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'''Thallium poisoning''' is [[poisoning]] that is due to [[thallium]] and its compounds, which are often highly toxic.<ref name=EMedicine821465>{{EMedicine|article|821465|Thallium Toxicity}}</ref> Contact with skin is dangerous and adequate ventilation should be provided when melting this metal.<ref name="WebEl">{{cite web |url=http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Tl/biol.html |title=Biology of Thallium |website=Web Elements |access-date=2008-11-11}}</ref> Many thallium compounds are highly [[solubility|soluble]] in water and are readily absorbed through the skin.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Kemnic|first1=Tyler R.|title=Thallium Toxicity|date=2022|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513240/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=30020612|access-date=2022-01-28|last2=Coleman|first2=Meghan}}</ref> Exposure to them should not exceed 0.1 [[milligram|mg]] per m<sup>2</sup> of skin in an 8 hour time-weighted average (40- hour working week).
Part of the reason for thallium's high [[toxicity]] is that when present in aqueous solution as the univalent thallium(I) ion (Tl<sup>+</sup>) it exhibits some similarities with essential [[alkali metal]] cations, particularly [[potassium]] (owing to similar [[Ionic radius|ionic radii]]). It can thus enter the body via potassium uptake pathways.<ref>{{cite web |author=Zheng, Wei |title=A homogenous thallium flux assay for high throughput screen of potassium channels |website=Aurora Biomed |url-status=dead |url=http://www.aurorabiomed.com/download/presentations/pres09/Wei_Zheng.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021160520/http://www.aurorabiomed.com/download/presentations/pres09/Wei_Zheng.pdf |archive-date=2014-10-21}}</ref> Other aspects of thallium's chemistry differ strongly from that of the alkali metals, such as its high [[Chemical affinity|affinity]] for [[sulfur]] ligands. Thus this substitution disrupts many cellular processes by interfering with the function of proteins that incorporate [[cysteine]], an amino acid containing sulfur.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mandzyuk, Bogdan |title=Eliminating thallium poisoning |url=http://sites.google.com/site/vogteh/assignments/eliminatingthalliumpoisoning-bogdanmandzyuk |access-date=25 December 2011 |archive-date=23 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023173943/https://sites.google.com/site/vogteh/assignments/eliminatingthalliumpoisoning-bogdanmandzyuk |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thallium was originally used as rat poison, but was discontinued due to the exposure risk.
Among the distinctive effects of thallium poisoning are [[Peripheral neuropathy|peripheral nerve damage]] (victims may experience a sensation of “walking on hot coals”) and [[alopecia|hair loss]] (which led to its initial use as a [[depilatory]] before its toxicity was properly appreciated). However hair-loss generally occurs only with low doses; with high doses the thallium kills before hair loss can occur.<ref>{{cite book |last=Blum |title=The Poisoner's Handbook |page=256}}{{full citation |date=July 2020}}</ref> Thallium was an effective murder weapon before its effects became understood and an antidote ([[Prussian blue (medical use)|Prussian blue]]) was discovered.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Douglas, K.T. |author2=Bunni, M.A. |author3=Baindur, S.R. |year=1990 |title=Thallium in biochemistry |journal=International Journal of Biochemistry |volume=22 |issue=5 |pages=429–438 |doi=10.1016/0020-711X(90)90254-Z |pmid=2189755}}</ref> Thallium is often imported for products like optical lenses and electronics. The US has not manufactured thallium since 1984. It has been called the "poisoner's poison" since it is colorless, odorless and tasteless; its slow-acting, painful and wide-ranging symptoms are often suggestive of a host of other illnesses and conditions.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Amy Ellis |last1=Nutt |first2=Sue |last2=Epstein |date=13 February 2011 |title=A 15 year-old case yields a timely clue in deadly thallium poisoning |newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]] |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/thallium_is_favored_method_of.html}}</ref>
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