Diagnosis and Treatment of Polonium Poisoning
June 2009
in “
Clinical Toxicology
”
TLDR Polonium poisoning is diagnosed by detecting it in urine and feces, and treated with supportive care, infection prevention, and chelation therapy.
The article reviewed the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) from ingesting (210)polonium ((210)Po), a high-energy alpha-emitter. (210)Po is hazardous only if ingested, concentrating in various organs and excreted through urine, bile, sweat, and possibly breath. The fatal oral dose is likely 10-30 micrograms. ARS symptoms include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, lymphopenia, and diarrhea, followed by hair loss and bone marrow failure. Diagnosis involves detecting (210)Po in urine and feces and ruling out other causes. Treatment focuses on supportive care, infection prevention, and chelation therapy, with dimercaprol recommended. Early intervention with gastric aspiration or lavage may be beneficial.
