CSI science

“An intake of more than 2,500 mcg of selenium per day, over a period of time, can be toxic.”

This wasn’t part of the dialogue from last week’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” but it could have been. That line was actually from an e-Alert I sent you last week (“Holiday Mix” 1/2/03) that discussed, among other things, the extremely remote chance that people can ingest a toxic amount of selenium – a naturally occurring mineral with powerful antioxidant properties.

We’ve talked about selenium many times before, of course. However, this time, the day after I sent that e-Alert, HSI Editorial Director Judy Douglas, e-mailed me to say: “CSI had two guys die of selenium poisoning last night – their wives did it, one with dandruff shampoo, the other with agricultural chemicals.”

HmmmI wonder if the writers for CSI subscribe to the e-Alert. I guess we’ll know for sure if an upcoming episode features a 7-year-old reacting to his Prozac.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute