The most terrible poison. Potent toxic substances. Most Poisonous Clam: Marble Cone

Any toxic substances, whether chemical or vegetable, 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 far from being for good deeds - this is terrorism, and genocide, and much more. But there were also times when poisons were considered medicines. One way or another, toxic substances are still subjected to 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 the instantaneous effect on the respiratory functions of cells, which, in turn, stops the work of the whole organism. Cells stop functioning, organs fail. All this leads to a severe condition, fraught with death. Cyanide itself is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid.

Externally, cyanide is a white powder with a crystalline structure. It is rather unstable and dissolves well in water. We are talking about the most famous 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 amounts. The danger is fraught with almonds, fruit seeds. But 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 the grain stores they destroy rodents with 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 number is greater, then after ten minutes. First, a person loses consciousness, then stops breathing, and then the heart stops.

For the first time this substance was isolated by the German chemist Bunsen, and in 1845 manufacturing methods were developed on an industrial scale.

Anthrax spores

These substances are the causative agents of an extremely dangerous infectious disease, most often ending in death. At risk of catching Bacillus Anthracis are people who come into contact with agricultural livestock. Spores can be stored for a very long time in the land of the animal burial ground.

The disease has been killing people for many centuries, especially in 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 the ulcer, as a result of which immunity was developed. In 2010, US scientists created an even more effective vaccine against the disease.

Anthrax spores are found in all secretions of a sick animal, falling with them into water and earth. Thus, they can spread hundreds of kilometers from the source of infection. In African countries, insects that drink blood can also become infected with poison. Incubation ranges from several hours to seven days. The poison causes irreparable damage to blood vessels, causing swelling, loss of sensitivity, inflammation. Carbuncles begin to appear on the skin; especially dangerous if they occur on the face. Subsequently, a host of other unpleasant symptoms can occur, from diarrhea to bloody vomiting. Often at the end of the patient waiting for a fatal outcome.


The disease caused by anthrax spores develops extremely rapidly and gives terrible external and internal lesions.

Many residents of Russia remember this name from school life safety lessons. One of the most poisonous substances on Earth since 1991 has been classified as a weapon of 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 guessed when symptoms appear.

Moreover, poisoning occurs both through inhalation of steam, and through contact with the skin or ingestion into the oral cavity.

Sarin binds certain enzymes, in particular protein, so that it can no longer support nerve fibers.

A mild degree of poisoning is expressed in shortness of breath and weakness. With an average - there is a narrowing of the pupils, lacrimation, severe headache, nausea, trembling of the extremities. If you do not provide timely assistance, then death occurs in 100% of cases, but even if assistance is provided, then every second poisoned person dies. The severe degree is characterized by the same symptoms as the average, but they are more pronounced and progress faster. Vomiting opens, spontaneous excretion of feces and urine, a headache of incredible strength appears. A minute later, a person faints, 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 poison gases.

Amatoxin

This is the most powerful poison of those that are independently produced in nature, it is more powerful than the poison of any snake. It is mainly found in white toadstools and, when ingested, affects the kidneys and liver, and then gradually kills all cells over several days.

The poison is very insidious: the first symptoms appear only after 12 hours, and sometimes up to a day. Of course, gastric lavage is then too late, you need to call an ambulance. Within two days, traces of amatoxin can be detected in the urine test. Activated charcoal and cephalosporin can also help the patient, and in especially difficult cases, one has to resort to a liver transplant. But even after the cure, the patient may still 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 per week

It is a poison of plant origin, most often used in the persecution of small rodents. It has been produced in the laboratory since 1818, extracting from the seeds of the African chilibukha plant. Strychnine is mentioned in many detective novels, where characters die from exposure to this substance. One of the properties of strychnine is also played up: at the very beginning, it causes a sharp and powerful surge of strength by blocking some neurotransmitters.

The substance is used in the manufacture of medicines, but preparations 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 are difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, fear of light and convulsions.


A dose of 1 milligram per 1 kilogram of body weight leads to a lethal outcome.

The first information about mercury came to us from the depths of time, it is mentioned in documents from 350 BC, and archaeological excavations have found even 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 both instantaneous and cumulative. First of all, the nervous system is harmed, and then the rest of the body systems.

The initial symptoms of mercury poisoning are trembling of the fingers and eyelids, 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, and not by mercury compounds, the respiratory tract is initially noticed. If exposure to the substance is not stopped in a timely manner, it can lead to death.


The consequences of mercury poisoning can be inherited

Most often, a person encounters mercury from a thermometer, especially if it is broken. 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 balls of mercury. 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 with a syringe or patch. Put everything collected in a tightly closed container.

The next step is a thorough treatment of the premises, which is also carried out with 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 and its vapors in the house if the thermometer is broken

Tetrodotoxin

The most effective defense mechanisms of those with which nature endowed living beings 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 of nerve cells, which causes muscle paralysis.

The most common poison was poisoned in Japan by 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 what parts are there and in what season to catch fish. Poisoning occurs extremely quickly, in some cases as early as 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 of assistance have not yet been developed. Only artificial respiration can prolong life, because before death, breathing first stops, and only after a while the heartbeat stops.


Tetrodotoxin has been studied for many years, but not all the details about it have been revealed yet.

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.

The world-famous medieval physician and alchemist Paracelsus once said: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both are determined by the dose. Even water in excess can lead to death. However, some substances will need a meager amount - this will be enough to provoke death. Sometimes just one drop is enough to fall on unprotected hands - it is these substances that are classified as very poisonous. Among deadly substances, there are also organic substances of plant nature, and heavy metals, and gases synthesized by man. We have prepared for you a list of the most dangerous of them - the 25 most deadly toxic substances.

The world's most toxic substance to humans is cyanide.

The most common forms of cyanide are a colorless gas or crystals, but regardless of the form, this substance is deadly. For some people, cyanide smells like bitter almonds.

Cyanide poisoning is accompanied by characteristic symptoms: headache, nausea, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, and a feeling of general malaise. Without timely medical intervention, cyanide will kill the body, provoking oxygen starvation of cells. bottle of cyanide

Cyanide is contained in apple seeds, but do not rush to wash your stomach by eating a few seeds - the concentration of a dangerous substance in them is extremely low. You have to eat more than ten whole apple stalks before you experience the effects of cyanide poisoning. But, of course, you shouldn't do this.

Hydrofluoric acid, or hydrofluoric acid, is a chemical needed to make polytetrafluoroethylene, more commonly known as Teflon. It is also an extremely toxic poison.
Hydrofluoric acid container

If a liquid containing even a small amount of hydrofluoric acid gets on the skin, there is a high probability that the poison, through the capillaries, will enter the circulatory system. Reacting with calcium, it will begin to break down your bones.

Fortunately, getting this substance on the skin is painless, and the process of penetration through the skin is not instantaneous, so you will have enough time to wash this dangerous substance off yourself.

Arsenic has been known since ancient times. It occurs naturally in pure form and in the form of sulfides. In form, it is a crystalline semimetal. Medieval alchemists, including the already mentioned Paracelsus, were engaged in the synthesis of arsenic.
Arsenic glass vial

This substance, until the end of the 19th century, was the most common poison used to commit murders. A victim poisoned with arsenic dies from several hours to several days. This practice dates back to the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The characteristic symptoms of arsenic poisoning, severe vomiting and diarrhea, were at the time easily confused with symptoms of cholera or dysentery.

Belladonna

This plant has also been known since ancient times, and it was used both in Europe and in Russia. All parts of belladonna are highly toxic, especially the roots. Berries are the least poisonous, and yet two berries would be enough to kill a one-year-old child.
Berries, flowers and leaves of belladonna

In medieval Italy, the juice of this plant was instilled into the eyes of local women of fashion - due to the content of atropine in it, the pupils expanded, and the look acquired an alluring brilliance. At the same time, it is atropine alkaloids that lead to poisoning - they actively affect the nervous system, first provoking an excited state, and then leading to rabies and cardiac arrest. Not for nothing is one of the names of this plant - Crazy Berry.

Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide is a silent killer. The physical form of this substance is a gas without taste, color and smell. This gas is released during the combustion of coal, for example - it is he who is the cause of many deaths in fires.
Clipping from an old magazine warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide

This substance disrupts the process of oxygen transfer, due to which oxygen starvation occurs in cells. Symptoms of poisoning - general physical weakness, dizziness and headache, nausea, drowsiness. Fortunately, carbon monoxide poisoning is reversible - timely resuscitation measures can "bring back to life" a person who has inhaled carbon monoxide.

The fruits of the Manchineel tree, also called manchineel, look like green apples, but don't rush to taste them. It is best to stay away from this tree altogether - it is one of the most poisonous plants on Earth and certainly the most poisonous in North America.

Manchine grows in Florida, and you need to be wary of the juice of this tree. Even the wind blowing on you from this terrible plant can lead to severe itching, and the ingress of milky juice on the skin will cause painful blisters, dermatitis and severe burns. The smoke from burning the branches of this tree can cause blindness if it gets into the eyes. Well, let's not talk about the fruits.
Manchineel tree danger warning

An interesting fact: the local Indians, during the time of the Spanish conquest of these lands, used an extract from the manchineel root as one of the components of a terrible poison, which smeared arrowheads. From one such arrow that hit the leg, the famous Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon died long and painfully.

This substance is the most active non-metal, interacting with literally anything. If it comes into contact with the skin, such a gas will cause severe chemical burns. It can also contribute to eye damage, including blindness. If you are fond of organic chemistry, remember that fluorine is not to be trifled with.

This compound is found both in industrial pesticides and in the sap of some plants in Australia and South Africa (Dichapetalum cymosum). Eating the latter leads to the death of about 8% of livestock grazing in the areas of its growth. Tellingly, there is no antidote for this substance. For humans, the lethal dose is 5 mg per 1 kg.
Fluoroacetic Acid Hazard Warning

The most dangerous man-made poison is called dioxin - only 50 micrograms are needed for an adult. This is the third most toxic poison known to science - it is 60 times more toxic than cyanide!
Dioxin Contamination Warning

This substance, or rather a whole group of substances, designated for ease of perception by a single term, belongs to the group of xenobiotics, that is, substances that are alien to the natural biotic substances of the Earth. This is a consequence of the chemical industry and waste processing. Also, dioxins are a cumulative poison, that is, they gradually accumulate both in the environment and in the organisms of living beings, leading to terrible changes.

dimethylmercury

This colorless liquid is the strongest neurotoxin. Even thick latex gloves will not save from its impact. This fact is confirmed by the tragic death of inorganic chemist Karen Wetterhahn in 1996. A few drops of the substance that fell on the scientist's glove led to death - after 4 months, symptoms of poisoning began to appear, and six months later the woman died.

Aconite, also known as Fighter, is a whole family of plants, many of which are valued for their beautiful flowers. However, all of them are extremely toxic, however, this only applies to juice. The most poisonous parts of plants are tubers, the active substance is the alkaloid aconitine.
Aconite plant containing aconitine

According to legend, these plants sprouted from the saliva of Cerberus, whom Hercules brought out of the underworld of Hades. What does this legend indicate? The fact that the plant was widely known already in ancient Greece.

Some modern "healers" are promoting the idea of ​​treating cancer and many other diseases with aconite tincture. Clinically, the effectiveness of such treatment has not been proven and is associated with a risk to your health.

Substances of this group are found in poisonous mushrooms, among others - in pale grebe. The effect of this poison on the body is extremely destructive - the work of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and heart is paralyzed. There is necrosis of the liver tissue.
Pale grebes containing amatoxin

In case of poisoning, the first symptoms appear very sharply after 5 hours or more - depending on the degree of poisoning, its active phase can begin even after a day. The condition is deteriorating rapidly - bloody diarrhea, terrible pain in the abdominal cavity, severe vomiting. Mushroom amatoxin poisoning in most cases is severe and requires immediate medical attention.

Three out of four people who pick up this bacterium die, even if they are hospitalized and treated. You can get infected from livestock used in agriculture. However, the disease is very acute, so that the foci of infection, if they occur, can be identified and destroyed in a timely manner, along with carriers.
Enclosure of quarantine zone due to anthrax outbreak

Hemlock

You may know this plant as Hemlock, or Omega. It is a distant relative of celery and is the carrier of one of the strongest poisons among the plant kingdom. According to legend, the ancient Greek thinker Socrates was once poisoned by him.

This plant is popular as a murder weapon. Most often, it is sprinkled on the victim's food under the guise of a salad. Poisoning leads to severe convulsions, pain and death. Even in the event that the poisoned person survives, the consequences in the form of amnesia, severe tremors and clouding of reason can haunt him for the rest of his life.
Hemlock plant containing hemlock

In the early 19th century, hemlock-based drugs were used as pain relievers.

This is the main ingredient in rat poison, a powerful pesticide. It was synthesized from the seeds of the tropical chilibuha tree, also known as the emetic nut. Strychnine will have no less effective effect on humans than on pests - death from a dose of 50 mg can occur for an adult half an hour after poisoning.
A vial of strychnine

You can get poisoned by strychnine by inhaling its fumes, applying it to the skin, or inadvertently taking it orally. Symptoms occur almost immediately - vomiting and painful convulsions.

Strychnine is one of the most popular poisons, often appearing in literary works, cinema and even comics.

The most powerful paralytic poison produced by dinophytes. The most potent non-protein toxin, having the most complex cell structure for a non-protein compound produced by a living organism.
Dinoflagellates - plankton producing mitotoxin

In addition, it is the most terrible "sea" poison. Its source is, in fact, plankton. Fortunately, extremely high concentrations of these microorganisms are required for poisoning, so the risk of accidentally poisoning them is virtually zero.

Previously, mercury was actively used in thermometers and medical thermometers. At the same time, mercury is the only volatile metal whose vapor poisoning can be fatal. Mercury can cause tissue necrosis, blindness, kidney failure, amnesia and paralysis of the central nervous system.
This is what liquid mercury looks like

An interesting fact: after analyzing the remains of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, scientists came to the conclusion that the last representative of the Rurik family was poisoned with mercury for a long time, from which he eventually died.

Another deadly metal, but this time - radioactive. In the last 50 years, it has been a popular weapon for show killing. Alexander Litvinenko, Yasser Arafat, Alexander Goldfarb and others died from polonium poisoning.
Polonium in its natural state

Polonium-210 is 250,000 times more poisonous than hydrocyanic acid. For the death of an adult male, it will be enough for him to get 10 micrograms of this isotope into his body. So, it would take about a gram of polonium to kill ten million people. Characteristically, the alpha particles of this substance are not able to penetrate the skin, so to poison polonium, it is necessary to get inside the body, for example, through the respiratory tract or the oral cavity.

This poison is found in all parts of the Cerberus trees, named after the guardian of the gates of the kingdom of Hades. Even the smoke of this tree can cause serious poisoning. The action of the poison leads to cardiac arrest.
fruits of the cerberus tree

In Madagascar, until 1861, eating the fruits of Cerberus was used in lawsuits and was a kind of analogue of the "bathing of witches" of medieval Europe. If the accused survived after the reception, he was considered innocent, but if he did not survive, it is obvious that guilt can be considered proven.

Botulinum toxin

The most powerful organic poison, neurotoxin. For an adult, the lethal dose is approximately 0.05 mcg. Ingestion leads to paralysis and eventual death.
In this form, butulinum toxin is used in aesthetic medicine.

Botox used in aesthetic medicine is butulinum toxin, perhaps somewhat modified.

Bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produce butulinum toxin, prefer an airless environment. That is why, penetrating spores into canned spins, they activate vital processes, releasing a deadly poison.

Tetrodotoxin

This is the world-famous poison of fugu fish, considered a delicacy in Japan. Once in the body, tetrodotoxin leads to respiratory arrest. There is no antidote, but the poisoned person can be saved by supporting the work of the respiratory organs artificially for some time. However, every year in Japan, several people die from fugu fish poisoning. Dozens more people can be saved.
Puffer fish meat contains deadly tetrodotoxin

Puffer fish do not produce tetrodotoxin, but only accumulate it from the plankton it consumes, the toxicity of some species of which we have already considered earlier.

Chemical weapons, combat nerve gas. It was created in the mid-1930s and was used on the battlefields of the Second World War and in the wars of modern history and major terrorist attacks. It was recognized as a weapon of mass destruction.
Demonstration warhead of the American Honest John missile, M139 canisters of sarin are visible (photograph circa 1960s)

This gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless. Death from sarin poisoning is terrible and very fast. Antidotes exist, but comprehensive treatment of those poisoned by sarin on the battlefield is virtually impossible. Sarin is one of the substances banned from production and stockpiling under the 1997 UN Chemical Weapons Convention.

This poison is produced by a small yellow frog that lives in the tropical forests in southwestern Colombia - the Terrible leafcreeper. The poison secreted by the skin glands of the frog and serving as its defense against predators is one of the strongest organic non-protein poisons.
Terrible leaf climber producing batrachotoxin

The action of the poison paralyzes the work of the respiratory system, muscles and heart, leading to its stop. The local Indians use this poison by running a blowpipe dart across the frog's back. After being wounded by such a dart, a person dies in less than 10 minutes. There is no effective antidote, but scientists today have developed synthetic analogues of batrachotoxin that are twice as toxic.

One of the strongest phytotoxins. Of particular danger is in the form of an aerosol. In nature, it is found in castor beans, castor beans. You probably know another derivative of this plant - castor oil.
Castor beans containing ricin

The toxicity of ricin is 6 times higher than that of potassium cyanide. Of course, this substance is used as a weapon. The most resonant case of its use is the murder of the Bulgarian dissident Georgy Markov.

VI gas

The chemical warfare agent VX is the most powerful man-made poison ever synthesized by man. Weapons based on this gas are still in service with the US and Russian armies, although according to official data in 2017, the Russian army completely destroyed its stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX and its analogues.
This is what the repository of the most terrible chemical weapons on Earth looks like

It was with this poison that the half-brother of Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2017.

As you can see, there are enough dangerous substances of organic origin in the world. But the most powerful poisons are man-made. Today, there are several international agreements that ban the production and condemn the use of chemical weapons. But its reserves are still large and cases of its use continue to be recorded. How to avoid becoming a victim of poisoning with the substances described in this article? Be vigilant when working with various chemicals, do not eat puffer fish, do not stroke toads and hope that the "powerful of this world" will have the prudence to never use any of the arsenal of weapons of mass destruction that they have at their disposal.

The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus once correctly observed: “All substances are poisons; there is not one that is not. It’s all about the dose,” and he was absolutely right.

Paradoxically: the human body is almost 70% water, but even water in large quantities is destructive. However, sometimes even a drop of a substance is enough, which can be fatal. From flowers to heavy metals and gases produced by man himself; Below is a list of the most dangerous poisons known to mankind.

Cyanide exists in the form of a colorless gas or crystals, but in any case it is quite dangerous. It smells like bitter almonds, and in just a few minutes, it leads to symptoms such as headache, nausea, rapid breathing and increased heart rate, as well as weakness. If measures are not taken in time, cyanide kills by depriving the cells of the body of oxygen. And yes, cyanide can be obtained from apple seeds, but don't worry if you eat a few. You have to eat about ten apples before enough cyanide builds up in your system and you feel all of the above. Please don't do this.

24. Hydrofluoric acid (Hydrofluoric acid)


Hydrofluoric acid is a poison used, among other things, for the production of Teflon. In a liquid state, this substance easily seeps through the skin into the bloodstream. In the body, it reacts with calcium and can even destroy bone tissue. The worst thing is that the effect of contact is manifested immediately, which increases the likelihood of causing serious damage to health.


Arsenic is a natural crystalline semi-metal and perhaps one of the most famous and widespread poisons used as a murder weapon in the late 19th century. However, its use for such purposes began in the mid-1700s. The action of arsenic lasts from several hours to several days, but the result is the same - death. The symptoms of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, which made it difficult to distinguish arsenic poisoning from dysentery or cholera 120 years ago.

22. Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade

Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade is a highly poisonous herb (flower) with a romantic history. An alkaloid called atropine makes it poisonous. Absolutely the entire plant is poisonous, though to varying degrees: the root contains the most poison, and the berries contain less. However, even two pieces are enough to kill a child. Some people use belladonna to relax as a hallucinogen, and in Victorian times, women would often drop a tincture of belladonna into their eyes to make their pupils dilate and their eyes sparkle. Before death, under the influence of belladonna, a seizure develops, the pulse quickens and confusion occurs. Belladonna is not a toy for children.

21. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide)


Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless substance and slightly less dense than air. It poisons and then kills a person. Part of the reason carbon monoxide is so dangerous is that it is difficult to detect; sometimes referred to as the "silent killer". This substance prevents oxygen from entering the body for the normal functioning of cells. The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu without a fever: headache, weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, and confusion. Fortunately, a carbon monoxide detector can be purchased at any specialty store.

20. Beach apple tree


The most dangerous tree in all of North America grows in Florida. The Manchineel or Beach Apple tree has small green fruits that look like sweet apples. Don't eat them! And don't touch that tree! Do not sit next to it and pray that you will never be under it in windy weather. If the juice gets on your skin, it will blister, and if it gets in your eyes, you may go blind. The juice is found in the leaves and in the bark, so don't touch them!


Fluorine is a highly poisonous, pale yellow gas that is corrosive and will react with just about anything. For fluorine to be lethal, its concentration of 0.000025% is sufficient. It causes blindness and suffocation, like mustard gas, but its effect is much worse for the victim.

18. Sodium fluoroacetate


The pesticide used is Compound 1080, also known as sodium fluoroacetate. It is found naturally in some plant species in Africa, Brazil and Australia. The terrible truth of this odorless and tasteless deadly poison is that there is no antidote for it. Oddly enough, the bodies of those who die from exposure to sodium fluoroacetate remain poisonous for another whole year.


The most dangerous man-made poison is called dioxin - it takes only 50 micrograms to kill an adult. It is the third most toxic poison known to science, 60 times more toxic than cyanide.

16. Dimethylmercury (neurotoxin)

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 chemist named Karen Wetterhahn in 1996. A single drop of a colorless liquid fell on the gloved hand, and that was it. Symptoms began to appear FOUR MONTHS later, and she died six months later.

15. Aconite (Wrestler)


Aconite (Wrestler) also known as "monk's hood", "wolfsbane", "leopard venom", "women's curse", "devil's helmet", "poison queen", and "blue rocket". This is practically a whole genus, including more than 250 herbs, most of which are extremely poisonous. Flowers can be either blue or yellow. Some of the plants have been used not only in folk medicine, but also as murder weapons over the past decade.


The toxin found in poisonous mushrooms is called amatoxin. It acts on liver and kidney cells and kills them within a few days. May affect the heart and central nervous system. There is a treatment, but the result is not guaranteed. The poison is resistant to temperature and cannot be disposed of by drying. Therefore, if you are not 100% sure that the collected mushrooms are safe, do not eat them.


Anthrax is actually a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. What makes you sick is not so much the bacterium as the toxin it produces when it enters the body. Bacillus Anthracis can enter the system through the skin, mouth or respiratory tract. The death rate from airborne anthrax is as high as 75%, even though there is a cure.

12. Hemlock plant


Hemlock is a classic poisonous plant that was regularly used for execution in ancient Greece. Several varieties exist, with water hemlock being the most common plant in North America. You can die if you eat it, despite this people still add hemlock to salad, considering it an acceptable ingredient. Water hemlock causes painful and severe convulsions, convulsions and tremors. Having experienced the full power of the white-headed, but surviving people, they may subsequently suffer from amnesia. The water hemlock is considered the deadliest plant in North America. Keep an eye on small children and even teenagers when they are walking outside! Do not eat anything unless you are 100% sure it is safe.

11. Strychnine


Strychnine is commonly used to kill small mammals and birds and is often the main ingredient in rat poison. In large doses, strychnine is also dangerous for humans. It can be swallowed, inhaled, or taken into the body through the skin. The first symptoms are painful muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. Muscle contractions eventually lead to suffocation. Death can occur within half an hour. This is a very unpleasant way to die, for both man and rat.


Most versed in such matters consider mitotoxin to be the most powerful marine toxin. It is found in the dinoflagellate algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. For mice, meiototoxin is the most toxic of the non-protein toxins.


Mercury is a heavy metal that is quite toxic to humans if inhaled or touched. Touching can cause skin to flake off, and if you inhale mercury vapor, it will eventually turn off your central nervous system, and you will be fatal. Before that, kidney failure, memory loss, brain damage, and blindness are likely to occur.

8. Polonium


Polonium is a radioactive chemical element. Its most common form is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid. It emits alpha particles (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. According to one theory, a gram of polonium 210 introduced into the body. can kill up to ten million people, causing first radiation poisoning and then cancer.


The suicide tree or Cerbera odollam works by disrupting the natural rhythm of the heart and often causing death. A member of the same family as Oleander, the plant has often been used as a "test of innocence" in Madagascar. An estimated 3,000 people a year died from consuming Cerberus venom before the practice was outlawed in 1861. (If a person survived, he was found not guilty. If he died, it no longer mattered.)


Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum and is an incredibly powerful neurotoxin. It causes paralysis, which can lead to death. Botulinum toxin is known by its commercial name, Botox. Yes, that's what the doctor injects into your mom's forehead to make it less wrinkled (or into the neck to help with a migraine) that causes muscle paralysis.

5 Pufferfish


Pufferfish is considered a delicacy in some countries where it is called Fugu; it is a dish for which few are literally ready to die. Why does death come? Because fish contain tetrodotoxin in their guts, and in Japan, about 5 people a year die from eating pufferfish as a result of improper preparation. But gourmets persist.

4. Gas Sarin

Gas Zarin makes you experience the worst moments in your life. The chest shrinks, tighter and tighter, and then... death comes. Although the use of Sarin was declared illegal in 1995, it has not ceased to be used in terrorist attacks.

3. Poison Arrow


The Poison Arrow golden frog is tiny, adorable and very dangerous. Just one thumb-sized frog contains enough neurotoxin to kill ten people! A dose equal to about two crystals of salt is enough to kill an adult. This is why some tribes in the Amazon used poison by applying it to the tips of their hunting arrows. One touch of such an arrow kills within a few minutes! Walking in the Amazon forests, follow the rule: do not touch red, blue, green and especially yellow frogs.


Ricin is even more dangerous than anthrax. This substance is obtained from castor oil beans, the same plant from which castor oil is extracted. This poison is especially toxic if inhaled, and a pinch of it is enough to kill an adult human.

1.VX


Code-named "Purple Possum", belonging to the VX group, it is the most powerful nerve gas on Earth. It was created by man, and for this you can "thank" the United Kingdom. Technically, it was banned in 1993, and the US government allegedly ordered the destruction of its stocks, but whether this is actually the case can only be guessed at.

There are many poisonous substances. Some of them affect the human body for a long time, others kill instantly. There are many fast-acting poisons, they are natural and chemical.

Such compounds deprive their victim of the opportunity to survive almost immediately. What is the fastest acting poison for humans is the most famous and dangerous?

Top strong poisons in everyday life

In domestic conditions, a person is constantly faced with poisons. Many of them have a quick effect on the body, so it is recommended to know their effect and how to provide first aid to an injured person.

acids

anthrax

Serious disease is caused by specific bacteria. There are several forms of the disease, the simplest is damage to the skin. The pulmonary form of the disease is considered the most dangerous, even with timely assistance, only five percent of the victims manage to survive.

Sarin

A poisonous substance in the form of a gas. It was created for the destruction of insects, but found its application in the military sphere. Connection kills quickly, but death is painful. Production is prohibited worldwide, and its stocks are often used for military purposes or by terrorists.

Amatoxins

Such poisons have a protein structure and are found in dangerous fungi of the amanite family. The danger lies in the fact that the first signs appear ten hours after the toxin enters the body, during this period the ability to save a person approaches zero. Even with a successful rescue attempt, the victim remains disabled for life and suffers from problems with internal organs.

Strychnine

Obtained from the nuts of a tropical plant. In a minimal amount, it is used as a medicine. Strychnine is one of the fastest acting poisons, superior to potassium cyanide. But death does not occur immediately, but half an hour after poisoning.

Ricin

Ricin is a plant poison. Six times stronger than potassium cyanide. It poses a particular danger when it enters the blood, in such a case, a lethal outcome occurs very quickly. Inhalation through the lungs is less dangerous, but also leads to serious poisoning.

VX

The compound is a poison of combat action, has a nerve-paralytic effect. Changes in the body occur a minute after inhalation, and death is noted after fifteen minutes. Dangerous poison in the world is prohibited for use.

Botulinum toxin

Botulism is a poisoning caused by botulinum toxins. This is the most powerful poison in nature, it was previously used as a biological weapon. Bacteria are used in cosmetology, but in a minimal dosage. With an increase in the amount of toxin, death occurs from a violation of the respiratory process.

Top strong poisons in the pharmacy

Medicines are dangerous to humans if used incorrectly. They are also poisons and in overdose lead to poisoning.

A fatal outcome is not excluded if the permissible amount of the drug is repeatedly exceeded. Many medicines are freely available in pharmacies.

Dangerous:

  • Funds aimed at the treatment of the cardiovascular system.
  • Antipsychotics and tranquilizers.
  • Painkillers.
  • Antibiotics and antibacterial agents.

Dangerous for human health can be drugs for weight loss, drugs aimed at treating impotence, even eye drops. It must be remembered that in a minimum amount the medicine will help, and in an increased dosage it will lead to poisoning and death.

Dangerous poisons for animals

Animals suffer from poisoning no less than people. What poisons are dangerous for dogs and cats?

Danger:

  1. Human medicines. Even a small amount of some drugs provokes serious poisoning or death. An example - a medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis - is used by dog ​​hunters.
  2. Means for getting rid of fleas and ticks. Animals die from an overdose of such drugs.
  3. Food. You can’t give pets food from the table, simple grapes lead to kidney failure, xylitol provokes a sharp drop in sugar levels and disruption of the liver.
  4. Rat poison. Poison for rats often causes the death of domestic animals. The bait for rodents has a pleasant smell, so it attracts other animals. Without help, the pet dies very quickly.
  5. Medicines for animals. Medicines intended for treatment, in the wrong dosage, can cause death.
  6. Home plants. Cats and dogs like to nibble on some plants, many of which contain poisonous juice that is dangerous to health.
  7. Chemicals, household chemicals. Located in accessible places, such products often attract the attention of animals. Poisoning develops quickly, as does death.
  8. Fertilizers and pesticides. Such compounds are suitable for plants, but dangerous for animals.

Thus, the dangers and poisons for animals are no less than for humans. It is recommended to carefully monitor the behavior of the animal in order to provide him with first aid in time.


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Precautionary measures

It is possible to avoid serious intoxication if safety precautions are observed. When working with poisons, it is required to wear special protective clothing, gloves on your hands. The use of goggles and respirators is recommended.

In no case during work is it allowed to eat, touch the face or open areas of the skin. After finishing all the manipulations, they wash their hands thoroughly, take a shower if necessary, and send the clothes to the laundry.

Before using unknown compounds, you must read the instructions and follow them carefully. It is not recommended to eat unknown foods.

What to do if poisoned

If poisoning occurs, you should immediately call a doctor. Prior to his arrival, the victim is provided with possible first aid.

Actions:

  • gastric lavage, if permitted;
  • give to a person;
  • use laxatives or cleansing enemas;
  • introduce antidotes if possible;
  • provide fresh air, peace;
  • quickly deliver to a medical facility.

Fast-acting poisons are present next to a person, but if safety precautions are observed, it is possible to avoid poisoning. When signs of intoxication appear, first aid is quickly provided and doctors are called.

Video: quick poisons for humans

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

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

Antidote: aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution, 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, as a result of which the body dies 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 human exposure to sarin are nasal discharge, chest congestion, and constriction of the pupils. Shortly thereafter, the victim has difficulty breathing, nausea and increased salivation. Then the victim 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.

Able to reduce the content of hemoglobin 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 plant-derived poison, which is obtained from the castor beans of the castor bean plant.

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

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

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

Antidote: There is no specific antidote.

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