Karen Wetterhahn

Karen Wetterhahn was a distinguished chemist and professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, known for her research on the effects of heavy metals on living organisms. Tragically, she made headlines due to her untimely death caused by mercury poisoning from a minuscule drop of dimethylmercury that accidentally contaminated her skin during an experiment. Despite following safety protocols, the chemical penetrated her latex gloves, leading to severe health complications that ultimately resulted in her death ten months later. Wetterhahn's legacy has had a lasting impact on laboratory safety practices and has led to increased awareness about the dangers of hazardous materials in scientific research.