All types of poisons. The most powerful poison
Any toxic substances, be they chemical or plant, pose a serious danger to the body. Science knows dozens and hundreds of the strongest poisons, many of which are used by man himself, and not for good deeds - this includes terrorism, genocide, and much more. But there were also times when poisons were considered medicines. One way or another, toxic substances are still undergoing active research in laboratories. What is the most powerful poison in the world?
Cyanide
Cyanides are a class of harmful, potent substances that are dangerous to humans. Their toxicity is explained by their immediate effect on the respiratory functions of cells, which, in turn, stops the work of the entire body. Cells stop functioning, organs fail. All this leads to a very serious condition, fraught with death. Cyanide itself is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid.
Externally, cyanide is a white powder with a crystalline structure. It is quite unstable and dissolves well in water. We are talking about the most famous type - potassium cyanide, and there is also sodium cyanide, which is also quite toxic. The poison is obtained not only in the laboratory, but also extracted from plants. It is important to know that some foods may contain this substance in small quantities. Almonds and fruit seeds are dangerous. But the poisoning is cumulative.
Cyanide is often used in industrial production - in particular, the production of paper, some fabrics, plastics, as well as in reagents for photo development. In metallurgy, cyanide is used to purify metals from impurities; and in grain storage facilities rodents are destroyed using means based on this poison. The lethal dose of the most dangerous poison in the world is 0.1 mg/l, and death occurs within an hour. If the quantity is greater, then in ten minutes. First, the person loses consciousness, then stops breathing, and then the heart stops.
This substance was first isolated by the German chemist Bunsen, and in 1845 production methods were developed in industrial scale
Anthrax spores
These substances are causative agents of extremely dangerous infectious disease, most often ending in death. People who come into contact with livestock are at risk of contracting Bacillus Anthracis. Disputes can be very for a long time stored in the ground of a cattle burial ground.
The disease has been killing people for centuries, especially during the Middle Ages. And only in the 19th century Louis Pasteur managed to create a vaccine against it. He studied the resistance of animals to poisons by injecting them with a weakened strain of ulcer, which resulted in the development of immunity. In 2010, US scientists created an even more effective vaccine against the disease.
Anthrax spores are found in all secretions of a sick animal, ending up with them in water and soil. Thus, they can spread hundreds of kilometers from the source of infection. In African countries, insects can also become infected with poison, blood drinkers. Incubation ranges from several hours to seven days. The poison causes irreparable damage to blood vessels, causing swelling, loss of sensitivity, and inflammation. Carbuncles begin to appear on the skin; It is especially dangerous if they occur on the face. Subsequently, a host of other unpleasant symptoms may occur, from diarrhea to bloody vomiting. Often the patient will die at the end.
The disease caused by anthrax spores develops extremely quickly and causes terrible external and internal damage.
Many residents of Russia remember this name from school lessons OBZh. One of the most toxic substances on Earth since 1991 refers to weapons mass destruction. And it was discovered in 1938 by a chemical company in Germany and from the very beginning was intended for military purposes.
Under normal conditions, sarin is an odorless liquid that evaporates quickly. Since it cannot be smelled, poisoning can only be known when symptoms appear.
Moreover, poisoning occurs through inhalation of steam, and through contact with skin or entry into the oral cavity.
Sarin binds certain enzymes, in particular protein, as a result of which it can no longer support nerve fibers.
Mild degree poisoning is expressed in shortness of breath and weakness. In moderate cases, constriction of the pupils, lacrimation, severe headache, nausea, and trembling of the limbs occurs. If timely assistance is not provided, death occurs in 100% of cases, but even if assistance is provided, every second poisoned person dies. Severe degree is characterized by the same symptoms as moderate, but they are more pronounced and progress faster. Vomiting occurs, spontaneous excretion of feces and urine occurs, and an incredible headache appears. A minute later the person faints, and five minutes later he dies from damage to the respiratory center.
Sarin was not used in World War II due to Hitler's prejudice against poisonous gases.
Amatoxin
This is the most powerful poison that is independently produced in nature, it more powerful than poison any snake. It is mainly found in white toadstools and when ingested, it affects the kidneys and liver, and then gradually kills all cells over the course of several days.
The poison is very insidious: the first symptoms appear only after 12 hours, and sometimes up to a day. Of course, it’s already too late to do gastric lavage; you need to call an ambulance. Within two days, traces of amatoxin can be detected in a urine test. Activated carbon and the drug cephalosporin can also help the patient, and especially difficult cases have to resort to a liver transplant. But even after recovery, the patient may suffer from heart, kidney and liver failure for a long time.
A large dose of penicillin is used as an antidote; if it is not introduced, then a person dies on average within a week
This is a poison of plant origin, most often used in baiting small rodents. It has been produced in the laboratory since 1818, extracting it from seeds African plant Chilibukhs. Strychnine is mentioned in many detective novels, where characters die from exposure to this substance. One of the properties of strychnine is also played out: at the very beginning, it causes a sharp and powerful surge of strength by blocking some neurotransmitters.
The substance is used in the production of medicines, but drugs containing strychnine nitrate are prescribed only in the most extreme cases. Indirect indications for use may be neurological diseases in which nerve impulses are inhibited; poor appetite; impotence; severe forms of alcoholism that cannot be cured by other methods.
Symptoms of poisoning with this poison are similar to the primary symptoms of tetanus. These include difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, fear of light and convulsions.
A dose of 1 milligram per 1 kilogram of body weight is fatal.
The first information about mercury has reached us from the depths of time; it is mentioned in documents dating back to 350 BC, and archaeological excavations have also found more ancient traces. The metal was widely used and continues to be used in medicine, art, and industry. Its vapors are extremely toxic, and poisoning can be either immediate or cumulative. First of all, harm is done to the nervous system, and then to other systems of the body.
The initial symptoms of mercury poisoning are trembling of the fingers and eyelids, and later - of all parts of the body. Then there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, insomnia, headache, vomiting, memory impairment. In case of poisoning by vapors, rather than mercury compounds, damage to the respiratory tract is initially noticed. If exposure to the substance is not stopped promptly, it can be fatal.
The effects of mercury poisoning can be inherited
Most often, a person encounters mercury from a thermometer, especially if it breaks. But not everyone knows exactly how to act in this situation. First you need to quickly collect all the parts of the thermometer and the mercury balls. This needs to be done as carefully as possible, because the remaining particles can cause irreparable harm residents, especially children and animals. This is done with rubber gloves. In hard-to-reach places, you can collect mercury using a syringe or patch. Place everything collected in a tightly closed container.
Next step– thorough cleaning of the room, also performed using gloves (already new) and a medical mask. A highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate is suitable for processing. Wipe absolutely all surfaces in the house with this solution using a rag. Fill any gaps, cracks and other depressions with mortar. It is advisable to leave everything in this form for at least a day. For the next few days, ventilate the room daily.
You can call specialists who will make sure that there is no mercury or its vapor in the house if the thermometer breaks
Tetrodotoxin
The most effective defense mechanisms that nature has endowed living beings with are neurotoxins. These are substances that specifically damage the nervous system. Tetrodotoxin is perhaps the most dangerous and unusual of them. It is found in a variety of both terrestrial and aquatic animals. The substance tightly blocks the channels nerve cells, which causes muscle paralysis.
The most common source of poisoning in Japan was eating fugu fish. It is surprising that today this fish is still used in cooking and is considered a delicacy - however, you need to know which parts to eat and in what season to catch the fish. Poisoning occurs extremely quickly, in some cases within six hours. It begins with a slight tingling of the lips and tongue, followed by vomiting and weakness, after which the patient falls into a coma. Effective emergency measures help has not yet been developed. Only artificial respiration can prolong life, because before death, breathing first stops, and only after a while does the heart stop beating.
Tetrodotoxin has been studied for many years, but not all details about it have yet been discovered.
The poisons described above have an extremely harmful effect on animal organisms, so extreme care must be taken when handling them. It is better if professionals do this.
October 7th, 2009
If you want to be healthy, douse yourself, don’t touch this rubbish, or better yet, avoid it altogether...
The deadliest things on our planet.
Pale grebe- Destroying Angel. The first physical signs of poisoning are usually nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. After a feeling of slight discomfort, there is a sharp pain in the abdomen, severe vomiting, intense thirst, and cyanosis of the extremities, as well as yellowness of the eyes and skin as liver damage. The patient remains conscious almost until the end, with brief intervals of loss of consciousness, then coma and death.
Dog fish(Pufferfish). The poison tetraodontoxin is found in the ovaries of this fish and is not destroyed by heat treatment. In case of poisoning, speech is difficult, and paralysis of the respiratory system quickly develops, accompanied by paralysis of the central nervous system. The cause of death is most often convulsions or respiratory arrest, which occur within one to two hours after the poison enters the body.
Castor bean-Castor Beans. Signs of poisoning are bitterness in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, drowsiness, cyanosis, stupor, impaired microcirculation, blood in the urine, ultimately coma, and death; the toxic agent, even in low concentrations, causes the dissolution of red blood cells; in serious cases, hemorrhages develop throughout the body. Castor beans can also lead to premature birth in pregnant women. Autopsies of patients who have died from castor bean poisoning show that the vomit and stool contain blood.
Belladonna. All parts of the plant are deadly poisonous, especially its roots, leaves, and berries. The poison paralyzes the parasympathetic nervous system by blocking nerve endings.
Viper Venom. Snake venom affects the blood and nervous system, it is less poisonous when it enters the mouth than into the blood... The victim of a viper bite bleeds from the wound, has a fever and chills. Poisoning is accompanied by swelling or hemorrhages above the elbows or knees. These signs usually appear within two hours after the bite. Then fainting, bleeding from the nose and mouth, loss of vision, followed by loss of consciousness. Death caused by cardiorespiratory disorders is inevitable if an antidote is not administered in time.
Barbados nut or Physical nut. The threat lies in the deceptively pleasant taste of the seeds. However, make no mistake - each seed contains at least 55 percent of the active substance "Hell oil", which blocks protein synthesis in the intestinal wall and can lead to death.
Hemlock. Signs of poisoning are a gradual loss of coordination, accompanied by a fast and weakened pulse, pain in the muscles as they atrophy and eventually die. Although the mind remains clear, vision often deteriorates until the victim succumbs to pulmonary paralysis. It is believed that Socrates was poisoned with the juice of this plant, and not hemlock, as previously thought.
Cobra Venom has mainly neurotoxic effects. Its strength is enough to cause the death of a person after the first full bite. In such cases, the mortality rate may exceed 75 percent. However, taking into account all the behavioral characteristics of the king cobra, in general, only 10 percent of bites are fatal to humans.
Datura. All parts of the plant contain poisonous alkaloids. If it enters the gastrointestinal tract, it affects the nervous system, causing cardiac dysfunction and paralysis.
Lily of the valley. Contains a cardiac glycoside in a fairly high concentration, in small doses it stimulates the work of a weakened heart muscle, but in case of an overdose it leads to arrhythmias and blockade of the electrical conductivity of the heart, necessary for its normal contractions. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Poisoning manifests itself as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache pain and pain in the epigastric region. In severe cases, the rhythm and frequency of heart contractions are disturbed, and the pulse, as a rule, becomes rare. Sometimes the nervous system is also affected. This is evidenced by agitation, visual disturbances, convulsions, and loss of consciousness.
Aconite has neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, numbness of the tongue, lips, cheeks, tips of fingers and toes, a crawling sensation, sensations of heat and cold in the extremities. Intoxication with aconite is characterized by a transient visual disturbance - the patient sees objects in green. There is also drooling, followed by dry mouth, thirst, headache, anxiety, convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face and limbs, and loss of consciousness. Breathing is rapid, shallow, and may suddenly stop.
Rhododendron. Contains glucoside substances - andromedotoxin, ericoline. Andromedotoxin has a local irritant and general narcotic effect, first stimulating and then depressing the central nervous system; greatly upsets the activity of the heart, in a peculiar way, like veratrine, it affects the muscle. Poisoning develops very quickly. Often, within a few hours of eating rhododendron leaves and branches, death occurs.
Tubocurarine chloride. White crystalline powder, in traumatology d-tubocurarine is sometimes used to relax muscles during reposition of fragments, reduction of complex dislocations... Side effects from the use of tubocurarine are observed only with its overdose; in this case, the patient may develop respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and, as a result, death.
Rhubarb. Rhubarb can only be eaten in early spring, until the air temperature rises above 15-17° C. In early spring, malic acid predominates in rhubarb, then its content increases, and with increasing temperature in hot weather Oxalic acid accumulates in the petioles, which is harmful to the body: it forms poorly excreted salts and removes calcium contained in the blood. Consumption of oxalic acid in an amount of 3-4 g at once is dangerous not only for children, but also for adults. In case of poisoning, vomiting, convulsions, and kidney failure may occur. In the first two days, death can occur from asphyxia, shock, or cardiovascular failure. In the next 2 weeks after poisoning, severe complications such as acute renal failure, repeated collapses, profuse bleeding, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and gastric perforation may occur, which can lead to death.
Gila monster- a large reptile, with a very beautiful black and orange pattern throughout the body. The Latin name for this beautiful lizard- Heloderma suspectum or poison tooth. There are grooves on the upper and lower jaws, into which the channels of highly developed poisonous glands approach. When biting, the teeth go deep into the victim's body. Venom tooth bites are very painful and act almost the same as snake bites. The venom is neurotoxic, meaning that when it bites, it paralyzes its victim. For small animals, the lizard's venom is fatal; in humans it usually causes very severe swelling, but can sometimes lead to death.
Croton oil- liquid obtained from the seeds of the Croton tiglium plant. It has a strong laxative effect and irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Even in small quantities (over 20 drops) it is life-threatening. Crotonal is toxic and mutagenic. When a person inhales its vapors, irritation of the mucous membrane, pharyngitis, cough, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and the onset of shock or unconsciousness occurs. Contact directly with the liquid results in severe skin redness, irritation, pain and burns. When poison gets inside, the whole body is poisoned, the central nervous system is damaged, and tumors form. In case of tactile contact, skin scarring occurs.
Digitalis. Nowadays, digitalis purpurea is used to produce medicines that stimulate the cardiovascular system. Active biological substances from digitalis tend to accumulate in the body and can be harmful or even fatal to a person with a healthy heart. The grass and rhizomes of foxglove are saturated with the toxin digitalin. Poisoning is accompanied by irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, the pulse becomes rapid and arrhythmic, and general weakness and shortness of breath are observed. Convulsions may develop before death.
Codeine is an almost clear, odorless substance with a rather bitter taste, which is available in either powder or liquid form. When used in high doses, like other opiates, it can cause euphoria. Serious poisoning is often possible when taking a large number of tablets of some codeine-containing medications. Due to the fact that with regular use of codeine, an addictive phenomenon is observed (similar to addiction to heroin and other drugs of the opiate group), it is released with the same restrictions as other narcotic analgesics. In case of severe codeine poisoning, breathing disorders are possible, up to paralysis with preserved consciousness, as well as a significant fall blood pressure.
Poisonous octopus(blue ringed octopus). Its venom, which belongs to the group of neurotoxins, is so powerful that it can kill an adult, especially if the octopus bites in the neck or in the area close to the spine. There is simply no vaccine for its poison
Dimethyl sulfate. Used in the manufacture of paints, drugs, perfumes and pesticides, most poisonings from dimethyl sulfate occur due to leakage of liquid or vapor. Signs of poisoning will be more pronounced if alcohol is present. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and headache occur. Possible increase in temperature, excitability, pain in the limbs, visual and hearing impairment, mental disorders. In severe cases, tremor, ataxia, loss of consciousness, paroxysmal clonic-tonic convulsions resembling epileptic seizures, and coma develop. A pathological examination reveals pronounced vascular disorders and degenerative changes in the parenchymal organs, brain and adrenal glands.
Nicotine. It is estimated that lethal dose nicotine for humans is 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight, i.e. about 50 - 70 mg for a teenager. Consequently, death can occur if a teenager smokes half a pack of cigarettes at the same time, because a whole pack contains exactly one lethal dose of nicotine.
Wart. A fish with a row of spines on its back that release a poisonous toxin. This is the most dangerous venomous fish known and its venom causes extreme pain with possible shock, paralysis and tissue death depending on the depth of penetration. At the slightest irritation, the wart raises the spines of the dorsal fin; sharp and durable, they easily pierce the shoes of a person who accidentally steps on a fish, and penetrate deep into the foot. If penetrated deeply, the injection can be fatal to a person if he does not receive medical attention within a few hours. If the thorn gets into a large blood vessel, death can occur within 2-3 hours. Survivors sometimes remain ill for months. The venom consists of a mixture of proteins, including hemolytic stonustoxin, neurotoxin and cardioactive cardioleptin. Typically, surviving victims suffer localized nerve damage, sometimes leading to atrophy of the attached muscle tissue. The pain can be so severe that injection victims want to cut off the injured limb.
Hydrogen sulfide- a colorless, poisonous gas heavier than air with an unpleasant odor of rotten eggs. It can be released during the process of decay and accumulates in lowlands. Very toxic. At high concentrations, a single inhalation can cause instant death. At low concentrations, adaptation to unpleasant smell“rotten eggs”, and it ceases to be felt. A sweetish metallic taste appears in the mouth. The first symptom of acute poisoning is loss of smell. Subsequently, headache, dizziness and nausea appear. Sometimes, after a while, sudden fainting occurs.
Oleander- a large evergreen shrub. All parts of the plant are poisonous, moreover, the smoke from the burning plant and the water in which the flowers stood are poisonous. The plant contains a number of cardiac glycosides (oleandrin, cornerin, etc.). Oleander juice, taken internally, causes severe colic in humans and animals, vomiting and diarrhea... It also affects the nervous system (even to the point of coma). Cardiac glycosides cause cardiac arrest.
Phencyclidine(phencyclidine, PCP) - widely used in veterinary medicine for short-term immobilization of large animals. It has been noted to cause dissociated anesthesia. Phencyclidine is easy to synthesize. People who use phencyclidine are primarily young people and polydrug addicts. The true prevalence of phencyclidine drug addiction is unknown, but national data suggests that cases have recently increased in the United States. PCP is either taken orally, smoked, or administered intravenously. It is also used as an additive to illegally sold delta-tetrahydrocannabinol, LSD and cocaine. The most common homemade drug of PCP is called "angel dust." Low doses of phencyclidine (5 mg) cause restlessness, agitation, incoordination, dysarthria, and anesthesia. Horizontal and vertical nystagmus, hot flashes, profuse sweat, and hyperacusis are also possible. Mental disorders include disruption of body schema, incoherent thinking, derealization, and depersonalization. Higher doses (5-10 mg) cause increased salivation, vomiting, myoclonus, hyperthermia, stupor and coma. In doses of 10 mg or more, phencyclidine causes epileptic seizures, opisthotonus and decerebrate rigidity, which can be followed by prolonged coma. Acute psychosis caused by phencyclidine should be considered a psychiatric emergency with a high risk of suicide or violent crimes.
Parathion(Parathion) - organophosphorus compound - pesticide; when it is inhaled, enters the gastrointestinal tract, or is absorbed through the skin, poisoning occurs. Like some other organophosphate compounds, parathion interferes with the enzyme cholinesterase, resulting in excessive stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning include headaches, profuse sweating and salivation, lacrimation, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle spasms.
TEPP cholinesterase inhibitor-used mainly as insecticides and can cause poisoning. Symptoms - headache, loss of depth perception, convulsions, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, general paralysis, involuntary urination and defecation, drop in blood pressure, death.
Yew tree. All parts of the plant are poisonous, except the red fruits. The wood, bark and leaves of yew contain the alkaloid taxin and are therefore poisonous to humans and many other animals, although, for example, hares and deer eat yew willingly and without harm to themselves. The older the yew needles, the more poisonous they are.
Carbon Tetrachloride(Carbon Tetrachloride) is a caustic volatile liquid used as a dry cleaner. When its vapors are inhaled or swallowed, it causes severe damage to the heart, liver and kidneys (for example, the patient may develop cirrhosis of the liver or kidney nephrosis), affects the optic nerve and some other nerves in the human body.
Strychnine- an alkaloid contained in the seeds of tropical plants of the genus strychnos. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, and in toxic doses causes characteristic tetanic convulsions...
Clostridium botulinum(Clostridium botulinum) is a gram-positive bacterium of the genus Clostridium, the causative agent of botulism, a severe food intoxication caused by botulinum toxin and characterized by damage to the nervous system. Botulinum toxin accumulates in food products infected with C. botulunum spores during their germination if anaerobic conditions are created (for example, during canning). For humans, botulinum toxin is the most potent bacterial poison, having a detrimental effect at a dose of 10-8 mg/kg. C. botulinum spores can withstand boiling for 6 hours, sterilization at high blood pressure destroys them after 20 minutes, 10% hydrochloric acid after 1 hour, 50% formaldehyde after 24 hours. Botulinum toxin type A(B) is completely destroyed when boiled for 25 minutes. The incubation period for botulism ranges from several hours to 2-5 days (rarely up to 10 days). On the first day, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are noted. Further, neurosymptoms associated with damage to nerve centers predominate: impaired accommodation, double vision, difficulty swallowing, aphonia. In severe forms of botulism, death occurs from respiratory paralysis, sometimes from sudden cardiac arrest.
Potassium cyanide- potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid, chemical formula KCN. Strong inorganic poison. When hit through digestive tract lethal dose for humans is 1.7 mg/kg. Sometimes large doses are tolerated; the effect may slow down when the stomach is filled with food. Potassium cyanide is a powerful inhibitor. When it enters the body, it blocks the cellular enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, as a result of which cells lose the ability to absorb oxygen from the blood and the body dies from interstitial hypoxia.
Immense physical strength powerful fangs and razor-sharp teeth are not the only weapons used in the animal kingdom. Thousands of animals use highly toxic poisons for attack or defense.
We present to your attention the ten most poisonous creatures in the world.
(Total 14 photos)
1. Box jellyfish
Main prize our top goes to Box Jellyfish ( Chironex fleckeri), which received this name because of its cubic shape. Over the past 60 years, this handsome man has claimed about 6 thousand lives. Its venom is considered the deadliest in the world, with toxins affecting the heart, nervous system and skin cells.
And, even worse, all this is accompanied by such hellish pain that the victims go into a state of shock and either drown or die from cardiac arrest. If you immediately treat the wound with vinegar or a solution of acetic acid, the victim has a chance, but, as a rule, vinegar cannot be found in water 😉
Box jellyfish can be found in the sea waters of Asia and Australia.
2. King Cobra(Ophiophagus hannah)
The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest poisonous snake in the world, reaching 5.6 meters in length. Ophiophagus literally translates to "snake eater" as it eats other snakes. A single bite from this deadly snake can easily kill a person. It can kill even an adult Asian elephant within 3 hours if the animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.
Among the representatives of snakes there are also more poisonous ones than the King Cobra, but it is capable of releasing much more poison than others. For example, 5 times more than the Black Mamba.
The king cobra is widespread in the dense mountain forests of South and Southeast Asia.
3. Scorpio Leius quincestriatus
Contrary to popular belief, most scorpions are relatively safe for humans, since the stings only cause local effects (pain, anemia, swelling). However, Leiruses are very dangerous look scorpions because their venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins that causes intense and unbearable pain, followed by fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death.
Leiruses are common in North Africa and in the Middle East.
4. Taipan or Fierce Snake (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
Just one taipan bite contains enough venom to kill 100 adult humans or an army of 250,000 mice. Its extremely neurotoxic venom is at least 200-400 times more poisonous than that of a common cobra. In just 45 minutes after a bite, an adult can die. But fortunately, there is an antidote, and besides, this snake is very timid and immediately crawls away at the slightest danger.
Lives in Australia.
5. Darter frogs or poisonous frogs
If you ever manage to visit the rain forests of Central and South America, never touch the little ones beautiful frogs- they can be extremely poisonous. For example, the size of the Golden Dart frog is only 5 cm, and the poison in it is enough to kill 10 adults.
In the old days, local tribes used the poison of these frogs to lubricate the tips of their arrows.
6. Blue Ringed Octopus (Australian Octopus)
The Blue Ringed Octopus is a small, golf ball-sized, but extremely poisonous creature that lives in coastal waters around Australia and a little further north towards Japan. The blue-ringed octopus is usually light in color, with dark brown bands along its eight legs and body, with blue circles, added on top of these dark brown groups. When an octopus is disturbed or taken out of the water, it darkens and the rings become shiny and electric blue, and it is this color change that gives the animal its name.
Its poison is strong enough to kill a person. In fact, the octopus carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within a couple of minutes, and there is no antidote. If measures are not taken and treatment is not started, then the person begins to feel numbness, difficulty speaking, seeing, breathing problems arise, then complete paralysis and death occurs due to cardiac arrest and lack of oxygen.
7. Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider
This abomination was included in the Guinness Book of Records in 2007 for being guilty of the greatest number human deaths caused by spider bites. What is important is that these spiders are dangerous not only for their poison, but also for their behavior: they do not sit still and do not weave webs, they wander the earth, hiding in buildings, clothes, shoes, cars, anywhere; which significantly increases the risk of unexpectedly meeting them and being bitten.
8. Ball Fish or Puffer
Ball fish is the second most poisonous vertebrate animal on earth (the first is the Golden Dart frog from point 5). The meat of some subspecies, for example Fugu, is a delicacy in Japan and Korea, but the problem is that the surface of the fish and certain of its organs are very poisonous. The venom of fugu causes paralysis, resulting in suffocation and death from lack of oxygen.
Therefore, only licensed chefs are allowed to cook such fish in Japan.
9. Marbled Cone Snail
The marbled cone snail looks beautiful and very cute, but it can be just as deadly as any other animal on this list. A drop of its poison can kill 20 people. Signs of a bite: severe pain, swelling, numbness, and in serious cases, paralysis and respiratory failure. There is no antidote.
However, over the entire period, about 30 cases of human deaths from the poison of this snail have been recorded, which is not very much compared to other representatives of our list.
10. Stone fish
The stonefish may never win a beauty contest, but it will definitely win the "Most Beautiful" award. poisonous fish" The poison causes such unbearable pain that in search of salvation from suffering, victims wish to amputate the affected area. It is believed that the bite of a stone fish provokes severe pain, known to man. The pain is accompanied by shock, paralysis, and tissue death.
If you do not get immediate medical help, the outcome can be fatal.
Stonefish store their toxins in hideous dorsal ridges, which are designed to protect them from predators.
It is widespread in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from the Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef.
A poison is a toxin that can cause severe poisoning or even death. The effect on a person depends on the amount of poison, as well as its type. It can enter the body through the mouth, respiratory organs and skin. Symptoms of poisoning may appear immediately after contact or several hours later. First aid must be provided immediately after signs of intoxication appear.
Classification
Highlight the following types poisons:
- Local poisons, which include substances that act only upon direct contact. These are mercury, arsenic, alkalis and acids.
- Systemic poisons. After entering the body, they are sent through the blood to all organs. These are potassium cyanide, strychnine, hypnotics.
- Chemical poisons, which are classified as acids, alkalis, salts, gases. These are various organic and inorganic compounds.
Poisons can also be household poisons, that is, they are found in the immediate environment of a person. These are paints, herbicides, insecticides, rat poisons and other substances. Therefore, when using such products, you must take precautions - wear a mask on your face and rubber gloves on your hands.
The most dangerous poisons
There is a list of the most dangerous poisons in the world. Moreover, their danger lies in various reasons:
- Methyl alcohol. Such a substance, after entering the human body, causes intoxication. And if you drink it in large quantities, irreversible blindness or even death is possible. Therefore, at the first symptoms of poisoning, the patient must be given assistance and taken to the hospital. The danger of such poison is that it appearance, the taste and smell are completely identical to ethyl alcohol, so they can be easily confused.
- Mercury. It is contained in mercury thermometers. And if you break 2 thermometers in a room, then all the people in it will receive serious poisoning. The same substance is found in fluorescent lamps. Therefore, care must be taken when handling such items.
Mercury vapor is dangerous, and it begins to evaporate at room temperature. Therefore, if you break a thermometer or a lamp outdoors in winter, it’s not a big deal - the mercury balls can be collected and thrown away.
- Snake venom. Approximately 250 species of snakes are venomous. However, the antidote for each type of reptile must be separate. This is the danger - after the poison enters the blood, the antidote must be administered as soon as possible, otherwise death will occur within 20 minutes - 4 hours (depending on the type of snake).
- Potassium cyanide is the fastest-acting poison in the world. Moreover, you can be poisoned by it either by touching it or by inhaling it or if it gets in through the mouth. Under its influence, iron binds in blood cells, as a result of which the supply of oxygen to vital organs stops. Death occurs within a few minutes. The substance has the smell of bitter almonds. Neutralized by glucose, so ineffective in sweet environments.
Available poisons
Fly agarics can also be edible if prepared correctly. They need to be boiled for 24 hours, draining the water as often as possible. But it’s better not to risk it and eat honey mushrooms, russula, boletus and other edible mushrooms.
Potatoes can also contain dangerous poisons for the human body. If potatoes are stored incorrectly (if they get sunlight on the root crop), solanine is formed in it. This substance causes severe intoxication in humans. It is not difficult to identify low-quality potatoes - as a rule, their skin takes on a greenish tint.
At home, you can also easily become poisoned by chemical fertilizers. For example, potassium chloride is very dangerous because once it enters the bloodstream, the substance blocks the activity of the heart. Death occurs in just a few minutes.
Deadly poisons in nature
Scientists have compiled a list of poisons that, once ingested, have a high probability of death:
- A neurotoxin found in the venom of some snakes. Immediately after the bite, the victim becomes inactive and drowsy. But after a while, muscle cramps appear, breathing becomes more frequent. Death occurs within 20-30 minutes due to paralysis of the respiratory tract. Moreover, no hematomas or tumors appear at the site of the bite. However, such a snake bites very rarely. It is necessary to immediately administer the Anticobra antidote to the patient. If serious breathing problems are observed, ventilation is performed.
- Alpha-latrotoxin, which is contained in spider venom of the karakurt genus. At the moment of the bite, a burning sensation is observed, and after 20-30 minutes the pain spreads throughout the victim’s entire body. The patient’s well-being begins to improve within a few days, and after 2-3 weeks, his or her complete recovery occurs.
- An alpha-conotoxin found in the venom of some species of shellfish (eg, conus shellfish). If you take a shell with a mollusk in your hand, it immediately pierces it with spines. In this case, the victim feels unbearable pain, as a result of which he loses consciousness. After a few minutes, the heartbeat quickens, the fingers go numb, shortness of breath and paralysis of the limbs appear. Deaths have been reported after being pricked by the geographic cone. Moreover, there is no antidote. The patient can only be saved with copious bloodletting from the injection site.
- Titutoxin, which is produced by the yellow fat-tailed scorpion. The poison is so toxic that it kills even an adult. It is with the bite of this scorpion that 95% of all deaths from this poison are associated. They are found in Africa and the Middle East. It is immediately necessary to administer Anti-Scorpion serum, which will help save the victim’s life.
- And finally, the deadliest poison in the world is diamphotoxin. This is the most powerful poison on our planet. Contained in the blood of the larvae of the leaf beetle, common in the area South Africa. The insect belongs to the same family as the Colorado potato beetle. The poison is intended only for protection from predators - after eating the beetle, it dies from excruciating pain. After entering the victim’s body, the poison reduces the hemoglobin content by approximately 75%, since red blood cells are intensively destroyed. Poison can enter the human body only through the mouth. There is no antidote.
All poisons are very dangerous and deadly, so if you need to come into contact with them, you need to do this with the utmost caution. If you notice symptoms of poisoning with toxic substances, you must urgently call an ambulance. In some cases, even minutes decide the outcome of the situation. Therefore, if the poison is very dangerous, it is necessary to take an antidote as quickly as possible. Otherwise, there is a high probability of death.
The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus famously said: “All substances are poisons; there is not a single one that is not. The right dose makes the difference between the poison,” and he’s right. Even too much water will kill you. However, some substances require very small quantity to cause death - sometimes all it takes is for a drop to fall on a gloved hand - which is why they initially fell into the class of poisons. From flowers to heavy metals, from man-made gases to real poison, here are the 25 most dangerous poisons. known to mankind.
25. Cyanide can be in the form of a colorless gas or crystals, but in either case it is quite dangerous. It smells like bitter almonds, and once ingested, it can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, rapid breathing and increased heart rate, and weakness in just a few minutes. If left untreated, cyanide kills because cells are deprived of oxygen. And yes, cyanide can be obtained from apple seeds, but don't worry if you eat a few. You will need to eat about ten kernels before you have enough cyanide in your body to have any effect. negative impact. Please don't do this.
24. Hydrofluoric acid (Fluoric acid) is a poison used, among other things, in the production of Teflon. In its liquid state, this substance can easily seep through the skin into the bloodstream. In the body, it reacts with calcium and can even destroy the underlying bone. The scary part is that the contact doesn't cause any pain at first, leaving more time and opportunity for serious damage to occur.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
23. Arsenic is a naturally occurring crystalline semimetal and perhaps one of the best known and most common poisons used as a murder weapon in the late 19th century. However, its use for such purposes began in the mid-1700s. Arsenic poisoning can cause death within hours or days. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea, which made it difficult to distinguish arsenic poisoning from dysentery or cholera 120 years ago.
Photo: maxpixel
22. Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade is a very poisonous herb (flower) with a very romantic story. What makes it poisonous is an alkaloid called atropine, and the entire plant is poisonous, with the root containing the most poison and the berries the least. However, even two eaten are enough to kill a child. Some people use belladonna for relaxation as a hallucinogen, and in Victorian times women would often drop belladonna tincture into their eyes to dilate their pupils and make their eyes sparkle. Before you die under the influence of belladonna, you may experience a seizure, increased heart rate, and confusion. Don't play with belladonna, kids.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
21. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless substance and slightly less dense than air. It will poison and then kill you. Part of what makes carbon monoxide so dangerous is that it is difficult to detect; sometimes called the "silent killer". This substance prevents the body from delivering oxygen to where it is needed, such as to cells, to keep them alive and functioning. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu without fever: headache, weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, nausea and confusion. Fortunately, you can purchase a carbon monoxide detector at almost any specialty store.
Photo: wikimedia commons
20. The deadliest tree in all North America grows in Florida. Otherwise, where else would he grow? The Manchineel tree or Beach apple tree has small green fruits that look like apples and look like they would taste sweet. Don't eat them. And don't touch this tree. Don't sit next to it or under it, and pray you never end up in the wind under it. If the sap gets on your skin, it will blister, and if it gets in your eyes, you may go blind. The juice is contained in both the leaves and the bark, so do not touch them. Probably, the juice of this plant killed the conquistador Ponce de Leon, who discovered Florida.
Photo: nps.gov
19. Fluorine is a pale yellow gas that is highly poisonous, corrosive and will react with almost anything. For fluorine to be lethal, a concentration of 0.000025% is sufficient. It causes blindness and asphyxiates the victim like mustard gas, but its effects are much worse.
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18. The pesticide used is Compound 1080, also known as sodium fluoroacetate. IN natural form it is found in several plant species in Africa, Brazil and Australia. The terrible truth The thing about this deadly, odorless and tasteless poison is that there is no antidote for it. Oddly enough, the bodies of those who die from ingesting this poison remain poisonous for a whole year.
Photo: lizenzhinweisgenerator.de
17. The most dangerous man-made poison is called dioxin, and it only takes 50 micrograms to kill an adult. It is the third most toxic poison known to science, 60 times more toxic than cyanide.
Photo: wikimedia commons
16. Dimethylmercury (a neurotoxin) is a terrible poison because it can penetrate most standard protective equipment, such as thick latex gloves. This is exactly what happened to a female chemist named Karen Wetterhahn in 1996. A single drop of colorless liquid fell on my gloved hand, and that was it. Symptoms began to appear FOUR MONTHS later, and six months later she was dead.
Photo: wikipedia.org
15. Wolfsbane (Fighter) also known as "Monk's Hood", "Wolfsbane", "Leopard's Venom", "Women's Curse", "Devil's Helm", "Queen of Poisons" and "Blue Rocket". In fact it's whole family, which includes more than 250 herbs, and most of them are extremely poisonous. The flowers can be either blue or yellow, and while some of the plants are used for traditional medicine, it has also been used as a murder weapon over the past decade.
Photo: maxpixel
14. Toxin found in poisonous mushrooms, is called amatoxin. It attacks liver and kidney cells and kills them within a few days. Sometimes it also affects the heart and central nervous system. Treatment is available, but results are not guaranteed. The poison is temperature stable and cannot be removed by drying. So unless you are 100% sure they are safe, don't eat mushrooms.
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13. Actually anthrax is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. What makes you sick is not so much the bacteria, but the toxin they produce when they enter the body. Bacillus Anthracis can enter your system through the skin, mouth, or respiratory tract. The mortality rate from airborne anthrax reaches 75% even with treatment.
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12. The hemlock plant is a classic poisonous plant that was regularly used for executions in Ancient Greece, including for the philosopher Socrates. There are several varieties, and in North America, water hemlock is the most common plant. You could die from eating it, but people still do it, thinking hemlock is a perfectly acceptable salad ingredient. Water hemlock causes painful and severe convulsions, cramps and tremors. Those who survive may subsequently suffer amnesia or other long-term problems. Water hemlock is considered the deadliest plant in North America. Serious note: Supervise your children, even older ones, when they are outside. Don't eat anything unless you are 100% sure it is safe.
Photo: flickr.com
11. Strychnine is commonly used to destroy small mammals and birds, and is often the main ingredient in rat poison. In large doses, strychnine can also be fatal to humans. It can be swallowed, inhaled, or enter the body through the skin. The first symptoms: painful muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. Muscle contractions ultimately lead to suffocation. Death can occur within half an hour. This is a very unpleasant way to die, for both humans and rats.
Photo: flickr.com
10. Most of those who understand such things consider maytotoxin to be the most powerful marine toxin. It's found in a dinoflagellate algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus, and if those words confuse you, just think of deadly plankton to get the idea. For mice, meiototoxin is the most toxic among non-protein toxins.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
9. Mercury, the silvery liquid in old school thermometers, is a heavy metal that is quite toxic to humans if inhaled or touched. If you touch it, it can cause your skin to peel off, and if you inhale the mercury vapor, it will eventually shut down your central nervous system and you will die. Before then, you are likely to experience kidney failure, memory loss, brain damage and blindness.
Photo: flickr.com
8. Polonium is a radioactive chemical element and has been implicated in the deaths of everyone from Yasser Arafat to Russian dissidents. Its most common form is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid. It is radioactive and emits alpha particles (they are not compatible with organic tissues). Alpha particles cannot penetrate the skin, so polonium must be ingested or injected into the victim. However, if this happens, the result will not be long in coming. One theory is that a gram of polonium 210 could kill up to ten million people if injected or ingested, causing first radiation poisoning and then cancer.
Photo: flickr.com
7. Suicide tree or Cerbera odollam acts by disturbing the natural rhythm of the heart and often causing death. A member of the same family as Oleander, the plant was often used to perform the "innocence test" in Madagascar. An estimated 3,000 people a year died from drinking Cerberus poison before the practice was outlawed in 1861. (If you survived, you were found innocent. If you died, it didn't matter because you were dead).
Photo: wikipedia.org
6. Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, and it is an incredibly powerful neurotoxin. It causes paralysis, which can lead to death. You may know botulinum toxin by its commercial name, Botox. Yes, that's what the doctor injects into your mom's forehead to make it less wrinkled (or into her neck to help with migraines) to cause muscle paralysis.
Photo: flickr.com
5. Pufferfish is considered a delicacy in some countries, where it is called Fugu; it's a dish that some would literally die for. Why? Because the insides of the fish contain tetrodotoxin, and in Japan, approximately 5 people a year die from eating puffer fish as a result of improper preparation technology. But gourmets continue to persist.
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4. Sarin gas will give you the opportunity to survive the worst moments of your life. Your chest tightens, tighter, tighter, and then... it relaxes because you are dead. Although Sarin was outlawed in 1995, it has not stopped being used in terrorist attacks.
Photo: flickr
3. golden frog Poison Arrow is tiny, adorable and quite dangerous. Only one frog is the size of the end of your thumb contains enough neurotoxin to kill ten people! A dose equal to about two grains of salt is enough to kill an adult. This is why some Amazonian tribes used poison to coat the tips of their hunting arrows. One touch of such an arrow will kill you within minutes! Here's a great rule: if you see a frog and it's yellow, blue, green or red, don't touch it.
Photo: maxpixel
2. Ricin is more lethal than anthrax. This substance is obtained from the castor bean, the same plant from which we obtain castor oil. This poison is especially toxic if inhaled, and a pinch of it will kill you very quickly.
Photo: wikimedia commons
1. Codenamed “Purple Possum”, a VX gas, is the most powerful nerve gas on Earth. It is entirely man-made and we can thank the United Kingdom for that. It was technically banned in 1993, and the US allegedly destroyed its stockpile. Other countries are “working on it.” Which we should trust completely because governments are known to be 100% honest about these things.
Photo: wikimedia commons
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