Question

chicago tylenol murders
in 1982 most medicines and food did not contain tamper - proof seals,
but after seven mysterious chicago deaths linked to tylenol, these
seals became a necessity. the first victim was a 12 - year - old girl whose
parents had given her tylenol to ease cold symptoms. shortly after,
she collapsed and was pronounced dead at the hospital. that same
day, paramedics found a 27 - year - old man dead on the kitchen floor -
pronouncing it a heart attack. the mans brother and sister - in - law took
tylenol to help cope with their loss, then quickly complained of
dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, and collapsed to the floor -
neither survived. there would be three more similar deaths that day.
the autopsy reports of all 7 individuals showed the immediate cause of
death was hypoxia (lack of oxygen or suffocation). tissue samples
from all bodies showed massive cell death and more specifically, massive mitochondrial damage within those
cells. blood oxygen levels were extremely high in all victims, as were lactic acid levels.
propose a hypothesis as to what happened to these individuals:
it was determined that all six victims had tested positive for cyanide poisoning. cyanide works by binding with
receptors in the mitochondria, which prevent the transfer of electrons to oxygen. this means the oxygen
cannot be used to create atp, and your body must resort to anaerobic respiration.
although the murderer was never caught, it was determined that someone had driven to several chicago
stores and left capsules filled with cyanide inside of the tylenol bottles. the 1982 incident inspired the
pharmaceutical, food, and consumer product industries to develop tamper - resistant packaging and
improved quality control methods. moreover, product tampering was made a federal crime.
analysis questions

1. how is it possible that the patients had high oxygen levels in their blood, but died from lack of

oxygen?

1. would artificial respiration or oxygenation have saved these people? why or why not?
2. what would explain the high levels of lactic acid in their blood?

Explanation:

1. High blood oxygen but lack of oxygen at cellular level:

• Cyanide binds to mitochondrial receptors, preventing electron transfer to oxygen. So, even though there is oxygen in the blood (high blood oxygen levels), the cells cannot use it for aerobic respiration (cellular - level oxygen lack).

1. Artificial respiration/oxygenation:

• No. The problem is at the mitochondrial level (cyanide binding). Artificial respiration or oxygenation would increase blood oxygen levels further, but since the mitochondria can't use the oxygen (due to cyanide binding), it won't save the people.

1. High lactic acid levels:

• When aerobic respiration is inhibited (by cyanide), the body resorts to anaerobic respiration. In anaerobic respiration (in humans, especially in muscle cells), pyruvate is converted to lactic acid. So, high lactic acid levels are a result of anaerobic respiration due to cyanide - induced inhibition of aerobic respiration.

Answer:

1. Cyanide binds to mitochondrial receptors, preventing cellular use of oxygen in blood.
2. No. Cyanide blocks mitochondrial oxygen use; more blood oxygen won't help.
3. Anaerobic respiration (due to cyanide - blocked aerobic respiration) produces lactic acid.