Nat Ketone
@natkeytone.bsky.social
Chemist and toxicologist. SPI with the Cardiff centre of the UK National Poisons Information Service/Toxbase. 🧪🍄💊🐍
Cyanide doesn’t actually smell of almonds. It’s supposed to smell of bitter almonds, which have been conflated with smelling like almonds. However, it’s probably more accurate to say that bitter almonds smell like cyanide.
youtu.be/WYagO-nup6c
youtu.be/WYagO-nup6c
Does cyanide actually smell like almonds?
YouTube video by NileRed
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Cyanide doesn’t actually smell of almonds. It’s supposed to smell of bitter almonds, which have been conflated with smelling like almonds. However, it’s probably more accurate to say that bitter almonds smell like cyanide.
youtu.be/WYagO-nup6c
youtu.be/WYagO-nup6c
One of the issues with drinks spiked with methanol is that there are no early identifiable symptoms of poisoning. You go to bed drunk and you wake up blind…
Spiked drinks containing methanol kill hundreds every year and can leave survivors blind. We look at the chemistry behind these poisonings and the recommendations on how to protect yourself.
Methanol poisoning: the chemistry behind how a toxic alcohol gets into drinks
Methanol in alcoholic drinks kills thousands every year. How does this toxic compound enter drinks, why is it dangerous and what can you do to stay safe?
www.chemistryworld.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM
One of the issues with drinks spiked with methanol is that there are no early identifiable symptoms of poisoning. You go to bed drunk and you wake up blind…
This Hallowe’en, I’m going as a paper whose authors did not read their sources
October 31, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This Hallowe’en, I’m going as a paper whose authors did not read their sources
Reposted by Nat Ketone
During International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week we’re highlighting sources of lead, such as pipes, soil, imported foods & traditional remedies #ILPPW2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-poisoning-advice-for-the-public-and-healthcare-professionals/lead-information-for-the-public
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-poisoning-advice-for-the-public-and-healthcare-professionals/lead-information-for-the-public
October 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
During International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week we’re highlighting sources of lead, such as pipes, soil, imported foods & traditional remedies #ILPPW2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-poisoning-advice-for-the-public-and-healthcare-professionals/lead-information-for-the-public
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lead-poisoning-advice-for-the-public-and-healthcare-professionals/lead-information-for-the-public
Eugenol looks similar to paracetamol, so it makes sense that it would have analgesic effects. It also causes a very similar liver toxicity when taken in excess.
Glycyrrhyzin inhibits metabolism of cortisol, which can lead to a Cushing-like Syndrome - notably, potassium can get dangerously low
Glycyrrhyzin inhibits metabolism of cortisol, which can lead to a Cushing-like Syndrome - notably, potassium can get dangerously low
October 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Eugenol looks similar to paracetamol, so it makes sense that it would have analgesic effects. It also causes a very similar liver toxicity when taken in excess.
Glycyrrhyzin inhibits metabolism of cortisol, which can lead to a Cushing-like Syndrome - notably, potassium can get dangerously low
Glycyrrhyzin inhibits metabolism of cortisol, which can lead to a Cushing-like Syndrome - notably, potassium can get dangerously low
I’m at the #AWTTC / #YellowCardWales Best Practice Day. Come and say hello if you’re here too!
@mhragovuk.bsky.social @toxbase.bsky.social @cavuhb.bsky.social
@mhragovuk.bsky.social @toxbase.bsky.social @cavuhb.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I’m at the #AWTTC / #YellowCardWales Best Practice Day. Come and say hello if you’re here too!
@mhragovuk.bsky.social @toxbase.bsky.social @cavuhb.bsky.social
@mhragovuk.bsky.social @toxbase.bsky.social @cavuhb.bsky.social
It’s only slightly tongue-in-cheek when I say my job is doing maths for people. When I’m not talking to the ICU consultant about a patient who is melting from the inside out, I’m doing sums for the triage clinicians at 111
I really cannot understand why so many people in health care say that knowing math is useless to us. This could not be further from truth, especially for intensivists working in the trenches.
Let’s take an example: Assume that you are an intensivist that reported for duty
Let’s take an example: Assume that you are an intensivist that reported for duty
June 20, 2025 at 6:34 PM
It’s only slightly tongue-in-cheek when I say my job is doing maths for people. When I’m not talking to the ICU consultant about a patient who is melting from the inside out, I’m doing sums for the triage clinicians at 111
I ask about GLP-1RA exposure when considering whether to give late charcoal, but I’m going to try to start asking about them for all patients where it might matter
link.springer.com/article/10.1... New commentary in JMT. Deserves the attention of researchers, clinicians, & policymakers @acmt.bsky.social
The Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Pharmacokinetics and Toxicokinetics: Is a New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Framework Needed? - Journal of Medical Toxicology
Journal of Medical Toxicology -
link.springer.com
April 16, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I ask about GLP-1RA exposure when considering whether to give late charcoal, but I’m going to try to start asking about them for all patients where it might matter
Reposted by Nat Ketone
Today is the #DayOfTheMushroom 🍄
Here are graphics on why common inkcaps and alcohol don't mix, and colourful and poisonous compounds found in fly agaric.
Inkcaps: www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/i...
Fly agaric: www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/f...
#ChemSky #FungiFriends 🧪
Here are graphics on why common inkcaps and alcohol don't mix, and colourful and poisonous compounds found in fly agaric.
Inkcaps: www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/i...
Fly agaric: www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/f...
#ChemSky #FungiFriends 🧪
April 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Today is the #DayOfTheMushroom 🍄
Here are graphics on why common inkcaps and alcohol don't mix, and colourful and poisonous compounds found in fly agaric.
Inkcaps: www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/i...
Fly agaric: www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/f...
#ChemSky #FungiFriends 🧪
Here are graphics on why common inkcaps and alcohol don't mix, and colourful and poisonous compounds found in fly agaric.
Inkcaps: www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/i...
Fly agaric: www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/f...
#ChemSky #FungiFriends 🧪
Reposted by Nat Ketone
And lead is an even bigger problem when combined with iron deficiency, which is COMMON (tinyurl.com/JAMAFe)
Iron deficiency increases lead absorption
Lead decreases iron absorption and iron utilization.
And the same kids are often at risk for both.
A vicious cycle.
Iron deficiency increases lead absorption
Lead decreases iron absorption and iron utilization.
And the same kids are often at risk for both.
A vicious cycle.
April 12, 2025 at 1:11 AM
And lead is an even bigger problem when combined with iron deficiency, which is COMMON (tinyurl.com/JAMAFe)
Iron deficiency increases lead absorption
Lead decreases iron absorption and iron utilization.
And the same kids are often at risk for both.
A vicious cycle.
Iron deficiency increases lead absorption
Lead decreases iron absorption and iron utilization.
And the same kids are often at risk for both.
A vicious cycle.
Some weird confluence of legislation and product design has revealed glycerol’s toxicity. There are cases from outside the UK/IE region. Please call your local poison centre if you suspect it in your patient - we could really do with collecting additional cases
Bright, multi-coloured, fruit-flavoured slushie ice drinks sold in cinemas, parks and soft-play settings have been involved in reports of children taking ill after consuming sugar-free versions of them, which contain glycerol.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/why-are...
www.chemistryworld.com/news/why-are...
Why are public health experts calling for new warnings on sugar-free slushies?
Reports of children falling ill have led to calls for public health advice to be updated
www.chemistryworld.com
March 14, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Some weird confluence of legislation and product design has revealed glycerol’s toxicity. There are cases from outside the UK/IE region. Please call your local poison centre if you suspect it in your patient - we could really do with collecting additional cases