Palytoxin and EMS

[Tito]

The next time someoone drops dead at home or near home the EMS reposnder should also asked, "is there a Reef Tank in the house"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palytoxin

 

[Hawkeye]

wouldn't you have to take the coral and rub it into an open wound? I mean, I wouldn't even do that with non-toxic critters...

Regardless I always wear gloves...never know what one can be allergic to.

 

[Phyl]

Nope. Simply handling the palytoxin and then rubbing your eye or touching your mouth could be enough to transfer toxins (ask John, who's gotten palytoxin in his eyes 3 times now).

 

[JohnS_323]

Nope. Simply handling the palytoxin and then rubbing your eye or touching your mouth could be enough to transfer toxins (ask John, who's gotten palytoxin in his eyes 3 times now).

OK, since you're asking ;D. It reaaaaaallllllyyyy reaaaaaallllllyyyy SUX. The third time it happened was at the swap. All I did was move a rock with paly's on it from a bucket to the 75g tank raffle tank. A few hours later, when I went to take out my lenses BAM, I immediately felt that awful burn and irritation. Over the course of the next 2 days, everything was very foggy and all of the lights I looked at had halo's around them (so if I was looking at you a little strange at the swap, that was why!)

All three times, I have barely touched the paly's and then several hours later took out my lenses. It really stinks, but I have a cure . . . LASIKS! No more lenses after January 2!

 

[Tito]

In order for Palytoxin to cause death it has to get to your heart and about 4 Micrograms of it. It's a dreadful thought!