RE to Jim 3975 - Strong contamination with ethidium bromide

[WS]

> I do
> wonder however why we don't actually see more of this kinds of cases,
> since we have access to all kinds of poisons in the lab, and we all
> know of the liaisons, passions, conflicts, arguments  and hurt that go
> on in labs.

Most of these attempts probably never are uncovered, especially when
the victim doesn't drop dead instantly. Maybe that is the reason why
eating and drinking is prohibited in most labs?

I remember an incident that happended in a german university
(Regensburg) while I was studying there: A cracked up diploma student
in the physics department wreaked havoc as he (sort of deliberately)
spilled a large amount of thallium bromide powder (heavy metal,
neurotoxic, much more than lead) in a hall that is used for large
experiments. The area was closed for weeks for decontamination, tons
of (of course horribly expensive) equipment had to be thrown away and
probably everyone also discarded their coffee stocks as thallium
bromide looks the same. Not to be repeated

Wo