There’s more in that apple juice than just fruit

It took me several years to discover in early spring who was skiing the steep, narrow slides slightly north and east of Rico – one track per slide.

I quizzed the perpetrator: “How?”

His answer: “I jump on the top, and if it goes, I ski it. If it doesn’t go, I ski it.” His analysis remains thoroughly logical, but I haven’t been tempted.

He was a geologist and left Rico for Wenatchee, Wash., for gold mining. Later, he reported that mining had been blamed for arsenic-contaminated soils. Arsenic may also occur naturally. High levels can be found in some well waters. It turned out, however, it was apple farmers at fault. For decades, they used arsenicals (arsenic compounds) on their crops.

Recently, news of arsenic in apple juice hit the media with only passing attention. Consumer Reports (January 2012), in a lengthy review, found that 1 out of 10 juice samples (of five brands) had arsenic levels (and 1 in 4 had lead) higher than the standards for water. It was suggested that arsenic in juice, both apple and grape, should be held to the current standard for water, 10 parts per billion.

Unlike drinking water, there are no federal standards for juice. However, much more water is consumed than juice. One exception is children given juice bottles as pacifiers. The front teeth rotted to the gum lines, but it was because of sugar. Children are more susceptible to arsenic poisoning than adults. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no juice before age 6 months and a limit of 6 ounces per day up to age 6.

Arsenic, a brittle metal in its pure, elemental form, has been recognized as a poison for centuries, whether by being swallowed, inhaled or acquired through skin contact. In less amounts, arsenical compounds were used to treat syphilis, epilepsy, psoriasis and amebic dysentery. Arsenic has been used in wood preservatives, rodenticides, insecticides and fungicides. We should add homicides to the list, although murder by arsenic is much less popular now than it was in the 19th century.

Poisoning varies depending on the amount of arsenic and the time period over which it accumulates, thus, acute and chronic poisonings. Acutely, victims may have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea within hours, liver and kidney failure, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, delirium, coma, seizures and death. Changes occur more slowly with chronic poisoning.

Methods of emergency treatment can be used if arsenic is suspected, but it is likely that a pathologist will make the diagnosis. Arsenic leaves its terrible imprint in the stomach, small intestine, blood vessels, liver and kidneys.

French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to the British in 1815, who magnanimously allowed him to live – exiled to the remote island of St. Helena. Execution would have martyred him and the British could not risk his return to France and to power. Was poisoning the answer? If so, by whom?

Clips of his hair, along with recently developed microanalysis, have identified arsenic. He had symptoms. The poisoning was chronic, slipped into his favorite wine, and then a dose of mercuric chloride finished him off. There is a fascinating book, Assassination at St. Helena, Revisited, by Ben Weider and Sten Forshufvud, and the British weren’t the culprits.

www.alanfraserhouston.com. Dr. Fraser Houston is a retired emergency room physician who worked at area hospitals after moving to Southwest Colorado from New Hampshire in 1990.