What poison kills a person quickly. The most powerful poisons in the world

Poisonous substances lie in wait for us everywhere. Some of them have an almost immediate effect, while others can act slowly. The degree of intoxication in each specific case is different. It depends on the characteristics of the body and the amount of poison that has entered the body. Therefore, determining the most powerful poison in the world is problematic. Nevertheless, we can highlight a list of toxic substances that pose the greatest danger.

The most powerful poisonous chemicals

Potent poisons have been synthesized by scientists for military purposes. But sometimes toxic substances can be found in everyday conditions. Among the most dangerous of them are:

Mercury. It is contained in ordinary thermometers. If the integrity of the flask is not compromised, then mercury does not pose any health hazard. Cause irreparable harm can mercury vapor from broken thermometer. The evaporation process begins even when room temperature. It is prohibited to collect spilled mercury yourself. You must immediately seek help from a specialized service.
Methanol. This substance is often confused with food grade ethyl alcohol, which leads to serious poisoning. Methanol is colorless and odorless, so it is impossible to identify it without laboratory testing. Use even Not large quantity this substance can be fatal. a person loses his sight.
Potassium cyanide. This is the most powerful poison for humans. It is widely used in plastic products, photography, gold mining and some other fields. Poisoning occurs even from inhaling cyanide vapor. IN shortest time Respiratory failure develops and convulsions appear. In case of severe intoxication, death occurs.
Sarin. This is a substance that was synthesized by German scientists. They pursued the goal of creating the world's strongest pesticide. The resulting gas has gained fame as a poison that causes a long and painful death. Today, the deadly poison sarin is officially banned, but terrorists are trying to use it as a chemical weapon.
Arsenic. This element of the periodic table has long been used as a poison. They poisoned quite a few politicians. Symptoms of poisoning are similar to cholera. First of all, cramps and severe pain appear in the abdominal area. After large amounts of arsenic enter the body, heart disease develops, diabetes mellitus or cancer.

These substances are extremely dangerous for humans. Therefore, their features must be remembered.

The most dangerous poisons for humans are also found in plants. Such poisonings often await inexperienced mushroom pickers and other flora lovers. Special attention The following substances deserve:

Amatoxin is the most powerful protein poison. It is found in some mushrooms, including toadstool. Once in the human body, the toxin immediately begins to destroy internal organs. The first signs of intoxication may appear only after a few days. In this case, valuable time to save a person is lost, and doctors cannot guarantee a favorable prognosis. Even if the patient’s life can be saved, his health will be severely compromised. Most likely, a person will suffer from kidney or liver failure and problems with the respiratory system all his life. People often wonder what is more toxic pale grebe or potassium cyanide. In fact, these poisons can be placed on the same level in terms of toxicity.
Strychnine. This poison is found in the nuts of the chilibuha tree. In microscopic dosages it is used for medical purposes. If the permissible amount is exceeded, death occurs, but before this the person experiences severe suffering.
Ricin. Contained in castor beans. Inhalation of small grains of this substance is dangerous. Its poisoning ability is several times higher than that of potassium cyanide. Human death occurs if ricin is injected directly into the blood.
Curare. It is a poison that is produced from a mixture of plants in South America. Its main component is an alkaloid, which, when ingested, leads to paralysis and cardiac arrest. Death from curare is painful.

To avoid poisoning from such poisons, never eat unknown plants. Teach children about safety precautions when traveling outdoors.

If you notice the first symptoms of poisoning, consult a doctor immediately. Chances of salvation remain only if the problem is identified in a timely manner.

Animal poisons

Poison can kill a person instantly. Such toxic substances are often carried by animals. Among them are:

Toads chirp. The skin of these amphibians secretes chiriquitotoxin. This neurotoxin has a toxic effect on nervous system person. After intoxication, a person experiences severe convulsions, coordination of movements is impaired, and complete paralysis of the limbs may develop. The poison has strong impact if administered intramuscularly.
Puffer fish. The milk, caviar and liver of this fish contain tetrodotoxin. This substance causes severe poisoning, which is accompanied by severe itching, drooling, convulsions, and difficulty swallowing. The poison is fast, so as soon as possible paralysis develops respiratory system and the death of a person occurs.
Australian Taipan. The venom of this snake contains thaipotoxin. Its entry into the human blood leads to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and impaired blood clotting. This kind of snake venom is the most poisonous. In terms of poisoning ability, it is several times greater than cobra venom.
Karakurt. During the bite, the spider injects alpha-latrotoxin into the victim's blood. It leads to severe pain that spreads throughout the body in a matter of minutes. At the same time, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, increased heart rate, and bouts of vomiting occur.
Central Asian cobra. This snake's saliva contains a powerful neurotoxin. Its entry into the human blood provokes convulsions, breathing problems, and paralysis. If left untreated, death occurs. Such poisonings are rare, since the cobra attacks a person only in exceptional cases.

The poison may be contained in biological material any animal. Therefore, it is best to minimize contact with it, especially for wild fauna.

If you are bitten by a poisonous snake or spider, try to immediately suck the poison out of the wound. Remember that this can only be done if there is no damage to the oral cavity. Contact us as soon as possible medical care.

Bacteriological poisoning

Not only animals and plants, but also bacteria can pose a danger to humans. Their vital activity in the human body leads to the formation of strong toxins. Among them, the following can be particularly highlighted:

Botulinum toxin. It is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Its vital activity leads to the development of botulism in humans. This is a disease that can only be treated in the earliest stages. In other cases, the probability of death is extremely high. The bacterium multiplies quickly in the absence of oxygen, so poor quality canned food often becomes a source of poisoning.
Bacillus anthrax. Its entry into the body leads to the development of anthrax. This disease develops rapidly. There are cutaneous and intestinal forms. In the first case, death occurs in 20% of cases. With the intestinal form of the disease, no more than 5% of victims can be saved.
Tetanus toxin. This substance is produced by rods of the genus Clostridium. Infection most often occurs through open wounds on the body. Infection manifests itself in the form of convulsions, impaired swallowing reflex, damage to the respiratory center and cardiovascular system. The likelihood of death is extremely high.

Determining the fastest-acting poison is quite difficult. Everything will depend on a combination of many factors. Try to avoid contact with hazardous substances as little as possible. If infection does occur, do not try to cure it yourself. Only timely seeking medical help will save your life.

Any toxic substances, be they chemical or plant, pose a serious danger to the body. Science knows dozens and hundreds the strongest poisons, many of which are used by the person himself, and far from being 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, 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 white powder, having a crystalline structure. It is quite unstable and dissolves well in water. It's about about the most known form– 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, in the production of paper, some fabrics, plastic, 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 German chemist Bunsen, and in 1845 manufacturing 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 farm 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, many other unpleasant symptoms, 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 has been a weapon since 1991. 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 begins, spontaneous excretion of feces and urine, 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

It's poison 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, damage is caused 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 must be done as carefully as possible, because the remaining particles can cause irreparable harm to 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. Suitable for processing concentrated solution potassium permanganate. 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 the heart stops 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.

Foods and drinks that are very familiar to us can turn out to be deadly. And the simplest objects contain poison. It turns out that the most strong poisons sometimes they are close to us, and we don’t even suspect it.
We present to your attention a list of the most known poisons which have been used to kill people throughout history.

1. Hemlock

Hemlock is a genus of highly toxic flowering plants, common in Europe and South Africa. The ancient Greeks used it to kill their captives. For an adult, 100 mg is enough. infusion or about 8 hemlock leaves to cause death - your mind is awake, but your body does not respond and eventually the respiratory system stops. The most famous case of poisoning is considered to be one sentenced to death for atheism in 399 BC. e., the Greek philosopher Socrates, who received a very concentrated infusion of hemlock.

2. Fighter or Wolfsbane

Ninth place in the list of the most famous poisons is taken by Borets - a genus of perennial poisonous plants, growing in damp places along the banks of rivers in Europe, Asia and North America. The poison of this plant causes asphyxia, which leads to suffocation. Poisoning can occur even after touching the leaves without gloves, since the poison is absorbed very quickly and easily. According to legend, Emperor Claudius was poisoned by the poison of this plant. It was also used to lubricate bolts for the Chu Ko Nu crossbow, one of the unusual ancient types of weapons.

3. Belladonna or Belladonna

The name belladonna comes from the Italian word and translates as “ beautiful woman" In the old days, this plant was used for cosmetic purposes - Italian women dropped belladonna juice into their eyes, the pupils dilated, and the eyes acquired a special shine. The berries were also rubbed on the cheeks to give them a “natural” blush. It is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. All its parts are toxic and contain atropine, which can cause severe poisoning.

4. Dimethylmercury

Dimethylmercury is a colorless liquid and one of the most powerful neurotoxins. Hit 0.1 ml. this liquid on the skin is already fatal for humans. It is interesting that symptoms of poisoning begin to appear after several months have passed, which is already too late for effective treatment. In 1996, inorganic chemist Karen Wetterhahn was conducting experiments at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and spilled one drop of this liquid on her gloved hand - dimethylmercury was absorbed into the skin through the latex gloves. Symptoms appeared four months later, and Karen died ten months later.

5. Tetrodotoxin

Tetrodotoxin is found in two sea creatures - blue-ringed octopus and in Fugu fish. The octopus is the most dangerous because it deliberately injects its venom, killing its prey within minutes. It has enough poison to kill 26 adults within minutes. The bites are often painless, so many people only realize they have been bitten when paralysis occurs. But fugu fish is only lethal when eaten. But if the fish is cooked correctly, it is harmless.

6. Polonium

Polonium is a radioactive poison and a slow killer. One gram of polonium vapor can kill about 1.5 million people in just a couple of months. The most famous case of poisoning allegedly with polonium-210 was that of Alexander Litvinenko. Polonium was found in his cup of tea - a dose 200 times the average lethal dose. He died three weeks later.

7. Mercury

Mercury is a relatively rare element that at room temperature is a heavy, silvery-white liquid. Only vapors and soluble mercury compounds are poisonous, causing severe poisoning. Metallic mercury does not have a noticeable effect on the body. Famous case death from mercury (allegedly) is the Austrian composer Amadeus Mozart.

8. Cyanide

Cyanide is a deadly poison that results in internal asphyxia. The lethal dose of cyanide for humans is 1.5 mg. per kilogram of body weight. Cyanide was usually sewn into the collars of the shirts of scouts and spies. In addition, the poison was used in gaseous form in Nazi Germany for mass murder in gas chambers during the Holocaust. It is a proven fact that Rasputin was poisoned with several lethal doses of cyanide, but he never died, but was drowned.

9. Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin is the most powerful poison from known to science organic toxins and substances in general. The poison causes severe toxic damage - botulism. Death occurs from hypoxia caused by impaired oxygen metabolism, asphyxia of the respiratory tract, paralysis of the respiratory muscles and cardiac muscle. And now scientists will not answer the question of what poison is the most powerful in the world. Some of the most powerful poisons are botulism and tetanus toxins. The source of botulism infection is homemade preparations.

Botulinum toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which are the causative agents of the most dangerous disease - botulism. This is the most powerful poison of organic nature and one of the strongest poisons in the world. In the last century, botulinum toxin was part of the arsenals of chemical weapons, but at the same time, active research was conducted regarding its use in medicine. And today a huge number of people who want to at least temporarily restore the smoothness of their skin are experiencing the influence of this the most terrible poison, which is part of the most popular medicinal product"Botox", which once again confirms the truth famous saying the great Paracelsus: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both are determined by the dose.”

10. Arsenic

Arsenic was recognized as the “king of poisons.” Arsenic poisoning causes symptoms similar to those of cholera (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea). Arsenic, like Belladonna (item 8), was used in ancient times by women to make their faces pale white. There is an assumption that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic compounds on the island of St. Helena.

11. Methanol, or methyl alcohol

It is a very dangerous poison. This is explained by the fact that it is easy to confuse it with ordinary wine alcohol, since they are indistinguishable in taste and smell. Fake alcoholic drinks sometimes made on the basis methyl alcohol, but without an examination it is impossible to determine the presence of methanol. Unfortunately, the consequences of consuming such drinks are irreversible; at best, a person becomes blind.

12. Snake venom

There are more than two and a half thousand species of reptiles, but only about 250 species are poisonous. The most famous - common vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, black mambas, small snakes - sand frets. Poisonous snakes- unpleasant neighbors. People have long found out that snake venom is dangerous only when it enters the human bloodstream. And, since humanity has been dealing with snakes for many millennia, it is not surprising that it was while studying the effects of snake venom on animals and humans that the first antidote was created in 1895 - antisnake serum. By the way, there is no universal antidote even in case of poisoning snake venom, for each species of snakes its own antitoxin is created - for king cobra- one, for vipers - another, for rattlesnakes - a third.

13. Vi-Ex (VX)

VX, or, as it is also called, VI gas, belongs to the category of chemical warfare gases that have a nerve-paralytic effect. It was also born as a new pesticide, but soon the military began to use it for their own purposes. Symptoms of poisoning with this gas appear within 1 minute after inhalation or contact with the skin, and death occurs within 10-15 minutes.

14. Bacillus anthrax

Anthrax is a very serious, rapidly developing disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. There are several forms of anthrax. The most “harmless” one is the skin one. Even without treatment, the mortality rate from this form does not exceed 20%. The intestinal form kills about half of those sick, but the pulmonary form is almost certain death. Even with the help the latest techniques modern doctors manage to save no more than 5% of patients.

15. Sarin

Sarin was created by German scientists trying to synthesize a powerful pesticide. But this dark glory deadly poison, which causes quick but very painful death, acquired not in agricultural fields, but as chemical weapons. Sarin was produced by the ton for military purposes for decades, and it was only in 1993 that its production was banned. But despite calls for the complete destruction of all stocks of this substance, both terrorists and the military still use it in our time.

16. Amatoxins

Amatoxins are a whole group of protein poisons contained in poisonous mushrooms of the amanita family, including the deadly toadstool. The particular danger of these poisons lies in their “slowness”. Once they enter the human body, they immediately begin their destructive activity, but the victim begins to feel the first discomfort no earlier than 10 hours later, and sometimes several days later, when it is already very difficult for doctors to do anything. Even if such a patient can be saved, he will still suffer for the rest of his life from painful dysfunctions of the liver, kidneys and lungs.

In summer and autumn, the time comes for seasonal mushroom poisoning - by the way, these are the most accessible poisonous substances today. Most famous poisonous mushrooms — false honey mushrooms, pale toadstool, lines and fly agarics. The most poisoned one is the pale grebe, since it has many varieties, sometimes indistinguishable from edible mushrooms, and one such mushroom can lead to the death of several people. False mushrooms are the most common poisonous mushrooms. Although the Germans have learned to prepare fly agarics in such a way that they are not poisoned by them, it is true that it takes them a lot of time to prepare these mushrooms - they boil them for days. True, the question arises - why do they need fly agaric mushrooms when you can simply take other mushrooms for food? And of course, we must remember the rules for storing cooked mushrooms; even edible mushrooms can become poisonous if the shelf life is violated.

17. Strychnine

Strychnine in large quantities found in nuts tropical tree chilibuha. It was from them that it was obtained in 1818 by the French chemists Pelletier and Cavantou. In small doses, strychnine can be used as a medicine that increases metabolic processes, improves heart function and treats paralysis. It was even actively used as an antidote for barbiturate poisoning. However, it is one of the most powerful poisons. His lethal dose even less than the famous potassium cyanide, but it acts much more slowly. Death from strychnine poisoning occurs after about half an hour of terrible agony and severe convulsions.

18. Potatoes and grains

Regular potatoes or bread can also be poisonous. When stored improperly, potatoes accumulate the substance solanine, which causes poisoning to the body. And bread becomes poisonous if flour was used to make it and contained cereals contaminated with ergot. We are not talking about poisoning with fatal, but it is quite possible to ruin your health with such products. An ear affected by ergot. In addition, there are many household chemicals and fertilizers, which can also cause poisoning. For example, potassium chloride is the most common fertilizer, but if it gets into the blood it becomes deadly, since potassium ions block the activity of the heart.

19. Curare

The most famous poison B South America the most famous poison is curare, a poison of plant origin; there are several subtypes of this poison. It causes paralysis of the respiratory system. Initially it was used for hunting animals, but in the 20th century it was successfully used in medicine. Curare is the most famous poison among the Indians.

20. Batrachotoxin

Among natural poisons, batrachotoxin is very dangerous; it is secreted by the skin of small but dangerous amphibians - dart frogs, fortunately, they can only be found in Colombia. One such frog contains so much toxic substance that it is enough to destroy several elephants. Poison frog there is no need to hide. In addition, there are radioactive poisons, such as polonium. It acts slowly, but only 1 gram of this substance is needed to destroy one and a half million people. Snake venom, curare, potassium cyanide - they are all inferior to the above poisons. It's not just snakes that are poisonous. The most poisonous creature on Earth is the jellyfish.

21. Ricin

Ricin is an extremely powerful poison of plant origin. The greatest danger is inhaling its smallest grains. Ricin is about 6 times more powerful a poison than potassium cyanide, but it has not been used as a weapon of mass destruction due to purely technical difficulties. But various intelligence services and terrorists are very fond of this substance. Politicians and public figures with enviable regularity they receive letters stuffed with ricin. True, the case quite rarely ends in death, since the penetration of ricin through the lungs is quite low in efficiency. For a 100% result, it is necessary to inject ricin directly into the blood.

The most famous poisoners

The story of the Italian Borgia dynasty of poisoners, who elevated poisoning almost to the level of art, is unique. Everyone without exception was afraid of their invitation to the feast. The most famous representatives of this family for their treachery are Pope Alexander VI Borgia and his children: son Cesare, who became a cardinal, and daughter Lucrezia. This family had their own poison, "cantarella", supposedly containing arsenic, phosphorus and copper salts. It is known that the head of the family himself ultimately paid with his life for his treachery, having mistakenly drunk a cup of poison that he had prepared for another. Secret rings became the weapon of poisoners in the Middle Ages. In France, arsenic was used by women, the most famous of them was Catherine de Medici, who became Queen of France. There were also poisoners of lower rank - favorites of kings, marquises, baronesses and wives of jewelers. It is believed that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic.

Foods and drinks that are very familiar to us can turn out to be deadly. And the simplest objects contain poison. It turns out that the most powerful poisons are sometimes close to us, and we don’t even suspect it.

Dangerous poisons

- Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is a very dangerous poison. This is explained by the fact that it is easy to confuse it with ordinary wine alcohol, since they are indistinguishable in taste and smell. Counterfeit alcoholic drinks are sometimes made from methyl alcohol, but without an examination it is impossible to determine the presence of methanol. Unfortunately, the consequences of consuming such drinks are irreversible; at best, a person becomes blind.

Mercury. Everyone at home has the most common item - mercury thermometer. It turns out that if you spill mercury from two or three thermometers in a medium-sized room, this will be enough to cause serious poisoning. True, elemental mercury itself is not dangerous, its vapors are dangerous, and it begins to evaporate already at room temperature. In addition to thermometers, the same type of mercury is found in fluorescent lamps. So be careful with them.

Snake venom. There are more than two and a half thousand species of reptiles, but only about 250 species are poisonous. The most famous are common vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, black mambas, and small snakes - sand ephs.

People have long found out that snake venom is dangerous only when it enters the human bloodstream. And, since humanity has been dealing with snakes for many millennia, it is not surprising that it was while studying the effects of snake venom on the bodies of animals and people that the first antidote was created in 1895 - anti-snake serum. By the way, there is no universal antidote even in case of poisoning by snake venom; for each type of snake, its own antitoxin is created - for the king cobra - one, for vipers - another, for rattlesnakes - a third.

The fastest poison

There are many poisons, but potassium cyanide is still considered one of the fastest-acting. It has been used since ancient times, it is probably the most famous "spy" poison: many agents in films and books use cyanide in ampoules or tablets. And everyone probably read about such a sign as the smell of “bitter almonds” in Agatha Christie’s wonderful detective stories.

You can be poisoned by cyanide not only by ingestion, but also by inhalation or touching. Potassium cyanide is found in some plants and foods, as well as cigarettes. It is used in the extraction of gold from ore. Cyanide kills by binding iron in blood cells, thereby preventing them from delivering oxygen to vital organs.

Cyanide can be determined using a solution of ferric salts

By the way, they tried to poison Grigory Rasputin with potassium cyanide, but they couldn’t, because they added the poison to a sweet pie. Glucose is an antidote to potassium cyanide.

The most accessible poisons

In summer and autumn, the time comes for seasonal mushroom poisoning - by the way, these are the most accessible poisonous substances today. The most famous poisonous mushrooms are false mushrooms, toadstools, lines and fly agarics. The most poisoned mushroom is the toadstool, since it has many varieties, sometimes indistinguishable from edible mushrooms, and one such mushroom can lead to the death of several people.

Although the Germans have learned to prepare fly agarics in such a way that they are not poisoned by them, it is true that it takes them a lot of time to prepare these mushrooms - they boil them for days. True, the question arises - why do they need fly agarics when they can simply take other mushrooms for food? And of course, we must remember the rules for storing cooked mushrooms; even edible mushrooms can become poisonous if the shelf life is violated.

In addition, there are many household chemicals and fertilizers that can also cause poisoning. For example, potassium chloride is the most common fertilizer, but if it gets into the blood it becomes deadly, since potassium ions block the activity of the heart.

The most famous poison

In South America, the most famous poison is curare, a poison of plant origin; there are several subspecies of this poison. It causes paralysis of the respiratory system. Initially it was used for hunting animals, but in the 20th century it was successfully used in medicine.

There is also strychnine powder white, which is sometimes used in some drugs (such as heroin and cocaine). Although it is much more often used in the manufacture of pesticides. To obtain this powder, take the seeds of the chilibuha tree, whose homeland is Southeast Asia and India.

But the most famous poison is, of course, arsenic; it can be called the “royal poison”. It has been used since ancient times (its use is also attributed to Caligula) to eliminate their enemies and competitors in the struggle for the throne, no matter the papal or royal one. It was the favorite poison of European nobility in the Middle Ages.

The most famous poisoners

In France, arsenic was used by women, the most famous of them was Catherine de Medici, who became Queen of France. There were also poisoners of lower rank - favorites of kings, marquises, baronesses and wives of jewelers. It is believed that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic.

The most powerful poison in the world

And now scientists will not answer the question of what poison is the most powerful in the world. Some of the most powerful poisons are botulism and tetanus toxins.

In addition, there are radioactive poisons, such as polonium. It acts slowly, but only 1 gram of this substance is needed to destroy one and a half million people. Snake venom, curare, potassium cyanide - they are all inferior to the above poisons.

It's not just snakes that are poisonous. As the editors of the site found out, the most poisonous creature on Earth is the jellyfish.
Subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen

Let's start with the “king” of poisons – Arsenic. Until 1832, arsenic poisoning was extremely difficult to diagnose, since the symptoms of poisoning with this poison were similar to those of cholera. This similarity made it possible to mask the use of arsenic and its compounds as a deadly poison.

In acute arsenic poisoning, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and depression of the central nervous system are observed.

Antidote: aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate, dimercaprol.

Cyanide

Potassium cyanide, or potassium cyanide, is the most powerful inorganic poison. It looks like granulated sugar.

When it enters the body, the cells stop absorbing oxygen, resulting in the body dying from interstitial hypoxia. Potassium cyanide is absorbed very quickly and therefore death occurs within 15 minutes.

Sarin gas

Sarin gas is a poisonous substance with a nerve-paralytic effect.

The first signs of exposure to sarin include nasal discharge, chest congestion, and constriction of the pupils. Soon after this, the victim has difficulty breathing, nausea and increased salivation. The victim then completely loses control over bodily functions. This phase is accompanied by convulsions. Ultimately, the victim falls into a comatose state and suffocates in a fit of convulsive spasms, followed by cardiac arrest.

Antidote: Atropine, Pralidoxime, Diazepam, Athens.

Diamphotoxin

Diamphotoxin is the most powerful poison of animal origin on our planet, contained in the blood of the larvae of the South African leaf beetle.

It is capable of reducing the hemoglobin content in the blood by 75% in a short period of time due to the massive destruction of red blood cells.

Antidote: There is no specific antidote.

Ricin

Ricin is the most powerful poison of plant origin, which is obtained from castor beans of the castor bean plant.

A few grains are enough to kill an adult. Ricin kills cells in the human body, preventing it from producing the proteins it needs, resulting in organ failure. A person can become poisoned by ricin through inhalation or ingestion.

If inhaled, symptoms of poisoning usually appear within 8 hours of exposure and include difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea, sweating and chest tightness.

If ingested, symptoms appear in less than 6 hours and include nausea, low blood pressure, hallucinations and seizures. Death can occur within 36-72 hours.