SCHELEE’S GREEN: IT COULD BE A KILLER FOR NAPOLEON!

Year 2017, Volume: Volume 2 Issue: İssue 1 (1) - 2.İnternational Congress Of Forensic Toxicology, 142 - 142, 16.02.2017

Ebru Karadenız

Abstract

Schelee’s Green
discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1742 a native German chemist who resided
in Sweden. It known as ‘Arsenide of Copper’, also ‘Hydro Cupric
Arsenide’,‘Mineral Green’ and ‘Swedish Green’ is composed of arsenide of copper
and represented by the Formula CuHAsO2.

It has
strikingly fine light green color and it was used dye cotton, linen, as a
pigment for paper, wax candles and even some children’s toys.

Two main
theories on the cause of wallpaper poisoning events have been proposed: dust
particles caused by pigment and paper flaking and toxic gas production. Tiny
particles of the pigment can flake off and become airborne and containing
arsenic following certain chemical processes, such as heating or metabolised by
an organism. When the wallpaper becomes damp and moldy, the pigment may be
metabolised, causing the release of poisonous arsine gas (AsH3). Fungi genera
such as Scopulariopsis or Paecilomycos release arsine gas, when they are
growing on a substance containing arsenic.

During
Napoleon’s exile in St. Helena, he resided in a very luxurious room painted
bright green, his favourite color. His cause of death is generally believed to be
stomach cancer and arsenic exposure has been linked to an increased risk of
gastric carcinoma. Analysis of his hair samples revealed significant amounts of
arsenic. As St. Helena has a rather damp climate, it is not unlikely fungus
grew on the walls. It has also been suggested that the presence of such
abnormally high levels of arsenic might be due to attempts preserving his body.

Keywords

SCHELEE’S GREEN: IT COULD BE A KILLER FOR NAPOLEON!

References

• Ebru KARADENIZ
• Ankara University, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Toxicology 06590, Dikimevi, Ankara, Turkey