Prussian blue is a colorfast pigment discovered in 1704, used in art, laundry, microscopy, and medicine. It can treat internal exposure to cesium or thallium, but should only be taken under medical guidance due to potential side effects.
Prussian blue is a pigment that has been produced since 1704, when Heinrich Diesbach discovered it almost by accident in Berlin, which was then in Prussia. This pigment is incredibly colorfast and was the first truly artificially created pigment to hit the market. The deep blue tone and colorfastness quickly made it immensely popular in Europe and beyond, and it continues to be used today. There are other uses for the pigment as well, ranging from brightening laundry to treating people who have been exposed to certain radioactive elements.
Pure Prussian blue is a very deep and rich blue. It can be mixed with other pigments to create different shades, or used alone. Painters, woodcutters, and textile artists all work with color, and it has also historically been used to produce designs. Many art supply stores stock it, along with an assortment of related colors, such as Chinese blue, which is a blend of Prussian blue and other pigments.
In laundry coloring, Prussian blue has historically been added in trace amounts to laundry water to make yellowed whites crisper. In microscopy, it is often used as a stain to look for traces of iron, and the chemical properties of the pigment are also used in chemistry. Different companies make various versions of it that are specifically targeted at these uses; the blue in artists’ pigments, for example, has a slightly different formula than the ferric ferrocyanide used in microscopy.
Medical professionals may also prescribe Prussian blue for use in treating people who have been exposed internally to cesium or thallium. Internal exposure can occur by ingestion or inhalation and can be quite dangerous if not treated quickly. The pigment binds to these elements, preventing the body from rapidly absorbing and expressing them through the intestines to minimize exposure. Prussian blue should not be taken by mouth without the guidance of a doctor, as it is very important to calculate an accurate dosage and to take a version specially designed for this use.
The most common side effect of this treatment is constipation. One of the more intriguing side effects is blue stools, caused by the expression of pigment from the body. Some patients also end up with a blue mouth if the capsules pop open while taking them.
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