Justin Brower
@naturespoisons.bsky.social
Forensic Toxicologist, PhD Organic Chemist & Prince of Poisons. Writing NATURE'S POISONS, the science & history of nature's most vicious creations (WW Norton, 2025). Also into gardening, fountain pens, photography, and 3D printing. NaturesPoisons.com
So that's the story of beautiful brevetoxin, full of polycyclic ethers of various sizes, and the dangers it poses to individuals and communities, either airborne or in shellfish. Am I upset? Yes, but I think you figured that one out already. Should you be? Also yes. Anyway, take care, everyone.
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
So that's the story of beautiful brevetoxin, full of polycyclic ethers of various sizes, and the dangers it poses to individuals and communities, either airborne or in shellfish. Am I upset? Yes, but I think you figured that one out already. Should you be? Also yes. Anyway, take care, everyone.
BONUS: The genus Karenia is named after Dr. Karen Steidinger, a long-time scientist with Florida state wildlife agencies. She started as a lab tech, earned a Ph.D. while working, and today is one of the world's top experts on dinoflagellates and HABs. I wonder how pissed off she is right now.
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
BONUS: The genus Karenia is named after Dr. Karen Steidinger, a long-time scientist with Florida state wildlife agencies. She started as a lab tech, earned a Ph.D. while working, and today is one of the world's top experts on dinoflagellates and HABs. I wonder how pissed off she is right now.
Symptoms of brevetoxin poisoning are headaches, fatigue, burning eyes and throat, coughing, respiratory distress, paresthesia (pins and needle tingling) in the face, and loss of coordination. And there is no "antidote," just removal from the situation - the beach - and supportive care.
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Symptoms of brevetoxin poisoning are headaches, fatigue, burning eyes and throat, coughing, respiratory distress, paresthesia (pins and needle tingling) in the face, and loss of coordination. And there is no "antidote," just removal from the situation - the beach - and supportive care.
Karenia brevis is fragile, and when crashing upon the shore, it physically breaks apart and releases brevetoxin. Brevetoxin is now airborne and can be inhaled and hit your eyes. This is bad because brevetoxin is neurotoxic. And in general, things described as neurotoxic are bad for you.
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Karenia brevis is fragile, and when crashing upon the shore, it physically breaks apart and releases brevetoxin. Brevetoxin is now airborne and can be inhaled and hit your eyes. This is bad because brevetoxin is neurotoxic. And in general, things described as neurotoxic are bad for you.
This algae is responsible for the area's "red tide," which is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) that can color the waters a rusty red, hence the name red tide. Aside from the murky, reddish waters, these HABs can be physically dangerous and cause beaches to close. So, how can a simple algae cause this?
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This algae is responsible for the area's "red tide," which is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) that can color the waters a rusty red, hence the name red tide. Aside from the murky, reddish waters, these HABs can be physically dangerous and cause beaches to close. So, how can a simple algae cause this?
The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is a microscopic marine algae that is found primarily along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but is also detected as far north as North Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean side.
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is a microscopic marine algae that is found primarily along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but is also detected as far north as North Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean side.
It's time for Tox Tuesday and some fountain pen structures! This beast is BREVETOXIN-1, produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. It is also the cause of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP). But aside from harming humans, it also harms our economy, so buckle up!
March 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It's time for Tox Tuesday and some fountain pen structures! This beast is BREVETOXIN-1, produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. It is also the cause of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP). But aside from harming humans, it also harms our economy, so buckle up!
Happy Mardis Gras! I got the baby from the king cake.
March 4, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Happy Mardis Gras! I got the baby from the king cake.
No Tox Tuesday today, sorry. But here's a Fountain Pen & Ink structure. I had an awesome poem to go along with it, but there were too many characters 😔. Amanitin is the toxin of "Death Cap" mushrooms ☠️
March 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
No Tox Tuesday today, sorry. But here's a Fountain Pen & Ink structure. I had an awesome poem to go along with it, but there were too many characters 😔. Amanitin is the toxin of "Death Cap" mushrooms ☠️
Now, I'm not against science and scientists; I am one myself, after all. But we can get things wrong, and I think the FDA erred here. While safrole is probably dangerous in large quantities, there have never been massive amounts in foods to begin with. So that's how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOT BEER.
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Now, I'm not against science and scientists; I am one myself, after all. But we can get things wrong, and I think the FDA erred here. While safrole is probably dangerous in large quantities, there have never been massive amounts in foods to begin with. So that's how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOT BEER.
So how do we get "root beer flavor" today without sassafras or safrole? A lot of it is from methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), and other flavorings like licorice, vanilla, and cherry bark. These mixtures are how various brewers get different, distinct root beer flavors. (pic by me)
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
So how do we get "root beer flavor" today without sassafras or safrole? A lot of it is from methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), and other flavorings like licorice, vanilla, and cherry bark. These mixtures are how various brewers get different, distinct root beer flavors. (pic by me)
Safrole content varies in sassafras root and with how it is extracted - you get more when it's ground than in solid chunks. But from an optimized procedure in a lab, extracting safrole from ground root with organic solvents, and fancy Soxhlet extractors, you can get a safrole yield of 0.4%.
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Safrole content varies in sassafras root and with how it is extracted - you get more when it's ground than in solid chunks. But from an optimized procedure in a lab, extracting safrole from ground root with organic solvents, and fancy Soxhlet extractors, you can get a safrole yield of 0.4%.
But we're not rats, are we? Converting rat doses to human doses is usually done by comparing total body surface areas - like in this handy chart from the FDA - but it's fraught with error. Creatures don't metabolize things the same way - think of chocolate in dogs - so it's a guide, not gospel.
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
But we're not rats, are we? Converting rat doses to human doses is usually done by comparing total body surface areas - like in this handy chart from the FDA - but it's fraught with error. Creatures don't metabolize things the same way - think of chocolate in dogs - so it's a guide, not gospel.
So the "root" in root beer is sassafras root. This is what gave it its medicinal, trademark flavor, coming from chemicals like alpha-pinene (smells like a pine tree), camphor (like VapoRub), a few hallucinogens like thujone and myristicin, and the star of the show, safrole!
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
So the "root" in root beer is sassafras root. This is what gave it its medicinal, trademark flavor, coming from chemicals like alpha-pinene (smells like a pine tree), camphor (like VapoRub), a few hallucinogens like thujone and myristicin, and the star of the show, safrole!
What else was famously revealed at the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the "World's Fair," in Philadelphia? Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, Remington’s typewriter, Heinz ketchup, and Kudzu, the invasive vine and scourge of the South. Seriously, kudzu sucks.
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
What else was famously revealed at the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the "World's Fair," in Philadelphia? Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, Remington’s typewriter, Heinz ketchup, and Kudzu, the invasive vine and scourge of the South. Seriously, kudzu sucks.
But we're here to talk about root beer. It was "invented" by pharmacist Charles Hires in the 1870s. He made it as a "cure-all" elixir and initially called it "root tea," but renamed it "root beer" before he displayed it at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. And Hires root beer is still around today!
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
But we're here to talk about root beer. It was "invented" by pharmacist Charles Hires in the 1870s. He made it as a "cure-all" elixir and initially called it "root tea," but renamed it "root beer" before he displayed it at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. And Hires root beer is still around today!
Sassafras leaves, dried and ground, is called filé powder. This is the traditional thickening agent for gumbo. And I do love me some gumbo, so whenever I go on hikes, I'm on the lookout for sassafras trees. Needless to say, I've got a healthy supply of filé for all my gumbo needs. (pic by me)
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Sassafras leaves, dried and ground, is called filé powder. This is the traditional thickening agent for gumbo. And I do love me some gumbo, so whenever I go on hikes, I'm on the lookout for sassafras trees. Needless to say, I've got a healthy supply of filé for all my gumbo needs. (pic by me)
They're also very pretty. In the fall the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and red before they fall to the ground. I've been meaning to plant one in the front yard. For it's beauty? No, for gumbo! (pic by me)
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
They're also very pretty. In the fall the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and red before they fall to the ground. I've been meaning to plant one in the front yard. For it's beauty? No, for gumbo! (pic by me)
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern US and can grow to 30' tall, but most are short and spindly. They are easily identified by their "mittens" as their leaves are shaped like them: left-handed, right-handed, and dual-thumbed for you two-thumbed freaks. (pic by me)
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern US and can grow to 30' tall, but most are short and spindly. They are easily identified by their "mittens" as their leaves are shaped like them: left-handed, right-handed, and dual-thumbed for you two-thumbed freaks. (pic by me)
Happy Tox Tuesday (with a fountain pen & ink later)!
Science evolves, and thanks to advances in research and technology, what we believed true years ago may not hold true today. And that's OK, that's science. But sometimes we get things horribly wrong, which is how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOTBEER. 🧵
Science evolves, and thanks to advances in research and technology, what we believed true years ago may not hold true today. And that's OK, that's science. But sometimes we get things horribly wrong, which is how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOTBEER. 🧵
February 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Happy Tox Tuesday (with a fountain pen & ink later)!
Science evolves, and thanks to advances in research and technology, what we believed true years ago may not hold true today. And that's OK, that's science. But sometimes we get things horribly wrong, which is how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOTBEER. 🧵
Science evolves, and thanks to advances in research and technology, what we believed true years ago may not hold true today. And that's OK, that's science. But sometimes we get things horribly wrong, which is how A SCIENTIST STOLE MY ROOTBEER. 🧵
Honey Bee says hi. I had to Google caftan, and I'm sure yours is lovely
February 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Honey Bee says hi. I had to Google caftan, and I'm sure yours is lovely
Adventures in Fountain Pens. I hope I don't have court next week, I'll look sillier than usual. First, when I raise my left hand because I can never remember, and then when this hand goes up 🙃
February 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Adventures in Fountain Pens. I hope I don't have court next week, I'll look sillier than usual. First, when I raise my left hand because I can never remember, and then when this hand goes up 🙃
Good morning, Nerds. It's one of those days - covered in blankets with hot tea and a cool book.
February 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Good morning, Nerds. It's one of those days - covered in blankets with hot tea and a cool book.
And to my surprise, it is actually snowing! This part of NC just doesn't have the resources or infrastructure to deal with snow and ice, so we really will be shut down this week.
February 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
And to my surprise, it is actually snowing! This part of NC just doesn't have the resources or infrastructure to deal with snow and ice, so we really will be shut down this week.
So that's the chemistry, toxicology, and stories of T-2 MYCOTOXIN, a potent fungal toxin with a conspiracy theory side quest. And admire the pen, too, she's lovely😍
February 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
So that's the chemistry, toxicology, and stories of T-2 MYCOTOXIN, a potent fungal toxin with a conspiracy theory side quest. And admire the pen, too, she's lovely😍