thallium poisoning, a toxic condition caused by the ingestion or absorption through the skin of thallium salts, especially thallium sulfate. Characteristic of the condition are abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, tremor, delirium, and alopecia. Thallium has been used in insect and rodent poisons, fireworks, and some cosmetic hair removers, but this extremely toxic and cumulative poison was banned for use in household products in 1965.
