How much nicotine kills a human? Tracing back the generally accepted lethal dose to dubious self-experiments in the nineteenth century

Introduction:
This text provides a historical investigation into the origin of the widely accepted lethal dose of nicotine, which is estimated to be 60 mg. The author traces back the source of this estimate to a German textbook published in 1906 by Rudolf Kobert and examines the validity of the self-experiments that led to this conclusion.

Key Points:

* The estimate of 60 mg as the lethal dose of nicotine originates from a 1906 German textbook by Rudolf Kobert.
* Kobert based this estimate on self-experiments performed in the mid-nineteenth century, which are of questionable validity.
* More recent studies have shown that intravenous administration of up to 5 mg of nicotine (corresponding to 25 mg oral) leads to only minor adverse effects.
* The 60-mg estimate is still accepted without scrutiny and taken as the basis for worldwide safety regulations of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products.
* Nicotine is a toxic compound, but the frequent warnings of potential fatalities caused by ingestion of small amounts of tobacco products or diluted nicotine-containing solutions are unjustified.
* More than 0.5 g of oral nicotine is required to kill an adult.
* The author argues that the 60-mg estimate is based on dubious self-experiments and needs to be revised in light of more recent studies.

Main Message:
The text highlights the importance of re-evaluating widely accepted scientific estimates in light of new evidence. The author argues that the 60-mg estimate of the lethal dose of nicotine is based on dubious self-experiments and needs to be revised. The text emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding of nicotine toxicity and suggests that the frequent warnings of potential fatalities caused by ingestion of small amounts of tobacco products or diluted nicotine-containing solutions are unjustified. Overall, the text calls for a critical examination of established scientific knowledge and a willingness to revise it in light of new evidence.

Mayer, Bernd. “How Much Nicotine Kills a Human? Tracing Back the Generally Accepted Lethal Dose to Dubious Self-Experiments in the Nineteenth Century.” Archives of Toxicology 88, no. 1 (January 2014): 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-013-1127-0.