturday 27 August 2011
Sunday 21 August 2011
Thursday 18 August 2011
工商部门抽检燕窝产品 店主急撤血燕只卖白燕
工商部门抽检燕窝产品 店主急撤血燕只卖白燕
2011年08月16日15:38新民晚报薛慧卿 皇甫萍我要评论(4) 字号：T|T
继浙江工商部门抽检300多批血燕发现亚硝酸盐含量普遍超标之后，本市工商部门今起全面抽检本市流通领域燕窝产品。然而，即便是普通的市场抽检，心虚的经销商还是“闻风而动”，忙不迭地撤下“血燕”宣称只卖“白燕”。
进货没凭证
上午10时，记者随工商人员来到位于凯旋门大厦的上海维韩保健品市场，只见不少商铺里摆放着燕窝产品。在该市场208商铺，检查人员发现两盒包装精美的血燕产品，每盒4片，每片7.5克左右。问店主索要营业执照和进货凭证，对方都无法提供。店主林某表示，营业执照还没办出来，这两盒血燕是从广东普宁市场进货后自己包装做样品的，进价每克16元，还没有正式销售过。而两盒保健品的包装上，看不到生产企业、生产日期等任何标识。
同样，在该商场二楼广旭参茸堂，店主表示陈列的血燕是供货商送货上门的。在此之前，记者曾以普通消费者的身份来到该店询问血燕产品，店主表示，血燕产品只批发不零售。
血燕变白燕
“我们不做血燕，只卖白燕！”看到媒体报道血燕产品“出事了”的消息，不少头脑活络的经销商撤下了陈列的血燕样品。但尚未来得及撤下的燕窝包装盒露出了端倪。在益康保健食品店，货架上陈列着三四个燕窝空包装盒，工商人员随后从该商铺的冰箱里找到了一大盒散装的血燕。对此，营业员宣称：“这是我们老板娘自己吃的！”
仅一墙之隔的上海申集茸保健品有限公司店铺内，经营者正紧急“转运”血燕，让执法人员无法抽检。但就在昨天，记者暗访时还看到这家店铺有标称“血燕”销售，每克15元。
风险待评估
据了解，国家强制性标准《食品安全国家标准食品添加剂使用标准》(GB2760-2011)严格限制添加亚硝酸盐，仅允许生产腌熏肉等制品有微量残留，限量为30毫克/千克，最高熏制火腿残留量也不得超过70毫克/千克。比照限量标准，此次浙江抽检的问题燕窝中的最高亚硝酸盐含量已超过350倍之多。
市工商局有关人士表示，本市今起将全面抽检燕窝产品，重点检查亚硝酸盐和人工色素两个指标。抽检产品将委托第三方法定机构进行抽检，检测结果3天左右能出具报告。根据抽检数据，建议市食安办进行食品安全风险评估。（相关报道见A12版·中国新闻）
相关链接
所谓血燕，是金丝燕将巢筑在岩石峭壁上，岩壁内部矿物质渗透到燕窝内将其染红。血燕极其稀少，价格不菲，而目前市场上多用燕子粪便熏白燕窝，由于粪便里含有胺，长期暴露在空气中会形成亚硝酸盐，使燕窝表面呈红褐色，使用量过大可能引起人体中毒，甚至致癌。
市食药监督所所长顾振华表示，亚硝酸盐可以和一种胺类的物质发生反应，形成新物质亚硝胺，亚硝胺有可能会致癌。据初步调查，浙江市场上销售的血燕产品多从广东、厦门等地进入，主要源自马来西亚等国家。
2011年08月16日15:38新民晚报薛慧卿 皇甫萍我要评论(4) 字号：T|T
继浙江工商部门抽检300多批血燕发现亚硝酸盐含量普遍超标之后，本市工商部门今起全面抽检本市流通领域燕窝产品。然而，即便是普通的市场抽检，心虚的经销商还是“闻风而动”，忙不迭地撤下“血燕”宣称只卖“白燕”。
进货没凭证
上午10时，记者随工商人员来到位于凯旋门大厦的上海维韩保健品市场，只见不少商铺里摆放着燕窝产品。在该市场208商铺，检查人员发现两盒包装精美的血燕产品，每盒4片，每片7.5克左右。问店主索要营业执照和进货凭证，对方都无法提供。店主林某表示，营业执照还没办出来，这两盒血燕是从广东普宁市场进货后自己包装做样品的，进价每克16元，还没有正式销售过。而两盒保健品的包装上，看不到生产企业、生产日期等任何标识。
同样，在该商场二楼广旭参茸堂，店主表示陈列的血燕是供货商送货上门的。在此之前，记者曾以普通消费者的身份来到该店询问血燕产品，店主表示，血燕产品只批发不零售。
血燕变白燕
“我们不做血燕，只卖白燕！”看到媒体报道血燕产品“出事了”的消息，不少头脑活络的经销商撤下了陈列的血燕样品。但尚未来得及撤下的燕窝包装盒露出了端倪。在益康保健食品店，货架上陈列着三四个燕窝空包装盒，工商人员随后从该商铺的冰箱里找到了一大盒散装的血燕。对此，营业员宣称：“这是我们老板娘自己吃的！”
仅一墙之隔的上海申集茸保健品有限公司店铺内，经营者正紧急“转运”血燕，让执法人员无法抽检。但就在昨天，记者暗访时还看到这家店铺有标称“血燕”销售，每克15元。
风险待评估
据了解，国家强制性标准《食品安全国家标准食品添加剂使用标准》(GB2760-2011)严格限制添加亚硝酸盐，仅允许生产腌熏肉等制品有微量残留，限量为30毫克/千克，最高熏制火腿残留量也不得超过70毫克/千克。比照限量标准，此次浙江抽检的问题燕窝中的最高亚硝酸盐含量已超过350倍之多。
市工商局有关人士表示，本市今起将全面抽检燕窝产品，重点检查亚硝酸盐和人工色素两个指标。抽检产品将委托第三方法定机构进行抽检，检测结果3天左右能出具报告。根据抽检数据，建议市食安办进行食品安全风险评估。（相关报道见A12版·中国新闻）
相关链接
所谓血燕，是金丝燕将巢筑在岩石峭壁上，岩壁内部矿物质渗透到燕窝内将其染红。血燕极其稀少，价格不菲，而目前市场上多用燕子粪便熏白燕窝，由于粪便里含有胺，长期暴露在空气中会形成亚硝酸盐，使燕窝表面呈红褐色，使用量过大可能引起人体中毒，甚至致癌。
市食药监督所所长顾振华表示，亚硝酸盐可以和一种胺类的物质发生反应，形成新物质亚硝胺，亚硝胺有可能会致癌。据初步调查，浙江市场上销售的血燕产品多从广东、厦门等地进入，主要源自马来西亚等国家。
马来西亚濒危物种进出口管理局等机构的相关人士在杭州举行燕窝新闻发布会
转播到腾讯微博
黑心血燕生产流程
浙江在线08月16日讯何为血燕？金丝燕吐血而成，价值千金。在高级营养品的江湖中，昂贵的血燕一直和这样的美丽传说相伴。
昨天上午，浙江省工商局发布了血燕抽检报告，传说被瞬间击得粉碎此次共抽检血燕经销商491家，抽检血燕537批次，分别由浙江公正检验中心等6家检测机构进行检测。结果显示，流通领域抽检的血燕亚硝酸盐含量严重超标。
据初步统计，此次抽检涉及全省各零售店问题血燕达20万克，约3万多盏，平均亚硝酸盐含量达4400毫克/千克。其中标称广东鹰皇参茸制品有限公司的“鹰皇”牌血燕、厦门市丝浓食品有限公司的“燕之屋”牌血燕、广州同康药业有限公司的“正基”牌血燕、北京庆和堂参茸有限公司的“庆和堂”牌等11批次的血燕产品检出的亚硝酸盐含量最高均超过10000毫克/千克。
“引燕屋里是没有血燕的，这些人造的血燕与其检测出来亚硝酸盐严重超标有着必然联系。”省工商局局长郑宇民对于“人造血燕”的结论，让人为消费者担心不已因为这不仅仅只是一个简单的“人造”变“天然”的谎言，更重要的是这些含有极高亚硝酸盐的“人造血燕”食用后会对人体造成危害：亚硝酸盐具很强毒性，摄入过量会引起中毒甚至死亡，长期摄入会增加患癌风险。
血燕变毒燕浸泡10多小时依旧严重超标
调查数据：国家强制性标准《食品安全国家标准食品添加剂使用标准》(GB2760-2011)严格限制添加亚硝酸盐，仅允许生产腌熏肉等制品有微量残留，限量为30毫克/千克，最高熏制火腿残留量也不得超过70毫克/千克。比照限量标准，此次抽检的问题燕窝中最高亚硝酸盐含量已超过350倍之多。
浙江大学第一附属医院的专家告诉记者，如果长期服用这种亚硝酸盐过量的“人造血燕”，将很可能患上胃癌。这种影响长时间积累，对细胞基因的破坏导致癌变。一般来说，亚硝酸盐的中毒剂量为0.03克-1.5克。如果摄入3克以上，就将达到致死剂量。
7月26日，声称是马来西亚濒危物种进出口管理局等机构的相关人士在杭州举行燕窝新闻发布会，对血燕的亚硝酸盐超标问题做了所谓的“澄清”。主办方称血燕并没有造假，99%是真的，只要经过几个小时的浸泡和清洗，亚硝酸盐就会消失，可以放心食用。
对此，郑宇民予以反驳：“他们不是辟谣，是来造谣的。其官员的拿督身份涉嫌做假，而他们出具的血燕检验合格报告的35个项目中，没有一个涉及亚硝酸盐含量。”他表示，工商部门做了试验，亚硝酸盐含量达到1000毫克/千克的血燕在浸泡10多个小时后，亚硝酸盐含量还有300多毫克/千克。
郑宇民强调：“只要血燕是出口到中国上市销售，都要信守强制性的基础性的食品安全标准，有毒物质含量应该在中国国家标准以下。”
海关销毁退运多批“血燕” 专家提醒颜色很均匀很鲜红的血燕不要买
广东染色燕窝检出高浓度亚硝酸盐 已销毁多批
2011年06月03日17:36大洋网-广州日报林晓丽 张爱国 黄华军我要评论(2) 字号：T|T
海关销毁退运多批“血燕” 专家提醒颜色很均匀很鲜红的血燕不要买。
转播到腾讯微博
海关销毁退运多批“血燕” 专家提醒颜色很均匀很鲜红的血燕不要买
亚硝酸盐：也被称为工业食盐，在食品生产中亦用作食品着色剂和防腐剂。但是具有很强的毒性，摄入过量会引起中毒甚至死亡，长期食用含有过量亚硝酸盐的食品将会增加患癌风险。
记者昨日从广东检验检疫局获悉，该局承担的“燕窝及其制品的真假鉴别方法研究”项目课题组首次从一些所谓“血燕”、“黄燕”等染色燕窝中检出高浓度的亚硝酸盐，有的含量甚至达到几千毫克/公斤，对人体危害相当大！据此，各地海关销毁、退运了多批“血燕”。
广州市面血燕也有染色的
据介绍，查获的染色燕窝，大部分都是用白燕窝染色而成，“而且为了追逐更高的利润，不良商家所用的白燕窝都是质量差、外观不好看的低价白燕窝，所含的亚硝酸盐的含量都很高，有的甚至达到了几千毫克/公斤，对人体危害很大。”不过，并不确定是直接用亚硝酸盐染色，还是染色过程中发生化学反应而残留的。
我国《食品添加剂使用卫生标准》(GB2760-2007)严格限制亚硝酸盐仅作为肉类等少量食品的护色剂，限量为70毫克/公斤，其他食品(包括燕窝)不允许添加。
“广州市面上销售的血燕，确实也有由白燕窝染色而成的情况存在。因为白燕窝和血燕的平均差价，每公斤达到1000~2000元。”广州海味干果商会秘书长伍惠汉直接指出，如果街坊购买燕窝，不推荐购买血燕。
“5000美金可学燕窝染色”
据检验检疫系统的专家提醒市民，购买血燕，一定要警惕颜色很均匀的，很鲜红的，真正的血燕应该是褐色的，颜色不均匀的。“现在燕窝染色的工艺很先进，而且不会掉色，在印尼，5000美金就可以学习燕窝染色。”
据介绍，燕窝主要产于印尼等东南亚国家，年产量已达数百吨。中国大陆已经成为第一大燕窝消费地，年销售额高达数百亿。但与蓬勃发展的燕窝市场相比，国内外相关检测技术滞后于市场消费。相关评价方法、评判标准和检测手段的缺失，导致市售的燕窝产品良莠不齐，消费者难辨真伪，政府监管部门无从执法。
该燕窝鉴别方法全国首创
“燕窝及其制品的真假鉴别方法研究”这一科技项目课题组近一两年多次从送检的一些所谓“血燕”、“黄燕”等染色燕窝中检出高浓度的亚硝酸盐，而该研究结果也是该课题组全国首次发现的，据此成果，各地检验检疫和海关销毁、退运了多批“血燕”。
据介绍，方法确定采用分光光度法、液相色谱串联质谱与分子生物学结合来鉴定真假燕窝，可以有效分辨人为加入的掺假物质和天然存在的营养物质，而且还可用于大量样品的快速测定。
燕窝常见制假以次充好伎俩
染色：将卖相不好的燕盏染成血燕盏和黄燕盏；
漂白：将深褐或杂黑颜色的燕窝用双氧水全部或部分漂白；
掺涂胶体：将薯粉、鱼胶、果胶、猪皮胶、海藻胶、白木耳胶、树脂等掺涂在燕盏表面，令燕盏看起来光亮厚密，增加重量；
掺粘：将劣质的毛燕、草燕、燕饼掺粘到优质的燕窝上增加重量。
2011年06月03日17:36大洋网-广州日报林晓丽 张爱国 黄华军我要评论(2) 字号：T|T
海关销毁退运多批“血燕” 专家提醒颜色很均匀很鲜红的血燕不要买。
转播到腾讯微博
海关销毁退运多批“血燕” 专家提醒颜色很均匀很鲜红的血燕不要买
亚硝酸盐：也被称为工业食盐，在食品生产中亦用作食品着色剂和防腐剂。但是具有很强的毒性，摄入过量会引起中毒甚至死亡，长期食用含有过量亚硝酸盐的食品将会增加患癌风险。
记者昨日从广东检验检疫局获悉，该局承担的“燕窝及其制品的真假鉴别方法研究”项目课题组首次从一些所谓“血燕”、“黄燕”等染色燕窝中检出高浓度的亚硝酸盐，有的含量甚至达到几千毫克/公斤，对人体危害相当大！据此，各地海关销毁、退运了多批“血燕”。
广州市面血燕也有染色的
据介绍，查获的染色燕窝，大部分都是用白燕窝染色而成，“而且为了追逐更高的利润，不良商家所用的白燕窝都是质量差、外观不好看的低价白燕窝，所含的亚硝酸盐的含量都很高，有的甚至达到了几千毫克/公斤，对人体危害很大。”不过，并不确定是直接用亚硝酸盐染色，还是染色过程中发生化学反应而残留的。
我国《食品添加剂使用卫生标准》(GB2760-2007)严格限制亚硝酸盐仅作为肉类等少量食品的护色剂，限量为70毫克/公斤，其他食品(包括燕窝)不允许添加。
“广州市面上销售的血燕，确实也有由白燕窝染色而成的情况存在。因为白燕窝和血燕的平均差价，每公斤达到1000~2000元。”广州海味干果商会秘书长伍惠汉直接指出，如果街坊购买燕窝，不推荐购买血燕。
“5000美金可学燕窝染色”
据检验检疫系统的专家提醒市民，购买血燕，一定要警惕颜色很均匀的，很鲜红的，真正的血燕应该是褐色的，颜色不均匀的。“现在燕窝染色的工艺很先进，而且不会掉色，在印尼，5000美金就可以学习燕窝染色。”
据介绍，燕窝主要产于印尼等东南亚国家，年产量已达数百吨。中国大陆已经成为第一大燕窝消费地，年销售额高达数百亿。但与蓬勃发展的燕窝市场相比，国内外相关检测技术滞后于市场消费。相关评价方法、评判标准和检测手段的缺失，导致市售的燕窝产品良莠不齐，消费者难辨真伪，政府监管部门无从执法。
该燕窝鉴别方法全国首创
“燕窝及其制品的真假鉴别方法研究”这一科技项目课题组近一两年多次从送检的一些所谓“血燕”、“黄燕”等染色燕窝中检出高浓度的亚硝酸盐，而该研究结果也是该课题组全国首次发现的，据此成果，各地检验检疫和海关销毁、退运了多批“血燕”。
据介绍，方法确定采用分光光度法、液相色谱串联质谱与分子生物学结合来鉴定真假燕窝，可以有效分辨人为加入的掺假物质和天然存在的营养物质，而且还可用于大量样品的快速测定。
燕窝常见制假以次充好伎俩
染色：将卖相不好的燕盏染成血燕盏和黄燕盏；
漂白：将深褐或杂黑颜色的燕窝用双氧水全部或部分漂白；
掺涂胶体：将薯粉、鱼胶、果胶、猪皮胶、海藻胶、白木耳胶、树脂等掺涂在燕盏表面，令燕盏看起来光亮厚密，增加重量；
掺粘：将劣质的毛燕、草燕、燕饼掺粘到优质的燕窝上增加重量。
老板揭秘制作燕窝潜规则 化学去毛加胶水
老板揭秘制作燕窝潜规则 化学去毛加胶水(图)
2011年08月15日10:40东南网香卉辉我要评论(0) 字号：T|T
转播到腾讯微博
10克中仅3克是真的
转播到腾讯微博
纯正燕窝和加料燕窝，如何辨别？
距离中秋节还有一个月，厦门燕窝行业生意已经开始红火。但红火的背后隐藏着鲜为人知的内幕，昨日一位经营燕窝多年的老板向记者曝出行业内部潜规则：很多燕盏是通过化学去毛后加胶加水的“加料燕窝”。
价格涨了10%左右
昨日，记者走访了厦门部分品牌燕窝专卖店、滋补品店及药店。在滨北某药店内，普通白燕的价格为25元-35元/克，在部分品牌专卖店内，则要36元-58元/克，产地和品质各异。
“这个价格比去年涨了差不多10%。”一名品牌燕窝的销售人员告诉记者，“中秋前后向来都是燕窝销售旺季，目前我们的营业额已经比平时多出2-3成。”
用化学试剂除毛
在采访中，一名从事燕窝经营多年的老板Abe向记者揭露燕窝行业的潜规则。Abe首先说，现在市面上彻头彻尾的假燕窝比较少，也比较容易辨别，真正让人头疼的是那些燕窝加工流程中，用化学试剂除毛后再加胶加水增重的“加料燕窝”。
燕盏采摘后，通常都要经过“除毛”、“成型”、“风干”等步骤。但“人工拣毛耗时耗力，一个熟练工每天最多拣40克”，有的商家为了降低人工成本，加快速度，就用双氧水兑制成 “化毛药水”，将燕窝中的杂毛化去。“这个药水比例要经过专门调配，不然会连燕窝也一起化掉。”Abe透露。
化毛以后，燕盏上原来留有杂毛的地方就有了空隙，卖相不讨好，这时候，部分商家还会采用含有木薯粉等成分的胶水对缝隙进行填补，在此过程中还会加水，通过胶把水锁在里面。
按照Abe所说，如果燕窝采用纯人工拣毛，需要把燕窝完全泡开，燕窝的损耗率在25%-30%之间，除了杂物、杂毛的重量外，有时还会损失一部分燕窝。
但是“加料燕窝”却不担心“体重”,因为“有的商家甚至按照1：1加胶，1：1加水”。Abe说，这样的加料燕窝不但加工过程中没有损耗，反而会增加重量。
“一盏8-10克，其中只有3克是真正的燕窝”，其余都是加的料，不但破坏了燕窝的真实营养价值，而且化学残留会损害消费者健康。“那些假血燕也是先通过加料，然后再用鸟粪熏制而成的。”Abe透露。
如何选购纯正的燕窝，记者昨日来到燕遇燕窝店，按照专家的指点亲自进行试验。专家首先提醒消费者，买燕窝一定要买干货，“因为放在冰箱里的湿货，一定添加了防腐剂，时间一久就会发黄发黑”。在此基础上，通过四个步骤来选购无添加的纯正燕窝。
1.看。真正的燕窝结构是丝状，纤维很明晰，对着光看呈半透明状，燕盏不厚重；而加胶处理过的燕窝则表面会很光滑，纤维粘连，甚至成片状，放在阳光或灯光下还会微微反光，燕盏厚实。
Abe也教大家一个识别“纯正燕窝”的方法，纯正手工拣毛的燕窝是完全用水泡开后拣毛，然后放在模具上风干，燕盏上不会留有印迹。但部分燕窝在化毛时会使用镊子来固定盏形，因此燕盏边缘可能会留有夹子痕迹。
2.闻。纯正的燕窝是没有浓烈气味的；但是加料燕窝会散发出化学味道，以及发霉的味道。假燕窝更是会有鱼腥味或油腻味道。
3.泡。取一小块燕窝以水浸泡。纯正燕窝半小时就会泡开，碗内的水仍然清澈，燕窝丝条清晰，很柔滑，有弹性；但加料燕窝由于加了胶，纤维已经钙化，所以泡几个小时都没法彻底泡开，水发黄，而且纤维成一股一股的，摸起来有木感，硬而涩，仍然散发出浓浓的化学味和霉味。
4.炖。纯正的燕窝炖好后呈半透明状，丝条仍然清晰，闻起来有一股蛋清味，口感滑嫩；但加料燕窝炖后却成糊状，碗内仍然有细微的杂毛点，有霉味，口感较硬。
2011年08月15日10:40东南网香卉辉我要评论(0) 字号：T|T
转播到腾讯微博
10克中仅3克是真的
转播到腾讯微博
纯正燕窝和加料燕窝，如何辨别？
距离中秋节还有一个月，厦门燕窝行业生意已经开始红火。但红火的背后隐藏着鲜为人知的内幕，昨日一位经营燕窝多年的老板向记者曝出行业内部潜规则：很多燕盏是通过化学去毛后加胶加水的“加料燕窝”。
价格涨了10%左右
昨日，记者走访了厦门部分品牌燕窝专卖店、滋补品店及药店。在滨北某药店内，普通白燕的价格为25元-35元/克，在部分品牌专卖店内，则要36元-58元/克，产地和品质各异。
“这个价格比去年涨了差不多10%。”一名品牌燕窝的销售人员告诉记者，“中秋前后向来都是燕窝销售旺季，目前我们的营业额已经比平时多出2-3成。”
用化学试剂除毛
在采访中，一名从事燕窝经营多年的老板Abe向记者揭露燕窝行业的潜规则。Abe首先说，现在市面上彻头彻尾的假燕窝比较少，也比较容易辨别，真正让人头疼的是那些燕窝加工流程中，用化学试剂除毛后再加胶加水增重的“加料燕窝”。
燕盏采摘后，通常都要经过“除毛”、“成型”、“风干”等步骤。但“人工拣毛耗时耗力，一个熟练工每天最多拣40克”，有的商家为了降低人工成本，加快速度，就用双氧水兑制成 “化毛药水”，将燕窝中的杂毛化去。“这个药水比例要经过专门调配，不然会连燕窝也一起化掉。”Abe透露。
化毛以后，燕盏上原来留有杂毛的地方就有了空隙，卖相不讨好，这时候，部分商家还会采用含有木薯粉等成分的胶水对缝隙进行填补，在此过程中还会加水，通过胶把水锁在里面。
按照Abe所说，如果燕窝采用纯人工拣毛，需要把燕窝完全泡开，燕窝的损耗率在25%-30%之间，除了杂物、杂毛的重量外，有时还会损失一部分燕窝。
但是“加料燕窝”却不担心“体重”,因为“有的商家甚至按照1：1加胶，1：1加水”。Abe说，这样的加料燕窝不但加工过程中没有损耗，反而会增加重量。
“一盏8-10克，其中只有3克是真正的燕窝”，其余都是加的料，不但破坏了燕窝的真实营养价值，而且化学残留会损害消费者健康。“那些假血燕也是先通过加料，然后再用鸟粪熏制而成的。”Abe透露。
如何选购纯正的燕窝，记者昨日来到燕遇燕窝店，按照专家的指点亲自进行试验。专家首先提醒消费者，买燕窝一定要买干货，“因为放在冰箱里的湿货，一定添加了防腐剂，时间一久就会发黄发黑”。在此基础上，通过四个步骤来选购无添加的纯正燕窝。
1.看。真正的燕窝结构是丝状，纤维很明晰，对着光看呈半透明状，燕盏不厚重；而加胶处理过的燕窝则表面会很光滑，纤维粘连，甚至成片状，放在阳光或灯光下还会微微反光，燕盏厚实。
Abe也教大家一个识别“纯正燕窝”的方法，纯正手工拣毛的燕窝是完全用水泡开后拣毛，然后放在模具上风干，燕盏上不会留有印迹。但部分燕窝在化毛时会使用镊子来固定盏形，因此燕盏边缘可能会留有夹子痕迹。
2.闻。纯正的燕窝是没有浓烈气味的；但是加料燕窝会散发出化学味道，以及发霉的味道。假燕窝更是会有鱼腥味或油腻味道。
3.泡。取一小块燕窝以水浸泡。纯正燕窝半小时就会泡开，碗内的水仍然清澈，燕窝丝条清晰，很柔滑，有弹性；但加料燕窝由于加了胶，纤维已经钙化，所以泡几个小时都没法彻底泡开，水发黄，而且纤维成一股一股的，摸起来有木感，硬而涩，仍然散发出浓浓的化学味和霉味。
4.炖。纯正的燕窝炖好后呈半透明状，丝条仍然清晰，闻起来有一股蛋清味，口感滑嫩；但加料燕窝炖后却成糊状，碗内仍然有细微的杂毛点，有霉味，口感较硬。
血燕变毒燕浸泡10多小时依旧严重超标
血燕变毒燕浸泡10多小时依旧严重超标
2011年08月16日06:05浙江在线-钱江晚报[微博] 字号：T|T
调查数据：国家强制性标准《食品安全国家标准 食品添加剂使用标准》（GB2760-2011）严格限制添加亚硝酸盐，仅允许生产腌熏肉等制品有微量残留，限量为30毫克/千克，最高熏制火腿残留量也不得超过70毫克/千克。比照限量标准，此次抽检的问题燕窝中最高亚硝酸盐含量已超过350倍之多。
浙江大学第一附属医院的专家告诉记者，如果长期服用这种亚硝酸盐过量的“人造血燕”，将很可能患上胃癌。这种影响长时间积累，对细胞基因的破坏导致癌变。一般来说，亚硝酸盐的中毒剂量为0.03克-1.5克。如果摄入3克以上，就将达到致死剂量。
7月26日，声称是马来西亚濒危物种进出口管理局等机构的相关人士在杭州举行燕窝新闻发布会，对血燕的亚硝酸盐超标问题做了所谓的“澄清”。主办方称血燕并没有造假，99%是真的，只要经过几个小时的浸泡和清洗，亚硝酸盐就会消失，可以放心食用。
对此，郑宇民予以反驳：“他们不是辟谣，是来造谣的。其官员的拿督身份涉嫌做假，而他们出具的血燕检验合格报告的35个项目中，没有一个涉及亚硝酸盐含量。”他表示，工商部门做了试验，亚硝酸盐含量达到1000毫克/千克的血燕在浸泡10多个小时后，亚硝酸盐含量还有300多毫克/千克。
郑宇民强调：“只要血燕是出口到中国上市销售，都要信守强制性的基础性的食品安全标准，有毒物质含量应该在中国国家标准以下。”
2011年08月16日06:05浙江在线-钱江晚报[微博] 字号：T|T
调查数据：国家强制性标准《食品安全国家标准 食品添加剂使用标准》（GB2760-2011）严格限制添加亚硝酸盐，仅允许生产腌熏肉等制品有微量残留，限量为30毫克/千克，最高熏制火腿残留量也不得超过70毫克/千克。比照限量标准，此次抽检的问题燕窝中最高亚硝酸盐含量已超过350倍之多。
浙江大学第一附属医院的专家告诉记者，如果长期服用这种亚硝酸盐过量的“人造血燕”，将很可能患上胃癌。这种影响长时间积累，对细胞基因的破坏导致癌变。一般来说，亚硝酸盐的中毒剂量为0.03克-1.5克。如果摄入3克以上，就将达到致死剂量。
7月26日，声称是马来西亚濒危物种进出口管理局等机构的相关人士在杭州举行燕窝新闻发布会，对血燕的亚硝酸盐超标问题做了所谓的“澄清”。主办方称血燕并没有造假，99%是真的，只要经过几个小时的浸泡和清洗，亚硝酸盐就会消失，可以放心食用。
对此，郑宇民予以反驳：“他们不是辟谣，是来造谣的。其官员的拿督身份涉嫌做假，而他们出具的血燕检验合格报告的35个项目中，没有一个涉及亚硝酸盐含量。”他表示，工商部门做了试验，亚硝酸盐含量达到1000毫克/千克的血燕在浸泡10多个小时后，亚硝酸盐含量还有300多毫克/千克。
郑宇民强调：“只要血燕是出口到中国上市销售，都要信守强制性的基础性的食品安全标准，有毒物质含量应该在中国国家标准以下。”
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Monday 15 August 2011
Excessive toxic chemical in edible birdnest
China
Excessive toxic chemical found in imported edible bird's nests in east China
English.news.cn 2011-08-15 21:21:00 FeedbackPrintRSS
HANGZHOU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The quality watchdog in east China's Zhejiang Province has found excessive amounts of chemical nitrite in cubilose, or edible bird's nests, once again raising concerns over food safety in China.
However, the poisonous food was not locally produced, but imported from Malaysia.
The Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce said at a press conference on Monday that the amount of nitrite in the blood-red cubilose was "gravely above the permitted standard" and poses threats to consumers' health.
Spot checks on blood-red cubilose, a rare type of edible bird's nests, from 491 dealers in Zhejiang have shown that nitrite levels average 4,400 mg per kg, far above the allowed cap of 70 mg per kg.
The blood-red cubilose sold on the local market is mostly imported from Malaysia, a major producer and exporter of edible bird's nests, according to the administration.
Edible bird's nests, mostly made of the secretion from the salivary glands of birds, is an expensive delicacy and have been used in Chinese cooking for hundreds of years, and are traditionally believed to provide various health benefits.
In Hong Kong restaurants, a bowl of bird's nest soup can cost from 30 to 100 U.S. dollars.
An agriculture vice minister of Malaysia, Chua Tee Yong, was earlier cited by a local Chinese newspaper, Sin Chew Daily, as saying all the so-called "blood-red cubilose" on the market is fake.
A video footage obtained by the administration shows that several dealers have admitted that almost all the blood-red cubilose on the market are ordinary bird's nests that have been dyed, resulting in excessive nitrite levels.
Though widely used in curing meat, nitrite can cause health problems such as cancer if ingested in amounts.
In response to the market rumors about the poisonous bird's nests, "government and industry officials" from Malaysia held a press conference in the capital city of Hangzhou on July 26, purporting that blood-red cubilose on the Chinese market was genuine and safe as the nitrite can be removed after hours of soaking.
Ironically, the government organizations and agencies these "officials" claimed to represent do not exist.
The provincial industry and commerce administration has already started a across-the-aboard inspection of cubilose products on the market.
Editor: Zhang Xiang
Related News
• China arrests 2,000 suspects, closes 4,900 businesses in food safety overhaul
• China offers rewards for information on food safety irregularities
• Fast food company extends China's list of food scandals
• China builds credit files for food companies, additive makers
Home >> China Feedback Print RSS
Back to Top
Home|China|World|Business|In Depth|Culture & Edu|Sports|Entertainment|Science|Health|Travel|Odd|Photos|Video|Special Reports
Gov.cn |About China|About Us|Services|Site Map|RSS|Weekly Review
Copyright © 2000-2011 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Sunday 31 July 2011
Nitrates and Nitrites in Drinking Water
What are the health effects of drinking water that contains nitrates and/or nitrites?
Can "blue baby syndrome" affect children and adults?
How else could you be exposed to nitrates and nitrites?
Where do nitrates and nitrites come from?
Possible sources of nitrates and nitrites
How can drinking water be tested for nitrates?
What is the maximum concentration for nitrates and nitrites in drinking water?
What are recommended steps to take if tests find higher than acceptable levels of nitrates?
How is drinking water treated to remove nitrates?
What are the health effects of drinking water that contains nitrates and nitrites?
There are two health concerns when drinking water with high levels of nitrates or nitrites. The first health concern is with infants being at risk for “blue baby syndrome”, also called methemoglobinemia:
Poisoning can occur when infants drink formula made with nitrate or nitrite- contaminated tap water.
The infant’s blood is less able to carry oxygen due to the poisoning.
Affected infants develop a blue-grey color and need emergency medical help immediately.
Infants under six months of age are more suseptible.
The second health concern with nitrates and nitrites is the formation of chemicals called nitrosamines in the digestive tract. Nitrosamines are being studied for long term links to cancer. No standards have been set for this yet.
Can "blue baby syndrome" affect children and adults?
There is no danger of blue baby syndrome for adults or older children or to breastfed infants. Research continues on the effects of nitrates and nitrites during pregnancy. The safest choice for pregnant women is to drink water that does not have high levels of nitrates or nitrites, so well water should be tested.
How else could you be exposed to nitrates and nitrites?
Exposure to nitrates usually comes from food that we eat. Many vegetables and cured meats contain nitrates and to a lesser extent nitrites.
Nitrates and nitrites in water are not a health concern when showering or bathing.
Where do nitrates and nitrites come from?
Nitrogen can take different forms in nature and is important for life in both plants and animals. The most common form of nitrogen found in well water is nitrate.
Wells with high levels of nitrates are more likely to be privately owned and/or shallow, and affected by human activity. If human or animal waste contaminates a well, nitrites will be detected first but will quickly convert to nitrates. Therefore, most well water tests are done for nitrates.
Possible sources of nitrates and nitrites:
Nitrogen based fertilizers.
Septic systems or leaking sewage lines.
Manure storage areas.
Fertilizer or manure applied to agricultural fields.
Compost piles.
Return to Top
How can drinking water be tested for nitrates?
The Vermont Department of Health offers a screening test "Kit C" for wells that includes nitrate. When you receive test results they will be compared with maximum levels.
Order a test kit by calling the Public Health Laboratory at 1-800-660-9997.
What is the maximum concentration for nitrates and nitrites in drinking water?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for nitrogen in public drinking water systems. Vermont has adopted these standards. The MCL for nitrates is 10 milligrams per liter (NO3 –N mg/l). The MCL for nitrites is one milligram per liter (NO2 –N mg/l).
What are recommended steps to take if tests find higher than acceptable levels of nitrates?
Well water with a nitrate level equal to or greater than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) should not be used for drinking or food preparation. When the level of nitrate exceeds five mg/l, try to identify the source of nitrate and make a plan to reduce or remove it if possible. Use an alternative known safe source of water or bottled water until nitrate levels can be reduced to an acceptable level.
Treatment of the water source may be needed if efforts to remove/reduce the source of the nitrates are not successful in lowering levels. Boiling water will not reduce nitrate levels.
Other alternatives include:
locating a new well and discontinue use of the contaminated one.
blend the water from the two wells to reduce the nitrates down to an acceptable level.
obtain all drinking and cooking water elsewhere and use the high nitrate water for other household purposes.
The location of a new well should be investigated thoroughly by a qualified professional, such as an engineer or hydrogeologist, because it is possible that nitrates have entered the groundwater aquifer under a wide area.
How is drinking water treated to remove nitrates?
Treatment methods such as anion exchange and reverse osmosis can remove nitrates from drinking water.
Anion exchange uses equipment and technology similar to a water softener. It treats all the water for the home. The nitrates are removed from the water as they are exchanged for (harmless) chlorides. The chlorides are supplied from a salt tank which must be re-filled on a schedule.
Reverse osmosis uses a membrane through which water (but not nitrates) can travel. The system is typically installed beneath the kitchen sink with a small tank holding the nitrate-free water. Water used for drinking and food preparation comes from this tank under the sink. If the well water is hard or contains too much iron, a softener or iron removal system must be installed before using the reverse osmosis system.
Consult a water treatment specialist. You can locate one by looking in the yellow pages. After installation of either treatment listed above, it is strongly recommended that proper maintenance and periodic testing of nitrates be planned to ensure that the system is working effectively.
Caution: Nitrate treatments are not effective against bacterial contamination. If nitrate levels are thought to be linked to manure or household wastewater, test the drinking water also for bacterial contamination.
Vermont Department of Health | 108 Cherry Street | Burlington, VT 05402
Voice: 802-863-7200 | In Vermont 800-464-4343 | Fax: 802-865-7754 | TTY/TDD: Dial 711 first
VDH District Offices | Contact Us | Accessibility Policy (pdf) | Privacy Policy
A Vermont Government Website
©2005 Vermont Department of Health. All rights reserved.
Related Information
Safe Water Resource Guide
What are the health effects of drinking water that contains nitrates and/or nitrites?
Can "blue baby syndrome" affect children and adults?
How else could you be exposed to nitrates and nitrites?
Where do nitrates and nitrites come from?
Possible sources of nitrates and nitrites
How can drinking water be tested for nitrates?
What is the maximum concentration for nitrates and nitrites in drinking water?
What are recommended steps to take if tests find higher than acceptable levels of nitrates?
How is drinking water treated to remove nitrates?
What are the health effects of drinking water that contains nitrates and nitrites?
There are two health concerns when drinking water with high levels of nitrates or nitrites. The first health concern is with infants being at risk for “blue baby syndrome”, also called methemoglobinemia:
Poisoning can occur when infants drink formula made with nitrate or nitrite- contaminated tap water.
The infant’s blood is less able to carry oxygen due to the poisoning.
Affected infants develop a blue-grey color and need emergency medical help immediately.
Infants under six months of age are more suseptible.
The second health concern with nitrates and nitrites is the formation of chemicals called nitrosamines in the digestive tract. Nitrosamines are being studied for long term links to cancer. No standards have been set for this yet.
Can "blue baby syndrome" affect children and adults?
There is no danger of blue baby syndrome for adults or older children or to breastfed infants. Research continues on the effects of nitrates and nitrites during pregnancy. The safest choice for pregnant women is to drink water that does not have high levels of nitrates or nitrites, so well water should be tested.
How else could you be exposed to nitrates and nitrites?
Exposure to nitrates usually comes from food that we eat. Many vegetables and cured meats contain nitrates and to a lesser extent nitrites.
Nitrates and nitrites in water are not a health concern when showering or bathing.
Where do nitrates and nitrites come from?
Nitrogen can take different forms in nature and is important for life in both plants and animals. The most common form of nitrogen found in well water is nitrate.
Wells with high levels of nitrates are more likely to be privately owned and/or shallow, and affected by human activity. If human or animal waste contaminates a well, nitrites will be detected first but will quickly convert to nitrates. Therefore, most well water tests are done for nitrates.
Possible sources of nitrates and nitrites:
Nitrogen based fertilizers.
Septic systems or leaking sewage lines.
Manure storage areas.
Fertilizer or manure applied to agricultural fields.
Compost piles.
Return to Top
How can drinking water be tested for nitrates?
The Vermont Department of Health offers a screening test "Kit C" for wells that includes nitrate. When you receive test results they will be compared with maximum levels.
Order a test kit by calling the Public Health Laboratory at 1-800-660-9997.
What is the maximum concentration for nitrates and nitrites in drinking water?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for nitrogen in public drinking water systems. Vermont has adopted these standards. The MCL for nitrates is 10 milligrams per liter (NO3 –N mg/l). The MCL for nitrites is one milligram per liter (NO2 –N mg/l).
What are recommended steps to take if tests find higher than acceptable levels of nitrates?
Well water with a nitrate level equal to or greater than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) should not be used for drinking or food preparation. When the level of nitrate exceeds five mg/l, try to identify the source of nitrate and make a plan to reduce or remove it if possible. Use an alternative known safe source of water or bottled water until nitrate levels can be reduced to an acceptable level.
Treatment of the water source may be needed if efforts to remove/reduce the source of the nitrates are not successful in lowering levels. Boiling water will not reduce nitrate levels.
Other alternatives include:
locating a new well and discontinue use of the contaminated one.
blend the water from the two wells to reduce the nitrates down to an acceptable level.
obtain all drinking and cooking water elsewhere and use the high nitrate water for other household purposes.
The location of a new well should be investigated thoroughly by a qualified professional, such as an engineer or hydrogeologist, because it is possible that nitrates have entered the groundwater aquifer under a wide area.
How is drinking water treated to remove nitrates?
Treatment methods such as anion exchange and reverse osmosis can remove nitrates from drinking water.
Anion exchange uses equipment and technology similar to a water softener. It treats all the water for the home. The nitrates are removed from the water as they are exchanged for (harmless) chlorides. The chlorides are supplied from a salt tank which must be re-filled on a schedule.
Reverse osmosis uses a membrane through which water (but not nitrates) can travel. The system is typically installed beneath the kitchen sink with a small tank holding the nitrate-free water. Water used for drinking and food preparation comes from this tank under the sink. If the well water is hard or contains too much iron, a softener or iron removal system must be installed before using the reverse osmosis system.
Consult a water treatment specialist. You can locate one by looking in the yellow pages. After installation of either treatment listed above, it is strongly recommended that proper maintenance and periodic testing of nitrates be planned to ensure that the system is working effectively.
Caution: Nitrate treatments are not effective against bacterial contamination. If nitrate levels are thought to be linked to manure or household wastewater, test the drinking water also for bacterial contamination.
Vermont Department of Health | 108 Cherry Street | Burlington, VT 05402
Voice: 802-863-7200 | In Vermont 800-464-4343 | Fax: 802-865-7754 | TTY/TDD: Dial 711 first
VDH District Offices | Contact Us | Accessibility Policy (pdf) | Privacy Policy
A Vermont Government Website
©2005 Vermont Department of Health. All rights reserved.
Related Information
Safe Water Resource Guide
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Scientific method of cleaning raw edible birdnest
To many,to learn how to process raw uncleaned birdnest is utmost important.
To ignore the science of cleaning will bring disaster...
How?
If edible bird nest(EBN) is to consider health food, any good evidence shown that the food is safe?
We normally based on judgement by looking at the appearance; if red or yellow color, then it must be expensive. If it looks big and white, then it considered good. Do you believe?
A few tips to consider for pureness of EBN.
1. Do they come from control environment? Cave nests were from the nature cave, may have contaminate by insects or bacterias . House nests were to consider control food source providing practicing good animal husbandry practice. Do have found results of house EBN with heavy metals and toxic chemical. Spraying of insecticide will result EBN contaminated with mercury,lead,arsenic,cadmium,ferrous,sodium nitrite and others. If raw EBN were from contaminated environment, then the processed cleaned birdnest may not cleaned at all.
2. Do consider get raw materials EBN from known source. A few occasions were detected house EBN contained heavy lead from wall painted with paint. Some nests were possible contaminated with sulphide from the rotten eggs. Worse to announce that some killer bacterias were detected from nest with dead chicks.
3. Another source of contamination is from ammonia gas emitted from birds' droppings. Ammonia gas not only will resulted sodium nitrite formed but it damaged human lungs too.
4. Is tap water considered safe? The answer is NO. Many molds and fungus formed were the cause of bacterias from water. Too long the soaking time too, will provide room for bacterias to emulate.
5. Cleaning room is very important to deter bacterias from cross contamination. A system; ISO 22000 is an assurance for good quality EBN .
To ignore the science of cleaning will bring disaster...
How?
If edible bird nest(EBN) is to consider health food, any good evidence shown that the food is safe?
We normally based on judgement by looking at the appearance; if red or yellow color, then it must be expensive. If it looks big and white, then it considered good. Do you believe?
A few tips to consider for pureness of EBN.
1. Do they come from control environment? Cave nests were from the nature cave, may have contaminate by insects or bacterias . House nests were to consider control food source providing practicing good animal husbandry practice. Do have found results of house EBN with heavy metals and toxic chemical. Spraying of insecticide will result EBN contaminated with mercury,lead,arsenic,cadmium,ferrous,sodium nitrite and others. If raw EBN were from contaminated environment, then the processed cleaned birdnest may not cleaned at all.
2. Do consider get raw materials EBN from known source. A few occasions were detected house EBN contained heavy lead from wall painted with paint. Some nests were possible contaminated with sulphide from the rotten eggs. Worse to announce that some killer bacterias were detected from nest with dead chicks.
3. Another source of contamination is from ammonia gas emitted from birds' droppings. Ammonia gas not only will resulted sodium nitrite formed but it damaged human lungs too.
4. Is tap water considered safe? The answer is NO. Many molds and fungus formed were the cause of bacterias from water. Too long the soaking time too, will provide room for bacterias to emulate.
5. Cleaning room is very important to deter bacterias from cross contamination. A system; ISO 22000 is an assurance for good quality EBN .
Saturday 22 January 2011
Friday 7 January 2011
DEATH BY SODIUM NITRITE
MY FORENSIC ARTICLES IN SCIENCE REPORTER
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE
JANUARY 1999 ISSUE
THE POISON SLEUTHS
DEATH BY SODIUM NITRITE
-Dr. Anil Aggrawal
"Good morning doctor. Oh, my God, what are you doing today? You have the dead body of a young woman today. Her whole body seems to have a chocolate brown color. I remember last time too, I had seen a dead body with chocolate brown color. Did this woman also die of the same poison? Please tell me."
"Good morning Tarun. The name of this young woman is Radhika, and she is about 25 years old. She died in her flat at about 9 am today morning. She was a junior executive in a private firm here in Delhi, and was living alone in this flat. Her family members are living in Jaipur. She was living here solely for the purpose of this job. Her parents were looking out for a match for her marriage."
"Oh, I see."
"Yesterday night she was fine. In fact, she met one of her neighbors Shyamala -also a 25 year old girl- at about 9pm, and she tells us that she was perfectly in good spirits. That rules out suicide...."
"Wait a minute doctor. If a person is in good spirits and cheerful a day before his or her death, does it rule out suicide? Is it not possible that she was trying to mislead the neighbors by being cheerful so that nobody gets to know her intentions?"
"There are other indications too. There is no suicide note. Generally a person who commits a suicide, leaves a suicide note."
"Oh, I see"
"Well, the police interrogated Shyamala more about her as she was the only one, who knew Radhika very well. She told the police that she (Radhika) was in love with Chaman, a 26 year old colleague in her office. Recently she had become pregnant by him, and she was pressing him for marriage. However Chaman had lost interest in her, and was trying to avoid her. Only 2 days back she had threatened him to go to his parents if he did not agree for the marriage. Chaman's parents are very religious and God-fearing, and he knew if she approached them, they would force him to marry her. To settle matters he came yesterday to Radhika's flat at about 7 pm. Shyamala knows because when he came, Radhika called her as a mediator. Shyamala tells the police that Chaman was looking very tense and jittery. She thought it was because he had such a difficult matter to resolve. Anyway she just sat there for about an hour. When she saw that the matter is going to take more time, she left the house making an excuse. When she left, Radhika was just preparing to go inside the kitchen to make tea for everyone. She offered Shyamala to go after having tea, but she just left. She however saw Chaman leaving Radhika's house only about 15-20 minutes later. She was sitting idly at her window when she saw him. He looked to be in great hurry."
"Oh, I see. So did you find anything in the post-mortem that corroborates what Shyamala is saying?"
"Yes, I found a 4 month old male baby inside Radhika's uterus, which definitely tells us that she was pregnant. I have kept the tissues of this fetus for his DNA profiling, which will tell us definitely if Chaman was his father or not. More about that later. What interested me was the color of her body. I told you last time (See SR December 1998 issue) that there are certain poisons which can cause methemoglobin to form inside the body. It is this compound which imparts such color to the body. Well one of such poisons is sodium nitrite. I got a hint that she might have died of sodium nitrite poisoning when I went to her flat and saw that she had unfinished breakfast on her table. She was in the habit of having a full meal in the morning itself. She had prepared Dal and Roti and must be eating it. And it was lying there unfinished. Nearby I could see some dried vomitus on the floor. Obviously when she was eating the food, she must have got sick and must have vomited. I saw a salt cellar on her table which was open. I got quite curious, when I glanced underneath the dining table and found lot of white salt like powder spilled over there. As a poison sleuth, I don't want to take chances and intuition told me there was something either in the salt cellar or in the powder spilled over the floor that we were looking for. So I quietly kept the salt cellar in my pocket and also some of the powder spilled over the floor underneath the dining table. I examined both these substances in my lab. And do you know what I found?"
"What? Please tell me doctor. I am getting curious."
"Tarun, I had the most extraordinary finding in the salt cellar. It had a substance looking like salt but it was not sodium chloride. It was sodium nitrite. And the salt like powder which was spilled underneath the table was nothing but sodium chloride. Do you get the picture now?"
"Well, not really. I don't understand how such a curious thing happened."
"To me it is clear like glass. Obviously someone replaced the salt in the cellar with sodium nitrite. And before doing this he spilled the salt underneath the table to empty the cellar so he could fill it with the poison he had brought with him. The only commonly available poison which looks and tastes like salt is sodium nitrite"
"Really? Doctor I am getting curious. Please tell me more about sodium nitrite."
"Tarun, as I told you earlier, sodium nitrite causes methaemoglobinaemia; even small doses of sodium nitrite can kill within a few minutes. Even the nitrates can be dangerous. Organic nitrates in fact are reduced to nitrites in the intestine. Inorganic nitrates, bismuth subnitrate excepted, are not normally reduced to nitrites in the body, but this may occur when the upper digestive tract (stomach and upper part of small intestines) is infected with nitrate-reducing bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli. Inorganic nitrates are irritants of the stomach and, in large doses, potassium nitrate is a diuretic. A diuretic is a chemical which increases the production of urine. Poisoning by nitrites is actually not very common. It can result from mistaking this salt for common salt or Epsom salts."
"Doctor, under what circumstances can sodium nitrite poisoning occur?"
"Tarun, poisoning can be homicidal, accidental or suicidal. With sodium nitrite, accidental poisoning is probably most common, although homicidal poisoning is also possible as we have seen in the case of Radhika. One of the earliest reports of sodium nitrite poisoning came from Middlesborough, UK in 1936. Two adults and their daughter aged five were suddenly taken ill after the midday meal. The adults died before a doctor could reach them and their daughter died shortly after her admission to hospital. It appears they had complained to neighbors of acute abdominal pain and vomiting. Their faces went blue. Investigation showed very similar results to what I found in Radhika's case. A basin of cooking salt and a salt cellar contained sodium nitrite; the upper layer in the latter was of 98% sodium nitrite and the lower layer 98.2% common salt. Unconsumed food contained sodium nitrite, e.g. cabbage 6.5% and Yorkshire pudding 4.5%. The gastric contents of the man contained 4.275 g and those of the woman contained 1.284g of sodium nitrite. Over a gram of the poison was present in the child's vomit. The vomit of the adults was not available for analysis, but presumably they had ingested considerably more than remained in their stomachs. The source of the poison was not determined, but the man had had access to sodium nitrite in the course of his employment. Nobody knows how the mix up happened. Probably someone filled up a half empty salt cellar either intentionally or mistakenly with sodium nitrite."
"Oh, that is most extraordinary and bears an eerie resemblance to the case we have on our hands."
"Yeah sure. Accidental deaths due to the ingestion of sodium nitrite used in error for common salt in the preparation of soup have also occurred. Several such accidental deaths have been reported. Death in these cases occurred within a few minutes following symptoms which included nausea, headache, vertigo, urgent vomiting, profuse diarrhoea and cyanosis (bluing of the skin). Stomach contents in most of these cases contained sodium nitrite ranging from 1.74 to 84.0 mg/kg of the gastric contents. There was a more consistent concentration in the organs, e.g. in the liver, where the concentration was between 3.0 and 4.35 mg/kg. A quarter of a litre of the soup in most of these cases contained l.5 g of sodium nitrite. I must tell you that the fatal dose of sodium nitrite is from 1 to 2 g. I have already explained you the concept of fatal dose (see "Poisoning by Thallium" SR, October 1997)."
"Yes doctor, I do remember you having mentioned it."
"In another case, eleven men were poisoned after eating oatmeal seasoned with sodium nitrite in mistake for common salt. The men added more salt from salt shakers later shown to contain sodium nitrite. Immediately after the meal they felt sick and vomited. There was dizziness and abdominal cramps. They went blue and five lost consciousness. Methaemoglobin was later demonstrated in their blood. One of these men, aged 82, died the next morning; his organs had a diffuse brown colour. The source of the poison was nitrite used to cure meat. Only eleven of 125 persons who ate of the oatmeal were affected and these eleven had used contaminated salt shakers of which one contained 0.137% of nitrite. It was estimated they had taken at least 163 mg. In yet another case, a boy aged two months suddenly went blue, 'almost black', after his 7.0 am feed. Sodium citrate had been prescribed for the relief of indigestion and two tablets had been added to the feed. When seen in hospital, about five hours later, the appearance of the child simulated those of congenital heart disease; he was neither distressed nor febrile. A diagnosis of toxic methaemoglobinaemia was made and the remaining tablets, fortunately available, were subjected to analysis. They proved to contain 65 mg of sodium nitrite each. The infant, therefore, had ingested 130mg, the maximum dose for an adult. There are a host of other such cases of which I am aware."
"Doctor please tell me a few interesting ones out of these."
"In one case, two children aged two and three months respectively took feeds to which from 35 to 40g of sodium nitrite had been added in error for sodium citrate. The elder infant died. Cyanosis and blackening of the mouth were outstanding features. In another case, a boy aged two years vomited while playing with his elder brother aged nine. After a second vomit he was given a glass of water to drink. Vomiting continued and he was taken to hospital. He was deeply cyanosed, collapsed and crying with spasms of pain. Poison was taken out from the stomach with the help of a tube and oxygen was administered, but the child died at about three hours after being poisoned. Sodium nitrite was detected by analysis of his stomach contents. There was methaemoglobin in the blood. It is probable that the boy had ingested and absorbed appreciably more of the poison. The source of the poison in this case was a bottle of sodium nitrite, now nearly empty, which the elder boy had brought for the purposes of a chemical experiment. The dead child had licked the bottle. I must tell you that sodium nitrite is highly soluble in water and its taste resembles that of common salt and that is what makes it such an attractive homicidal poison. Interestingly sodium nitrite is used in machine oil also as a corrosion inhibitor, and deaths have occurred when someone accidentally drank machine oil. There is a case of a girl on record who died in this way. She was eleven years old, and drank a mouthful of machine oil accidentally, some of which she immediately spat out...."
"Just a minute doctor. I think sodium nitrite is an oxidizing agent, and if I remember my chemistry alright, corrosion is an oxidative process. Then how can nitrite be used as a corrosion inhibitor?"
"Tarun, sometimes oxidizers are also reducing agents. Such is the case of nitrite, which can be further oxidized to nitrate. I must tell you that the tendency of nitrite to act as an oxidizer is increased in an acid environment such as that found in the stomach. At higher pH levels its oxidizing potential is greatly decreased. Corrosion can be inhibited by using a sacrificial reducing agent such as nitrite. Sodium nitrite is also commonly put into packaged foods like meat to keep oxidation from happening. So I was telling you about that little girl. Within an hour she was unconscious and deeply cyanosed. Fortunately she recovered after proper treatment. Analysis showed that the oil contained 36.5% sodium nitrite, 7.5% of an emulsifying agent and 56.0% water. Her stomach washings contained 7-8mg/ 100 ml of sodium nitrite."
"Oh, that is certainly most extraordinary!"
"Tarun, sodium nitrite poisoning has happened in other ways too. Poisoning by well water drawn from badly constructed wells near farmyards may contain an appreciable amount of nitrate which makes it unfit for drinking and a source of poisoning newborn infants. This illness is however rarely fatal. About 30 cases are on record and only one, it appears, was fatal. It is apparent that the risk is only to infants of under 90 days old, who live in rural communities..."
"Doctor, can boiling the water make such water safe? I have heard that boiling the water makes it cleaner."
"Yes boiling the water does make it free of infective micro-organisms, because they get killed by boiling, but when the water is contaminated with a chemical substance, it gives no protection whatsoever. On the contrary, it concentrates the nitrates, which can get concentrated upto 3 times on boiling the water! Older children are unaffected, probably because they can tolerate the amount of nitrate likely to be present in their normal fluid intake. It does appear that poisoning in these circumstances is not dependent only upon the amount of nitrate ingested· It has been suggested that poisoning by nitrate will only occur in those whose gastric juice exceeds pH 4.0 and when nitrate-reducing bacteria are present in the upper digestive tract."
"Doctor, this is a most extraordinary fact that you have told me. Can you tell me what is the concentration of nitrites in such contaminated water coming from wells?"
"The contaminated water, usually drawn from shallow wells, of not over 75 feet deep, usually contains over 20 ppm (parts per million) of NaN03. Methaemoglobinaemia (the existence of too much methemoglobin in the blood) does not normally occur unless the water contains 30 ppm. The upper limit of nitrate should not exceed 10 ppm because as I told you earlier, if boiled the water could be concentrated threefold and thus to a dangerous concentration. Even cows which feed on beet tops rich in nitrates develop methaemoglobinaemia. This is known as the condition of 'purple' cows and is well recognized. Purple is the color the cows get when there is lot of methemoglobin in their blood."
"Oh, this is most extraordinary."
"There are more interesting facts Tarun. Nitrite poisoning from spinach has also occurred. During 1959-65 in Germany there were 15 cases of nitrite poisoning in infants, aged two to ten months, who had eaten spinach. Nitrite and the remains of spinach were found in the stomach contents of one of the infants. Two factors were responsible. First, the excessive use of nitrate fertilizer, which should not, but often did, exceed 80 kg/hectare. Second, bacterial activity converted the nitrate in spinach into nitrite. Samples of spinach, fresh, frozen and tinned, showed a nitrate contamination of from 40 to 2100 mg/kg. The risk arose when the feed was prepared in advance and stored overlong at room temperature. Even after cooking, a sufficient number of bacteria remained to produce nitrite. The maximum nitrate content of spinach should not exceed 200mg/kg. It has even been recommended that during the first three months infants should not be given spinach."
"Doctor, such an interesting poison must have caught the fancy of suicides also. Have there been cases of suicidal poisoning too with sodium nitrite?"
"Yes, sure. Suicidal poisoning with sodium nitrite has also occurred. A medical practitioner, aged 51, committed suicide in 1942 by ingesting sodium nitrite. He had been mentally ill for some time. On the night of his death he awoke his son, a medical student, and told him that his mother had suddenly been taken ill during the night. A doctor was summoned and while he was attending to the woman a bump was heard in the passage. The deceased was then found lying on the floor; he died within five minutes of his fall. Poisoning was suspected, but a search revealed only a glass of brandy and another which appeared to contain water. Toxicological analysis demonstrated 2g of sodium nitrite in the gastric contents. The blood was 'dark'. Unfortunately no analysis was made of the brandy or water, otherwise I am sure they would have found nitrite in the brandy. The deceased had given his wife some of the brandy during the night and this may have been the vehicle of poison responsible both for her illness and his death. I feel he first gave brandy laced with nitrite to his wife and then consumed the poison himself, but of course it is only a guess. But sure enough, it is possible to kill someone by lacing his or her drink with as little as 2 grams of sodium nitrite. It was believed that the poison was taken within an hour prior to his death. It was suggested by the relatives that he had died of a heart attack, but the doctor said that he had died of nitrite poisoning."
"Oh, doctor. We could go on and on with such interesting stories. Tell me how you can prove Radhika died of nitrite poisoning?"
"Tarun, I told you I examined both the contents of the salt cellar as well as the powder spilled over the floor. Now I will tell you what happened. Chaman came to Radhika's house not for reconciliation, but for killing her. He was sure, killing her was his only way out. He got sodium nitrite from a chemistry lab. We have still to find out, how he got hold of it, and who gave it to him. He came fully armed with this poison in a packet. When Shyamala left and Radhika went inside the kitchen to make a cup of tea, he quickly picked up the salt cellar, spilled the salt in it on the floor underneath the table and refilled it with the powder that he had brought. He knew that sometime she would consume the contents of the salt cellar thinking it was salt and she would die. It was no doubt a very clever plan, but thankfully we could catch it. The color of Radhika's body at once told me we were looking for a poison which produces methemoglobinemia, and that was Chaman's undoing. I have found an appreciable quantity of Sodium nitrite from Radhika's stomach contents, and to top it all, the police has found some left over sodium nitrite from Chaman's house too. Initially he denied having any hand in Radhika's death, but when he was told of all the medical and circumstantial evidence against him, he broke down and admitted his guilt."
"Very clever doctor. This was a most interesting discussion doctor. Without your masterly deduction, Chaman could never have been caught. People might have thought, it was an accidental death. Tell me what are you going to tell me the next time?"
"Tarun, next time, I would tell you about a very interesting poison. You may not have even thought that it was a poison. I will tell you about death by Potassium Permanganate. " "
***
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE
JANUARY 1999 ISSUE
THE POISON SLEUTHS
DEATH BY SODIUM NITRITE
-Dr. Anil Aggrawal
"Good morning doctor. Oh, my God, what are you doing today? You have the dead body of a young woman today. Her whole body seems to have a chocolate brown color. I remember last time too, I had seen a dead body with chocolate brown color. Did this woman also die of the same poison? Please tell me."
"Good morning Tarun. The name of this young woman is Radhika, and she is about 25 years old. She died in her flat at about 9 am today morning. She was a junior executive in a private firm here in Delhi, and was living alone in this flat. Her family members are living in Jaipur. She was living here solely for the purpose of this job. Her parents were looking out for a match for her marriage."
"Oh, I see."
"Yesterday night she was fine. In fact, she met one of her neighbors Shyamala -also a 25 year old girl- at about 9pm, and she tells us that she was perfectly in good spirits. That rules out suicide...."
"Wait a minute doctor. If a person is in good spirits and cheerful a day before his or her death, does it rule out suicide? Is it not possible that she was trying to mislead the neighbors by being cheerful so that nobody gets to know her intentions?"
"There are other indications too. There is no suicide note. Generally a person who commits a suicide, leaves a suicide note."
"Oh, I see"
"Well, the police interrogated Shyamala more about her as she was the only one, who knew Radhika very well. She told the police that she (Radhika) was in love with Chaman, a 26 year old colleague in her office. Recently she had become pregnant by him, and she was pressing him for marriage. However Chaman had lost interest in her, and was trying to avoid her. Only 2 days back she had threatened him to go to his parents if he did not agree for the marriage. Chaman's parents are very religious and God-fearing, and he knew if she approached them, they would force him to marry her. To settle matters he came yesterday to Radhika's flat at about 7 pm. Shyamala knows because when he came, Radhika called her as a mediator. Shyamala tells the police that Chaman was looking very tense and jittery. She thought it was because he had such a difficult matter to resolve. Anyway she just sat there for about an hour. When she saw that the matter is going to take more time, she left the house making an excuse. When she left, Radhika was just preparing to go inside the kitchen to make tea for everyone. She offered Shyamala to go after having tea, but she just left. She however saw Chaman leaving Radhika's house only about 15-20 minutes later. She was sitting idly at her window when she saw him. He looked to be in great hurry."
"Oh, I see. So did you find anything in the post-mortem that corroborates what Shyamala is saying?"
"Yes, I found a 4 month old male baby inside Radhika's uterus, which definitely tells us that she was pregnant. I have kept the tissues of this fetus for his DNA profiling, which will tell us definitely if Chaman was his father or not. More about that later. What interested me was the color of her body. I told you last time (See SR December 1998 issue) that there are certain poisons which can cause methemoglobin to form inside the body. It is this compound which imparts such color to the body. Well one of such poisons is sodium nitrite. I got a hint that she might have died of sodium nitrite poisoning when I went to her flat and saw that she had unfinished breakfast on her table. She was in the habit of having a full meal in the morning itself. She had prepared Dal and Roti and must be eating it. And it was lying there unfinished. Nearby I could see some dried vomitus on the floor. Obviously when she was eating the food, she must have got sick and must have vomited. I saw a salt cellar on her table which was open. I got quite curious, when I glanced underneath the dining table and found lot of white salt like powder spilled over there. As a poison sleuth, I don't want to take chances and intuition told me there was something either in the salt cellar or in the powder spilled over the floor that we were looking for. So I quietly kept the salt cellar in my pocket and also some of the powder spilled over the floor underneath the dining table. I examined both these substances in my lab. And do you know what I found?"
"What? Please tell me doctor. I am getting curious."
"Tarun, I had the most extraordinary finding in the salt cellar. It had a substance looking like salt but it was not sodium chloride. It was sodium nitrite. And the salt like powder which was spilled underneath the table was nothing but sodium chloride. Do you get the picture now?"
"Well, not really. I don't understand how such a curious thing happened."
"To me it is clear like glass. Obviously someone replaced the salt in the cellar with sodium nitrite. And before doing this he spilled the salt underneath the table to empty the cellar so he could fill it with the poison he had brought with him. The only commonly available poison which looks and tastes like salt is sodium nitrite"
"Really? Doctor I am getting curious. Please tell me more about sodium nitrite."
"Tarun, as I told you earlier, sodium nitrite causes methaemoglobinaemia; even small doses of sodium nitrite can kill within a few minutes. Even the nitrates can be dangerous. Organic nitrates in fact are reduced to nitrites in the intestine. Inorganic nitrates, bismuth subnitrate excepted, are not normally reduced to nitrites in the body, but this may occur when the upper digestive tract (stomach and upper part of small intestines) is infected with nitrate-reducing bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli. Inorganic nitrates are irritants of the stomach and, in large doses, potassium nitrate is a diuretic. A diuretic is a chemical which increases the production of urine. Poisoning by nitrites is actually not very common. It can result from mistaking this salt for common salt or Epsom salts."
"Doctor, under what circumstances can sodium nitrite poisoning occur?"
"Tarun, poisoning can be homicidal, accidental or suicidal. With sodium nitrite, accidental poisoning is probably most common, although homicidal poisoning is also possible as we have seen in the case of Radhika. One of the earliest reports of sodium nitrite poisoning came from Middlesborough, UK in 1936. Two adults and their daughter aged five were suddenly taken ill after the midday meal. The adults died before a doctor could reach them and their daughter died shortly after her admission to hospital. It appears they had complained to neighbors of acute abdominal pain and vomiting. Their faces went blue. Investigation showed very similar results to what I found in Radhika's case. A basin of cooking salt and a salt cellar contained sodium nitrite; the upper layer in the latter was of 98% sodium nitrite and the lower layer 98.2% common salt. Unconsumed food contained sodium nitrite, e.g. cabbage 6.5% and Yorkshire pudding 4.5%. The gastric contents of the man contained 4.275 g and those of the woman contained 1.284g of sodium nitrite. Over a gram of the poison was present in the child's vomit. The vomit of the adults was not available for analysis, but presumably they had ingested considerably more than remained in their stomachs. The source of the poison was not determined, but the man had had access to sodium nitrite in the course of his employment. Nobody knows how the mix up happened. Probably someone filled up a half empty salt cellar either intentionally or mistakenly with sodium nitrite."
"Oh, that is most extraordinary and bears an eerie resemblance to the case we have on our hands."
"Yeah sure. Accidental deaths due to the ingestion of sodium nitrite used in error for common salt in the preparation of soup have also occurred. Several such accidental deaths have been reported. Death in these cases occurred within a few minutes following symptoms which included nausea, headache, vertigo, urgent vomiting, profuse diarrhoea and cyanosis (bluing of the skin). Stomach contents in most of these cases contained sodium nitrite ranging from 1.74 to 84.0 mg/kg of the gastric contents. There was a more consistent concentration in the organs, e.g. in the liver, where the concentration was between 3.0 and 4.35 mg/kg. A quarter of a litre of the soup in most of these cases contained l.5 g of sodium nitrite. I must tell you that the fatal dose of sodium nitrite is from 1 to 2 g. I have already explained you the concept of fatal dose (see "Poisoning by Thallium" SR, October 1997)."
"Yes doctor, I do remember you having mentioned it."
"In another case, eleven men were poisoned after eating oatmeal seasoned with sodium nitrite in mistake for common salt. The men added more salt from salt shakers later shown to contain sodium nitrite. Immediately after the meal they felt sick and vomited. There was dizziness and abdominal cramps. They went blue and five lost consciousness. Methaemoglobin was later demonstrated in their blood. One of these men, aged 82, died the next morning; his organs had a diffuse brown colour. The source of the poison was nitrite used to cure meat. Only eleven of 125 persons who ate of the oatmeal were affected and these eleven had used contaminated salt shakers of which one contained 0.137% of nitrite. It was estimated they had taken at least 163 mg. In yet another case, a boy aged two months suddenly went blue, 'almost black', after his 7.0 am feed. Sodium citrate had been prescribed for the relief of indigestion and two tablets had been added to the feed. When seen in hospital, about five hours later, the appearance of the child simulated those of congenital heart disease; he was neither distressed nor febrile. A diagnosis of toxic methaemoglobinaemia was made and the remaining tablets, fortunately available, were subjected to analysis. They proved to contain 65 mg of sodium nitrite each. The infant, therefore, had ingested 130mg, the maximum dose for an adult. There are a host of other such cases of which I am aware."
"Doctor please tell me a few interesting ones out of these."
"In one case, two children aged two and three months respectively took feeds to which from 35 to 40g of sodium nitrite had been added in error for sodium citrate. The elder infant died. Cyanosis and blackening of the mouth were outstanding features. In another case, a boy aged two years vomited while playing with his elder brother aged nine. After a second vomit he was given a glass of water to drink. Vomiting continued and he was taken to hospital. He was deeply cyanosed, collapsed and crying with spasms of pain. Poison was taken out from the stomach with the help of a tube and oxygen was administered, but the child died at about three hours after being poisoned. Sodium nitrite was detected by analysis of his stomach contents. There was methaemoglobin in the blood. It is probable that the boy had ingested and absorbed appreciably more of the poison. The source of the poison in this case was a bottle of sodium nitrite, now nearly empty, which the elder boy had brought for the purposes of a chemical experiment. The dead child had licked the bottle. I must tell you that sodium nitrite is highly soluble in water and its taste resembles that of common salt and that is what makes it such an attractive homicidal poison. Interestingly sodium nitrite is used in machine oil also as a corrosion inhibitor, and deaths have occurred when someone accidentally drank machine oil. There is a case of a girl on record who died in this way. She was eleven years old, and drank a mouthful of machine oil accidentally, some of which she immediately spat out...."
"Just a minute doctor. I think sodium nitrite is an oxidizing agent, and if I remember my chemistry alright, corrosion is an oxidative process. Then how can nitrite be used as a corrosion inhibitor?"
"Tarun, sometimes oxidizers are also reducing agents. Such is the case of nitrite, which can be further oxidized to nitrate. I must tell you that the tendency of nitrite to act as an oxidizer is increased in an acid environment such as that found in the stomach. At higher pH levels its oxidizing potential is greatly decreased. Corrosion can be inhibited by using a sacrificial reducing agent such as nitrite. Sodium nitrite is also commonly put into packaged foods like meat to keep oxidation from happening. So I was telling you about that little girl. Within an hour she was unconscious and deeply cyanosed. Fortunately she recovered after proper treatment. Analysis showed that the oil contained 36.5% sodium nitrite, 7.5% of an emulsifying agent and 56.0% water. Her stomach washings contained 7-8mg/ 100 ml of sodium nitrite."
"Oh, that is certainly most extraordinary!"
"Tarun, sodium nitrite poisoning has happened in other ways too. Poisoning by well water drawn from badly constructed wells near farmyards may contain an appreciable amount of nitrate which makes it unfit for drinking and a source of poisoning newborn infants. This illness is however rarely fatal. About 30 cases are on record and only one, it appears, was fatal. It is apparent that the risk is only to infants of under 90 days old, who live in rural communities..."
"Doctor, can boiling the water make such water safe? I have heard that boiling the water makes it cleaner."
"Yes boiling the water does make it free of infective micro-organisms, because they get killed by boiling, but when the water is contaminated with a chemical substance, it gives no protection whatsoever. On the contrary, it concentrates the nitrates, which can get concentrated upto 3 times on boiling the water! Older children are unaffected, probably because they can tolerate the amount of nitrate likely to be present in their normal fluid intake. It does appear that poisoning in these circumstances is not dependent only upon the amount of nitrate ingested· It has been suggested that poisoning by nitrate will only occur in those whose gastric juice exceeds pH 4.0 and when nitrate-reducing bacteria are present in the upper digestive tract."
"Doctor, this is a most extraordinary fact that you have told me. Can you tell me what is the concentration of nitrites in such contaminated water coming from wells?"
"The contaminated water, usually drawn from shallow wells, of not over 75 feet deep, usually contains over 20 ppm (parts per million) of NaN03. Methaemoglobinaemia (the existence of too much methemoglobin in the blood) does not normally occur unless the water contains 30 ppm. The upper limit of nitrate should not exceed 10 ppm because as I told you earlier, if boiled the water could be concentrated threefold and thus to a dangerous concentration. Even cows which feed on beet tops rich in nitrates develop methaemoglobinaemia. This is known as the condition of 'purple' cows and is well recognized. Purple is the color the cows get when there is lot of methemoglobin in their blood."
"Oh, this is most extraordinary."
"There are more interesting facts Tarun. Nitrite poisoning from spinach has also occurred. During 1959-65 in Germany there were 15 cases of nitrite poisoning in infants, aged two to ten months, who had eaten spinach. Nitrite and the remains of spinach were found in the stomach contents of one of the infants. Two factors were responsible. First, the excessive use of nitrate fertilizer, which should not, but often did, exceed 80 kg/hectare. Second, bacterial activity converted the nitrate in spinach into nitrite. Samples of spinach, fresh, frozen and tinned, showed a nitrate contamination of from 40 to 2100 mg/kg. The risk arose when the feed was prepared in advance and stored overlong at room temperature. Even after cooking, a sufficient number of bacteria remained to produce nitrite. The maximum nitrate content of spinach should not exceed 200mg/kg. It has even been recommended that during the first three months infants should not be given spinach."
"Doctor, such an interesting poison must have caught the fancy of suicides also. Have there been cases of suicidal poisoning too with sodium nitrite?"
"Yes, sure. Suicidal poisoning with sodium nitrite has also occurred. A medical practitioner, aged 51, committed suicide in 1942 by ingesting sodium nitrite. He had been mentally ill for some time. On the night of his death he awoke his son, a medical student, and told him that his mother had suddenly been taken ill during the night. A doctor was summoned and while he was attending to the woman a bump was heard in the passage. The deceased was then found lying on the floor; he died within five minutes of his fall. Poisoning was suspected, but a search revealed only a glass of brandy and another which appeared to contain water. Toxicological analysis demonstrated 2g of sodium nitrite in the gastric contents. The blood was 'dark'. Unfortunately no analysis was made of the brandy or water, otherwise I am sure they would have found nitrite in the brandy. The deceased had given his wife some of the brandy during the night and this may have been the vehicle of poison responsible both for her illness and his death. I feel he first gave brandy laced with nitrite to his wife and then consumed the poison himself, but of course it is only a guess. But sure enough, it is possible to kill someone by lacing his or her drink with as little as 2 grams of sodium nitrite. It was believed that the poison was taken within an hour prior to his death. It was suggested by the relatives that he had died of a heart attack, but the doctor said that he had died of nitrite poisoning."
"Oh, doctor. We could go on and on with such interesting stories. Tell me how you can prove Radhika died of nitrite poisoning?"
"Tarun, I told you I examined both the contents of the salt cellar as well as the powder spilled over the floor. Now I will tell you what happened. Chaman came to Radhika's house not for reconciliation, but for killing her. He was sure, killing her was his only way out. He got sodium nitrite from a chemistry lab. We have still to find out, how he got hold of it, and who gave it to him. He came fully armed with this poison in a packet. When Shyamala left and Radhika went inside the kitchen to make a cup of tea, he quickly picked up the salt cellar, spilled the salt in it on the floor underneath the table and refilled it with the powder that he had brought. He knew that sometime she would consume the contents of the salt cellar thinking it was salt and she would die. It was no doubt a very clever plan, but thankfully we could catch it. The color of Radhika's body at once told me we were looking for a poison which produces methemoglobinemia, and that was Chaman's undoing. I have found an appreciable quantity of Sodium nitrite from Radhika's stomach contents, and to top it all, the police has found some left over sodium nitrite from Chaman's house too. Initially he denied having any hand in Radhika's death, but when he was told of all the medical and circumstantial evidence against him, he broke down and admitted his guilt."
"Very clever doctor. This was a most interesting discussion doctor. Without your masterly deduction, Chaman could never have been caught. People might have thought, it was an accidental death. Tell me what are you going to tell me the next time?"
"Tarun, next time, I would tell you about a very interesting poison. You may not have even thought that it was a poison. I will tell you about death by Potassium Permanganate. " "
***
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
