HAIR ANALYSIS SHOWS NO SIGNS OF POISONING

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas /Prabhus /Matajis,

 

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

This is a substantial text in length. Please take the time to read it as you

will see that the allegations against the poisoning of Srila Prabhupada are

herein clearly laid to rest. Please also distribute this paper.

 

Your servant,

 

Tirtharaj Das

 

HAIR ANALYSIS SHOWS NO SIGNS OF POISONING

 

With specific reference to claims made in the book 'Someone Has Poisoned Me'

by Nityananda Das.

 

 

David R. Hooper B. Sc. (biochem.)

(Deva Gaura Hari Das)

 

In this paper we will document important scientific facts regarding analysis

of hair arsenic levels in Srila Prabhupada's hair relics. Nityananda das has

claimed that Prabhupada's hair levels were recorded at 3ppm and that this

represents solid evidence that "undoubtedly Srila Prabhupada was maliciously

poisoned."

 

We will show that this assertion is UNTRUE by referring to various

authoritative scientific literatures and experts in the fields of

toxicology, medicine and neutron activation analysis.

 

 

Scientific facts about arsenic in hair

 

1. Arsenic is the twentieth most abundant element in the earth's crust.

2. The real figure for the testing of Prabhupada's hair sample was NOT

3ppm arsenic but 2.6ppm.

3. Scientific studies have shown levels of 4.8ppm (Mexico City) and

3ppm (Glasgow) average arsenic content of hair in normal (unexposed)

populations.

4. Research proves that persons who are malnourished exhibit a 50%

increase in the concentration of trace metals in their hair, due to slowing

of hair growth while the rate of metal deposition remains constant.

5. Results of up to 1.4ppm arsenic (Didima Mataji) were found in

Mayapur devotees, and up to 3.36 ppm in persons who only occasionally

visited the Ganges arsenic affected area.

6. By far the major source of elimination of arsenic is through the

kidneys and urine. One would expect elevated levels of these toxins in the

blood and hair of a person suffering serious kidney malfunction.

7. Forensic pathologists agree that even high levels of arsenic cannot

on their own be accepted as proof of poisoning without specific clinical

symptoms of arsenic poisoning.

8. Hair analysis for arsenic is a very unreliable indicator of serum

arsenic levels when a specific individual is tested without a range of

reference values from a group of the same time and place for comparison.

9. Expert scientists who are presently working in the field of hair

analysis and neutron activation agree that any amount up to 10 ppm arsenic

can be considered 'normal' levels of arsenic.

 

 

Discussion

 

1. Arsenic is the twentieth most abundant element in the earth's crust, and

is found in many pesticides, smelting processes, paints, underground water

supplies and traditional oriental (including Indian) remedies.

 

It is common knowledge that arsenic is a deadly poison, and many people

imagine arsenic to be a rare chemical manufactured in some exotic chemical

laboratory. Therefore many devotees feel shocked when told that Srila

Prabhupada's hair relics contain trace amounts of arsenic. However, the

actual fact is that arsenic is the 20th most common element on this planet

and pervades almost everything in our environment, including our own bodies.

 

 

2. The real figure for the testing of Prabhupada's hair sample was not 3ppm

arsenic but 2.6ppm.

 

In his book, Nityananda Das reports two different tests done on Srila

Prabhupada's hair relics. One is reported as being 1.1 ppm and the other

"almost 3.0 ppm." He then goes on to use "3 ppm" as the accepted figure.

However, we have recently been provided with the original document from Dr.

Steve Morris of the University of Missouri who performed the tests, which

states that the actual figure was 2.6 ppm arsenic.

 

Thus Nityananda Das, for reasons best known to himself, reports a figure of

1.1 ppm as it is, but decides that 2.6 ppm needs to be rounded up to 3 ppm.

Readers who are familiar with our previous papers on this topic will

recognize Nityananda Das's inimitable reporting methods, and will not be

astonished to find such anomalies in his work.

 

Later in this paper we will give evidence to show that this figure of 2.6

ppm is in no way proof of arsenic poisoning.

 

 

3. Scientific studies have shown results of 4.8ppm (Mexico City) and 3ppm

(Glasgow) average arsenic content of hair in normal (unexposed) populations.

MIT lists 0.13 - 3.71 ppm as the range of average values for normal

(healthy) persons.

 

In 1997, Dr. Armienta of the Geophysics Institute of the University of

Mexico conducted a series of tests on water and hair samples from residents

of Zimapan in central Mexico. For some years residents had complained of

various ailments, which were caused from arsenic exposure via local well

water. The tests showed hair concentrations of arsenic in the affected

townspeople to be 9.22 ppm.

 

Even more interesting was their results for a reference group of unaffected

'normal' people. This group was taken from residents of Mexico City and

showed the average concentration was 4.8 ppm arsenic in hair. Remember that

these are perfectly healthy individuals with no particular exposure to

arsenic. The authors explained that the high value could be explained by the

air pollution prevalent in Mexico City, as arsenic binds tightly to the

keratin molecules in hair, whether via sweat or from external sources.

 

Another study performed in the 1970's showed an average of 3 ppm hair

arsenic in the population of Glasgow, again presumably due to high pollution

levels.

 

Remember that these figures are an average, which means that some of the

"healthy" subjects tested contained levels that were much higher still than

3 or 4.8 ppm. Therefore the fact that Srila Prabhupada's hair contained 2.6

ppm cannot be taken as proof of poisoning. Rather this value falls within

the range of average values reported in various studies around the world.

 

 

4. Research shows that persons who are malnourished exhibit 50% higher than

normal content of metals in their hair, due to the hair growth slowing

markedly while the rate of metal deposition into the hair remains constant.

 

In 1983, the New York Hospital Medical Department conducted experiments into

the pitfalls of hair analysis for trace element concentration. They found a

peculiar phenomenon, whereby the concentration of trace metals in hair

actually increased when a patient was malnourished. This was due to the fact

that the rate of hair growth slowed markedly under conditions of

malnourishment, while the rate of deposition of trace elements from the

blood and external environment remained constant. This produces an

artificially elevated level of trace metal in the hair compared to the

actual level in the bloodstream.

 

For example, if 0.05 mg of metal were deposited in the hair per day, which

grew at a rate of 2 mg per day, the concentration would be 0.05 / 2 = 0.025

metal per hair mass. However, if the hair growth slowed to 1.2 mg per day,

the apparent hair concentration would rise to 0.05 / 1.2 = 0.040 metal per

hair weight.

 

Thus a 40% decrease in hair growth corresponds to a 50% increase in trace

metal concentrations.

 

It is well known that Srila Prabhupada ate very little for most of 1977.

Bhakti Caru Swami, who cooked for him for most of this time confirms this:

 

When His Divine Grace was in Bombay, after the Mayapur festival in

1977, I started to cook for him. Although he was eating something, but it

was very little and he even commented that if he could just eat two chapatis

that would indicate his good health. However, he could not even eat that

much.

 

When Srila Prabhupada arrived in Vrndavan (May 1977) after giving his

arrival darshan to all the devotees there, Srila Prabhupada called me to his

room and told me not to cook for him and persuade him to eat. He told me,

"What's the use of eating when there is no appetite". From then onwards his

food intake was reduced to practically nothing.

 

Srila Prabhupada's hair growth certainly slowed during 1977, and this is

also confirmed by his personal servants. Therefore one would expect that the

content of metals in his hair would be higher due to constant exposure to

trace levels of heavy metals and marked decrease in hair growth.

 

 

5. Results of up to 1.4ppm arsenic (Didima Mataji) were found in Mayapur

devotees, and up to 3.36 ppm in persons who only occasionally visited the

Ganges arsenic affected area.

 

Nityananda Das claims that "normally one would expect to find from less than

0.05 ppm arsenic up to perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 ppm, depending on exposure… and

that farmers regularly exposed to pesticides MIGHT temporarily attain a

level of 1.0ppm, which is probably why so many have cancer."

 

However, we don't have to look very far to discount this speculative

reasoning. Recent testing done on some of the resident devotees of Mayapur

have found that they do in fact contain hair arsenic levels above 1 ppm, and

are not suffering any ill effects from such levels.

 

Nityananda Das goes on to make a dramatic embellishment of the 3 ppm figure,

saying it is "15 to 60 times over average. The presence of such high amounts

of the world's deadliest poison in Srila Prabhupada's hair confirms: Srila

Prabhupada was poisoned with arsenic."

 

However, using these figures, the levels of arsenic in the hair of Didima

Mataji are also 30 times the "average" level. If Nityananda is so sure about

these figures, why isn't he also suggesting we launch a full investigation

into who is poisoning Didima?

 

Ntyananda Das tries to pass off the West Bengal arsenic crisis by saying,

"There was some news a few years back about health problems in Bengal due to

arsenic contamination in deep well water. However, Srila Prabhupada left

Mayapur, Bengal in March 1977 after a stay of six weeks."

 

In contrast, a 1995 study done by Jadavpur University described the

situation as a crisis, titling their research paper "The Biggest Arsenic

Calamity in the World" saying that at least 30 million people in six

districts of West Bengal are living with levels of arsenic higher than the

level recommended by the WHO. A list of the affected areas extended all

along the Ganges delta, with Navadwip being specifically mentioned as one of

the seriously affected areas. This study reported hair arsenic

concentrations from one affected family in Murshidabad as ranging from 4.78

up to 9.78 ppm.

 

Of special relevance to this discussion, two additional members of the

family who only came home occasionally and just happened to be there on the

day of the testing, had hair arsenic levels of 2.35 and 3.36 ppm

respectively. Neither displayed any adverse health effects.

 

It is not clear when was the last time the clippers that contained the hair

sample were used. The very last time Prabhupada was shaved was on September

22, 1977. However, Tamal Krishna Maharaja reports that he shaved up

Prabhupada with a razor blade (as reported in TKG's Diary). Therefore the

hair clippers were almost certainly not used after Prabhupada came back from

England on September 12. This puts the date of last use back to at least

mid-August. Prabhupada's servants confirm that his hair growth had slowed

very dramatically throughout 1977. This, together with the possibility that

other clippers or razors were used to shave Prabhupada's hair, makes it

possible, if not probable, that the hair remnants from the clippers in

Vrindavana are from much earlier in the year.

 

In fact, the only confirmed use of the Wahl clippers in 1977 comes from Hari

Sauri Das who remembers shaving Prabhupada in March with these very

clippers. If the clippers were last used in March, April or May, the hair

remnants would contain growth from Prabhupada's six week stay in Mayapur up

to 22 March. This factor, together with Prabhupada's travel through polluted

Indian cities and the concentrating effect of slow hair growth, as will be

explained below, means that a figure of 2.6 ppm arsenic is by no means an

unusual amount.

 

 

6. By far the major source of elimination of arsenic is through the kidneys

and urine. If someone with serious kidney malfunction was exposed to even

small amounts of arsenic via water or medicines, one would expect elevated

levels of these toxins in the sweat and sebaceous secretions (and therefore

the hair) due to lack of sufficient kidney function to eliminate the toxins.

 

It is well known that arsenic and other heavy metals have a debilitating

effect on the ability of the kidneys to eliminate toxins. However, just as

high blood arsenic levels damage the kidneys, an already malfunctioning

kidney will also raise the blood concentration of such toxins due to not

properly eliminating them via the urine.

 

Studies show that at least half the total amount of arsenic from water or

environmental sources is eliminated by the kidneys and passed out through

the urine. Someone suffering from serious kidney damage would have a

dramatically reduced ability to eliminate arsenic from the bloodstream.

Therefore whatever trace amounts one would normally expect to be deposited

in the hair and other tissues would be elevated under these conditions.

 

In our previous paper 'No Medical Evidence for Poisoning of Srila

Prabhupada', a detailed description of Prabhupada's major kidney

malfunctioning is given.

 

With this in mind, we can understand that the figure of 2.6 ppm arsenic

concentration in Prabhupada's hair is in no way conclusive of poisoning.

Considering the state of his kidneys, if Prabhupada were given any amount of

arsenic one would expect a far higher level of arsenic in his hair than

this.

 

7. Arsenic gets into hair via sweat and other secretions and binds strongly

onto the keratin molecules in hair. Because of this it is impossible to

distinguish between arsenic sweated from the skin and then bound to the hair

and arsenic that later binds to hair through contamination from an external

source. Therefore forensic pathologists agree that even very high levels of

arsenic cannot on their own be accepted as proof of poisoning without

specific clinical symptoms of arsenic poisoning.

 

Scientific studies have shown that arsenic gets into hair via sweat and

sebaceous secretions and then firmly adsorbs itself to the keratin proteins

in the hair matrix. This was discovered through a number of studies,

including the work of Young and Rice who found arsenic in the hair of guinea

pigs injected with sodium arsenite beyond the point it could have reached by

hair growth alone. Similar studies have confirmed these findings.

 

Therefore, it is impossible to discern between arsenic that is bound to hair

via ingestion, from that which binds itself to hair from an external source,

either while the person was alive or while the hair relic was in storage.

 

For this reason, forensic pathologists are very wary of accepting a

diagnosis of arsenic poisoning unless there are clear indications via

clinical symptoms (i.e. hyperkeratosis, sensory polyneuropathy, raindrop

pigmentation, Mees lines etc). We have covered the subject of Prabhupada's

distinct lack of clinical arsenicosis symptoms in our papers 'No Medical

Evidence' and 'Nityananda's Diagnosis 1'.

 

This point is explained nicely by Dr. Corso of Yale University Medical

School and Dr. Hindmarsh of the Department of Pathology and Biochemistry at

Ottawa University, in their 1996 paper which debunked the spurious theory

that Napoleon Bonaparte was poisoned by arsenic.

 

"As every forensic scientist know, the diagnosis of chronic arsenic

poisoning cannot be made upon elevated arsenic concentrations in hair alone

because external contamination of the hair by arsenic can produce a

sustained increase in hair arsenic that cannot be differentiated from the

increases that occur from arsenic ingestion. Thus, before a diagnosis of

chronic arsenic poisoning can be made, the characteristic clinical features

must be present as well as an appropriately elevated arsenic concentration

in hair. In addition, external contamination of the hair by arsenic must be

excluded."

 

Doctors Corso and Hindmarsh further elaborate, listing the most common and

constant clinical features of arsenic poisoning, and their noted absence in

the symptoms displayed by Napoleon.

 

The most prominent dermatological feature of chronic arsenic poisoning is

also constant: raindrop pigmentation of the skin, particularly around the

axillae, groins, temple. Eyes, neck, and nipples, although it may also

extend over the shoulders and chest anteriorly and posteriorly.

Hyperkeratosis of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet is also often

present, frequently associated with arsenical "corns" These features were

clearly not present at death, as Henry reports that the skin at autopsy was

"white and delicate, as were the hands and arms."

 

The spurious theory of Napoleon's poisoning and that of Srila Prabhupada

share many common aspects. It should be noted however, that the figures

obtained for Napoleons hair analysis included levels of 16.9, 15.3, and 11.8

ppm arsenic. Still the consensus among toxicologists is that the poisoning

theory is not acceptable due to lack of characteristic symptoms, and an

inability to rule out environmental contamination.

 

Certainly a similar theory would be even more unacceptable when the highest

hair level recorded was only 2.6 ppm.

 

 

8. Hair analysis for arsenic is a very unreliable indicator of serum arsenic

levels when a specific individual is tested without a range of reference

values from a group of the same time and place for comparison. This

unreliability is even more marked when a small amount of hair sample is

tested.

 

Because arsenic can be found in quite high concentrations in some parts of

the world and practically doesn't exist in others, the reference range of

values for 'normal' unexposed populations is very wide. In some places the

average arsenic content of hair is seen to be approx. 0.13 ppm, while in

other places, especially industrialized cities with pollution problems, or

areas with arsenic in underground water supplies, the average levels can be

as high as 3 ppm or even 5 ppm.

 

Thus while one can say what one would normally 'expect' for arsenic content

in a person's hair, there is no hard and fast rule for arsenic levels.

Rogers et al. from the Toxicology Department at Cambridge, list the " range

of mean values reported in 15 different studies involving normal (healthy)

sample donors" to be 0.13 - 3.71 ppm arsenic. Thus many studies over the

years have shown that normal, healthy population groups can and do have

arsenic levels in their hair in excess of 3 ppm.

 

The standard reference work 'Comprehensive Review in Toxicology for

Emergency Clinicians', explains that arsenic concentration of hair varies

with nutritional, environmental and physiological factors. Nityananda Das

listed this book as one of his reference materials, and in it he would have

read, (if he did read it) that the upper limit of NORMAL arsenic

concentration with 99% confidence in people NOT exposed to arsenic is 5 ppm.

 

Nityananda Das gives a characteristically emotion-charged lead up to the

"3ppm" figure by saying that only "farmers who are regularly exposed over a

long term basis to agricultural herbicides and pesticides containing arsenic

compounds MIGHT temporarily attain a level of 1.0 parts per million." As we

can see from the above studies this is patently UNTRUE.

 

In his report on the 2.6 ppm figure, Dr. Morris gives no real interpretation

of the results, except to say that this figure is approximately 20 times the

figure one would expect to find as a normal average among unexposed

individuals living in the United states. However there are obvious

difficulties in a blanket application of this figure for all times and

places. We need only to look at the proven arsenic levels of Didima Mataji

of 1.4 ppm. Using the above interpretation, her hair contains more than ten

times the average one would expect for someone living in the United States.

 

Because of the large range of "normal" values for hair arsenic levels, some

authorities actually recommend that these values shouldn't be relied upon at

all when applied to an individual, but should only be used where a group of

individuals from the same area can be measured and compared to the average

of that particular group.

 

In the standard handbook of clinical toxicology 'Clinical Management of

Poisoning and Drug Overdose', Doctors Hall and Robertson make this point

very strongly with regard to arsenic hair analysis.

 

Under no circumstances should any credence be paid to hair analysis of an

individual patient, unless perhaps it is conducted as part of an

epidemiologic investigation of a group of patients. Such results ought to be

applied only to the group.

 

We can see the work of Armienta et al. cited above illustrates this point

nicely. Their reference group had an average concentration of 4.8 ppm

arsenic, while the affected group showed 9.22 ppm. By analyzing the data in

terms of the particular locales, they were able to obtain meaningful

results. However, had they blindly followed the rule of 0.13 ppm as the

standard level, the reference (unaffected) group would have showed more than

35 times the average for unexposed persons. This is the kind of reasoning

Nityananda Das has (mis)used to try and make his case.

 

Another problem with the analysis performed on the hair relic from

Prabhupada's clippers is that it is an extremely small quantity of sample.

Generally, forensic toxicologists prefer to have a reasonably large group of

hair clippings, taken from various parts of the head. Due to large

variations in concentrations of metals among different hair strands, it is

important to obtain a reasonably large sample amount for testing, otherwise

the results may be misleading. The amount of hair assayed by Dr. Morris was

0.0013 grams, a very small amount that was caught between the blades of the

clippers. It is an extremely tenuous proposition to base a murder case on

such a small amount of hair, especially as the amount of arsenic - 2.6 ppm -

is in itself nothing like proof of arsenical intoxication.

 

Doctors Corso and Hindmarsh make the same point when exposing the

fallaciousness of the Napoleon poisoning theory.

 

Even when external contamination can be excluded by other evidence, the

relationship between the degree of poisoning and hair arsenic levels is only

approximate. Traditional interpretations are based on mean concentrations

found in a minimum of 1 gram of hair, usually collected form several sites

on the head. Variations from hair to hair, and even along the same strand of

hair, are large, making the interpretation of data derived from individual

hairs or from specific locations on a single hair less predictive than mean

levels from larger samples.

 

Therefore the results obtained from a meager 0.0015 grams of sample should

be viewed with extreme caution, especially if they do not indicate an

obviously elevated level of arsenic, i.e. more than 10 ppm.

 

9. Expert scientists who are presently working in the field of hair analysis

and neutron activation agree that levels under 10ppm cannot be considered

indicative of arsenic poisoning.

 

During investigations into the poison issue, we contacted various

laboratories across the United States regarding possible testing of a hair

sample from Srila Prabhupada. These professionals provided a number of

interesting facts that are very relevant to this discussion.

 

Keep in mind that the information relayed below was given totally

unsolicited from persons who have no connection with ISKCON, nor even had

any idea about why we were enquiring about testing for arsenic.

 

Larry Kovar from General Activation Analysis, one of the only labs in the

world that does commercial neutron activation outside of a university, had

this to say about arsenic levels in hair.

 

For your information, my hair has about 3 ppm Arsenic - the last time I

tested it (I'm still alive, I hope) If you send samples to a lab, send some

of your own as a control.

 

This squarely puts the 2.6 ppm reported for Srila Prabhupada, and the poison

theory in general as expounded by Nityananda, firmly where it belongs; i.e.

the 'circular file'. When I mentioned to Larry in a later correspondence

about the 3 ppm reported by Nityananda Das, he had the following to say.

 

Not sure where the As came from - 3 ppm could be "normal" and not from an

external source.

 

When I asked about retesting the hair that was tested by Dr Morris, Larry

had this to say.

 

A low (less than 10 ppm) value shows the hair is "normal". A high value

(greater than 10 ppm) indicates Arsenic exposure. Since the hair has been

tested at 3 ppm As, I feel a re-test is not necessary… I have discussed this

with Dr Vince Guinn, a well-known researcher in this field, and he agrees.

 

After Larry found that his facility didn't have the required reactor time to

perform the tests, he contacted Dr. Richard Cashwell at the University of

Wisconsin about performing the analysis. Dr Cashwell wrote back with the

following information regarding his own experience with neutron activation

analysis for hair arsenic.

 

We ran a series of As in hair determinations years ago; the highest "normal"

sample we saw was 12 ppm- from a physics graduate student from Scotland. I'd

agree with your normal range.

 

What this means is that trained professional scientists who are working in

this very specialized field of neutron activation analysis for hair arsenic

content, all confer that any value up to 10 ppm arsenic can be considered to

be "normal" levels. Therefore we are left to either believe these experts,

and all of the other scientists and doctors quoted above, or Nityananda Das

who has no experience or background in this field whatsoever.

 

Conclusion

 

Based on the documented evidence, there are absolutely NO GROUNDS to claim

that the 2.6 ppm arsenic level for Srila Prabhupada's hair is a clear

indicator of poisoning. Hair can absorb arsenic from any number of possible

external sources, thus raising the apparent concentration of arsenic.

Therefore no forensic pathologist will return a finding of poisoning based

on hair analysis alone, without specific clinical symptoms of arsenicosis.

 

Even if external contamination could be ruled out (which it clearly cannot

in this case), the figure of 2.6 ppm is not high enough to warrant

suspicion. Studies have shown average hair concentrations of up to 4.8 ppm

in city populations unexposed to arsenic, and a report of 15 different

studies by the Toxicology Dept. at MIT Cambridge gives a range of average

values for normal (healthy) individuals as being 0.13 - 3.71 ppm arsenic.

 

So far we have demonstrated that there is no medical evidence in terms of

specific symptoms for arsenic poisoning of Prabhupada and that he displayed

all the classic clinical signs of diabetic nephropathy (kidney failure).

This diagnosis was confirmed by the surgeon who operated on Prabhupada in

his final days and by numerous Ayurvedic physicians. The present paper

explains why the figure of 2.6 ppm arsenic in Prabhupada's hair is not

indicative of poisoning. This now leaves the entire poison theory edifice

resting on the slender thread of a few whispers, which have been interpreted

variously, and the apparently "clear" messages heard when conversations of

1977 are played backwards on a tape recorder.

 

Considering the lack of any evidence of substance, it is hoped that it is

only a matter of time until the entire issue is put to rest and we can all

get back to doing what Prabhupada wanted us to do, i.e. giving Krishna

consciousness to so many suffering in complete forgetfulness of their

eternal relationship with Krishna.

 

In conclusion, there is absolutely no information, either factual or

scientific which can support the theory of the chronic arsenic poisoning of

Srila Prabhupada.

 

References

 

1. Arsenic in Ground Water in Six districts of West Bengal, India: The

Biggest Arsenic Calamity in the World. Das D. et al. Analyst

1995;120:917-924

2. Misuse of Hair Analysis for Nutritional Assessment. Rivlin, R. The

American Journal of Medicine 1983; 75; 489.

3. Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 2nd edition.

Haddad Winchester.

4. Comprehensive Review in Toxicology for Emergency Clinicians. 3rd

edition. Bryson, P. 1996. Taylor and Francis.

5. Further Scientific Evidence of the Non-Poisonous Death of Napoleon.

Corso, P. & Nindmarsh, T. Science Progress 1996; 79 (2): 89-96.

6. Hair Analysis Does Not Support Hypothesized Arsenic and Chromium

Exposure from Drinking Water in Woburn, Massachusetts. Rogers, C. et al.

Environmental Health Perspectives. 1997;10: 1090.

7. Arsenic Content in Hair of People Exposed to Natural Arsenic

Polluted Groundwater at Zimapan, Mexico. Armienta, R. et al. Bulletin of

Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 1997;59: 583-589.

8. The Death of Napoleon Bonaparte: A Critical Review of the Cause.

Hindmarsh & Corso. Journal of the History of Medicine. 1998;53:201-218.

9. TKG's Diary. Tamal Krishna Goswami.

10. Larry Kovar, Richard Cashwell, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Bhakti Caru

Swami, Hari Sauri Das, Abhirama Das, Andrew McIrvine - Personal

communication with author (e-mail) 1999.