applied sciences Review Thallium Use, Toxicity, and Detoxification Therapy: An Overview Giuseppe Genchi 1 , Alessia Carocci 2,* , Graziantonio Lauria 1, Maria Stefania Sinicropi 1,† and Alessia Catalano 2,† 1 Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy;
[email protected] (G.G.);
[email protected] (G.L.);
[email protected] (M.S.S.) 2 Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy;
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[email protected] † These authors equally contributed to this work. Abstract: Thallium (Tl) is released into the environment, where is present at very low levels, from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Tl is considered as one of the most toxic heavy metals; it is a non-essential metal, present in low concentrations in humans. Tl toxicity causes dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases and disorders of the nervous system, and may even result in death. Many isotopes of Tl exist, with different uses. One of the isotopes of this metal (201Tl) is used in cardiovascular scintigraphy and for the diagnosis of malignant tumors such as breast or lung cancer and osteosarcoma bone cancer. Many Tl compounds are tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Due to these characteristics and their high toxicity, they have been used as poisons in suicides and murders for criminal purposes, as well as instances of accidental poisoning. Impaired glutathione Citation: Genchi, G.; Carocci, A.; metabolism, oxidative stress, and disruption of potassium-regulated homeostasis may play a role Lauria, G.; Sinicropi, M.S.; in the mechanism of Tl toxicity.