Question

1. the ld50 for nicotine in rats is 50 mg/kg. in humans is 0.8 mg/kg.

a. is nicotine more toxic or less toxic for humans than rats?
b. how much nicotine would kill half of humans who weighed 60 kg (132 lbs)?
c. vape cartridges (e - juices) can range from 0mg to 18mg nicotine. how many 8mg e - juices would it take to kill half of people who weighed 60 kg? (assuming the person vaped them consecutively and in a short amount of time)

Explanation:

Step1: Determine toxicity

LD50 is the dose that kills 50% of a population. A lower LD50 means more toxicity. Since \(0.8\ mg/kg<50\ mg/kg\), nicotine is more toxic for humans.

Step2: Calculate nicotine amount for 60 - kg human

Use the formula \(m = LD50\times\text{weight}\). Given \(LD50 = 0.8\ mg/kg\) and weight \(w = 60\ kg\), then \(m=0.8\times60\).
$$m = 48\ mg$$

Step3: Calculate number of 8 - mg E - juices

Let \(n\) be the number of 8 - mg E - juices. Use the formula \(n=\frac{\text{total nicotine amount}}{\text{nicotine per E - juice}}\). We know the total nicotine amount \(m = 48\ mg\) and nicotine per E - juice \(=8\ mg\), so \(n=\frac{48}{8}\).
$$n = 6$$

Answer:

a. Nicotine is more toxic for humans than rats.
b. \(48\ mg\)
c. \(6\)