[Nhcoll-l] Preparing Tetraodontid Skeletons

[Hawks, Catharine]

See below from two Smithsonian Industrial Hygienists:

PubChem and the CDC have developed resources, including a section on PPE;
1.Tetrodotoxin | C11H17N3O8 - PubChem (nih.gov)<https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/tetrodotoxin#section=Personal-Protective-Equipment-(PPE)>
2. CDC - The Emergency Response Safety and Health Database: Biotoxin: TETRODOTOXIN - NIOSH<https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750019.html>

Per PubChem
"A fatal dose may be as little as 1 to 4 mg per person.
Klaassen, C.D. (ed). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2001., p. 1079
Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
... the minimum lethal dose in an adult human is estimated to be 2-3 mg.
PMID:25551594<https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25551594>
Cole JB et al; MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 63 (51): 1222-5 (2015"

Mike

From: Harmon, Kimberly A. <HarmonKA at si.edu<mailto:HarmonKA at si.edu>>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 2:03 PM
To: Hawks, Catharine <HawksC at si.edu<mailto:HawksC at si.edu>>; Hunt, Michael <HuntMi at si.edu<mailto:HuntMi at si.edu>>; Makos, Kathryn <MAKOSK at si.edu<mailto:MAKOSK at si.edu>>; Kathryn Makos [kamakos at verizon.net] (kamakos at verizon.net<mailto:kamakos at verizon.net>) <kamakos at verizon.net<mailto:kamakos at verizon.net>>
Subject: RE: Preparing Tetraodontid Skeletons

Definitely!
I can't say that I have any experience with it but was intrigued.
And it looks like they really do need to take serious precautions.

Looks like it is highly toxic not only through ingestion but can also be absorbed through the skin or inhaled.  I found this animal toxicity study using tetrodotoxin which lists PPE and precautions when injecting it in animals, which might be a good starting place for info and it looks like the person listed might still be at Emory.
http://www.dar.emory.edu/safety/agents/TETRODO.pdf
Here's is also a SDS for tetrodotoxin
https://www.caymanchem.com/msdss/14963m.pdf

Kim
From: Hawks, Catharine <HawksC at si.edu<mailto:HawksC at si.edu>>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 1:16 PM
To: Harmon, Kimberly A. <HarmonKA at si.edu<mailto:HarmonKA at si.edu>>; Hunt, Michael <HuntMi at si.edu<mailto:HuntMi at si.edu>>; Makos, Kathryn <MAKOSK at si.edu<mailto:MAKOSK at si.edu>>; Kathryn Makos [kamakos at verizon.net] (kamakos at verizon.net<mailto:kamakos at verizon.net>) <kamakos at verizon.net<mailto:kamakos at verizon.net>>
Subject: FW: Preparing Tetraodontid Skeletons

Interesting inquiry!

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Christina Giovas
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:45 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Preparing Tetraodontid Skeletons


From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Christina Giovas
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2021 9:45 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Preparing Tetraodontid Skeletons

External Email - Exercise Caution

Hello All,



An Australian colleague of mine is preparing fish specimens for osteological collections and has several pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) to tackle. She is worried about tetrodotoxin exposure using conventional methods. Is anyone aware of published protocols for safely skeletonizing these fish or have experience handling tetraodontids or diodontids? Looking to avert a bad outcome.



Many thanks,

Christina


Christina M. Giovas, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University
Associate Editor, Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology
Associate Editor, Journal of Anthropological Research
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