The world-famous medieval physician and alchemist Paracelsus once said: “Everything is poison, everything is medicine; both are determined by the dose.” Even too much water can cause death. However, some substances will require a tiny amount - this will be enough to cause death. Sometimes just one drop is enough to fall on hands unprotected by gloves - these are the substances that are classified as very toxic. Deadly substances include organic plant substances, heavy metals, and man-synthesized gases. We have prepared for you a list of the most dangerous of them - the 25 most deadly toxic substances.
The most poisonous substance in the world for humans is cyanide.
The most common forms of cyanide are a colorless gas or crystals, but regardless of the form, the substance is deadly. To 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, causing oxygen starvation of cells. Vial of cyanide
Cyanide is contained in apple seeds, but do not rush to rinse your stomach after eating a few seeds - the concentration of the dangerous substance in them is extremely insignificant. You would have to eat more than ten whole apple stalks before you feel the effects of cyanide poisoning. But, of course, you shouldn’t do this.
Hydrofluoric acid, or hydrofluoric acid, is a chemical required to produce polytetrafluoroethylene, more commonly known as Teflon. It is also an extremely toxic poison. 
Container with hydrofluoric acid
If a liquid containing even a small amount of hydrofluoric acid gets on the skin, there is a high probability that the poison will enter the circulatory system through the capillaries. When it reacts 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 in nature in pure form and in the form of sulfides. It is a crystalline semimetal in form. Medieval alchemists, including the already mentioned Paracelsus, were involved in the synthesis of arsenic. 
Glass vial of arsenic
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 were severe vomiting and diarrhea, which at the time could easily be 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 Rus'. All parts of belladonna are very toxic, especially the roots. The least poisonous are the berries, and yet two berries will be enough to kill a one-year-old child. 
Belladonna berries, flowers and leaves
In medieval Italy, the juice of this plant was dropped into the eyes of local fashionistas - thanks to the atropine content in it, the pupils dilated, and the gaze acquired an alluring shine. 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 rage and cardiac arrest. It’s not for nothing that one of the names of this plant is Crazy Berry.
Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide is a silent killer. The physical form of this substance is a gas without taste, color or odor. This gas is released when coal burns, for example - it 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, which causes oxygen starvation in cells. Symptoms of poisoning are 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 manchinella, look like green apples, but don’t rush to taste them. It's 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.
Manchinella grows in Florida, but you need to be wary of the sap of this tree. Even the wind blowing on you from the direction of this terrible plant can lead to severe itching, and contact with the milky juice on the skin will cause painful blisters, dermatitis and severe burns. Smoke from burning branches of this tree can cause blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes. Well, it’s not worth talking about the fruits. 
Manchineel tree danger warning
Interesting fact: local Indians, during the Spanish conquest of these lands, used an extract from manchinella root as one of the components of a terrible poison, which was used to smear arrowheads. The famous Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon died long and painfully from one such arrow that hit him in the leg.
This substance is the most active non-metal, interacting with literally anything. If it comes into contact with the skin, such gas will cause a severe chemical burn. It can also contribute to eye damage, including blindness. If you are interested in 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). Consumption of the latter leads to the death of about 8% of livestock grazing in the areas where it grows. What is characteristic is that there is no antidote for this substance. For humans, the lethal dose is 5 mg per 1 kg. 
Fluoroacetic acid warning
The most dangerous poison created by man is called dioxin - only 50 micrograms are required for an adult. This is the third most toxic poison known to science - it is 60 times more toxic than cyanide! 
Warning about contamination of the area with dioxins
This substance, or rather a whole group of substances, denoted by a single term for ease of perception, belongs to the group of xenobiotics, that is, substances alien to the natural biotic substances of the Earth. This is a consequence of the chemical industry and waste recycling. Dioxins are also a cumulative poison, that is, they gradually accumulate both in the environment and in the bodies of living beings, leading to terrible changes.
Dimethylmercury
This colorless liquid is a powerful neurotoxin. Even thick latex gloves will not save you from its effects. This fact was 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 prized for their beautiful flowers. However, all of them are extremely toxic, however, this only applies to juice. The most poisonous parts of plants are the tubers; the active substance is the aconitine alkaloid. 
Aconite plant containing aconitine
According to legend, these plants sprouted from the saliva of Cerberus, whom Hercules brought from the underground kingdom of Hades. What does this legend indicate? The fact that the plant was widely known already in Ancient Greece.
Some modern “healers” promote the idea of treating cancer and many other diseases with tincture of aconite. The clinical effectiveness of this treatment has not been proven and is associated with risks to your health.
Substances of this group are found in poisonous mushrooms, including toadstool, among others. The effect of this poison on the body is extremely destructive - the work of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and heart is paralyzed. Necrosis of liver tissue occurs. 
Pale toadstools 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 rapidly deteriorating - bloody diarrhea, terrible pain in the abdominal cavity, severe vomiting. Mushroom poisoning with amatoxin in most cases is severe and requires immediate medical intervention.
Three out of four people who contract this bacterium die, even if they are hospitalized and treated. You can become infected from livestock used in agriculture. However, the disease is very acute, so that foci of infection, if they occur, can be promptly identified and destroyed, along with the carriers. 
Fencing a quarantine zone due to an anthrax outbreak
Hemlock
You may know this plant under the name Hemlock, or Omega. It is a distant relative of celery and is the carrier of one of the most powerful poisons in the plant kingdom. According to legend, the ancient Greek thinker Socrates was once poisoned with it.
This plant is popular as a murder weapon. Most often it is added to the victim's food under the guise of salad. Poisoning leads to severe convulsions, pain and death. Even if 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
At the beginning of the 19th century, medicines based on hemlock were used as an anesthetic.
This is the main ingredient of rat poison, a powerful pesticide. It was synthesized from the seeds of the tropical chilibuha tree, also known as the vomit 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. 
Strychnine bottle
You can become poisoned by strychnine by inhaling its fumes, applying it to the skin, or inadvertently taking it orally. Symptoms appear almost immediately - vomiting and painful convulsions.
Strychnine is one of the most popular poisons, often appearing in literary works, cinema and even comics.
A powerful paralytic poison produced by dinophyte algae. The most potent non-protein toxin, having the most complex cell structure for a non-protein compound produced by a living organism. 
Dinoflagellates - plankton that produce maytotoxin
In addition, it is the most terrible “sea” poison. Its source is essentially plankton. Fortunately, poisoning requires an extremely high concentration of these microorganisms, so the risk of accidental poisoning is virtually zero.
Previously, mercury was actively used in thermometers and medical thermometers. Moreover, mercury is the only volatile metal whose vapor poisoning can be fatal. Mercury can cause tissue necrosis, blindness, kidney failure, amnesia and central nervous system paralysis. 
This is what liquid mercury looks like
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 it is radioactive. In the last 50 years it has been a popular weapon for demonstrative murder. Alexander Litvinenko, Yasser Arafat, Alexander Goldfarb and others died from polonium poisoning. 
Polonium in its natural state
Polonium-210 is 250 thousand times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid. For the death of an adult male, 10 mcg of this isotope entering his body will be sufficient. So, to kill ten million people you would need about a gram of polonium. Typically, the alpha particles of this substance are not able to penetrate the skin, so for polonium poisoning it is necessary to enter the body, for example, through the respiratory tract or oral cavity.
This poison is found in all parts of Cerberus trees, named after the guardian of the gates of the kingdom of Hades. Even the smoke from this tree can cause serious poisoning. The effect of the poison leads to cardiac arrest. 
Fruits of the Cerberus tree
In Madagascar, until 1861, eating Cerberus fruits was used in trials and was a kind of analogue of the “witch bath” of medieval Europe. If the accused survived after taking it, 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 will be approximately 0.05 mcg. Entering the body leads to paralysis and further death. 
In this form, butulinum toxin is used in aesthetic medicine.
Botox, used in aesthetic medicine, is butulinum toxin, albeit slightly modified.
The bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produces butulinum toxin, prefer an airless environment. That is why, when spores penetrate canned twists, 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 causes respiratory arrest. There is no antidote, but the poisoned person can be saved by supporting the functioning of the respiratory system artificially for some time. However, every year in Japan, several people die from fugu fish poisoning. Several dozen more people are saved. 
Fugu fish contains deadly tetrodotoxin
Fugu fish does not produce tetrodotoxin, but only accumulates it from the plankton it consumes, the toxicity of some species of which we have already discussed earlier.
Chemical weapons, military nerve gas. It was created in the mid-30s and was used on the battlefields of World War II and in wars of recent history and major terrorist attacks. It was recognized as a weapon of mass destruction. 
US Honest John missile demonstration warhead, showing M139 sarin canisters (circa 1960s photo)
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 prohibited from production and stockpiling under the Chemical Weapons Convention adopted by the UN in 1997.
This poison is produced by a small yellow frog that lives in the tropical forests of southwestern Colombia - the Terrible Leaf Climber. The poison secreted by the skin glands of the frog and serving as its protection from predators is one of the strongest organic non-protein poisons. 
A terrible leaf climber that produces batrachotoxin
The action of the poison paralyzes the respiratory system, muscles and heart, leading to its stop. 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 have now developed synthetic analogs of batrachotoxin that are twice as toxic.
One of the strongest phytotoxins. It is especially dangerous in aerosol form. Found naturally in castor beans and 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 Georgiy Markov.
VI-gas
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 armies of the United States and Russia, 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 storage facility for the most terrible chemical weapons on Earth looks like
It was this poison that killed the half-brother of Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, 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 created by man. Today there are several international agreements prohibiting the production and condemning 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 chemical reagents, do not eat puffer fish meat, do not pet toads, and hope that the “powers that be” will have enough prudence to never use any of the arsenal of weapons of mass destruction that they have at their disposal.
We present to your attention a list of the most famous poisons that have been used to kill people throughout history.
Hemlock is a genus of highly toxic flowering plants native to 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.
Fighter or Wolfsbane
Ninth place in the list of the most famous poisons is occupied 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.
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.
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. Interestingly, symptoms of poisoning begin to appear after several months, which is 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.
Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin is found in two sea creatures - the blue-ringed octopus and the 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.
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.
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. A famous case of death from mercury (allegedly) is the Austrian composer Amadeus Mozart.
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.
Botulinum toxin is the most powerful poison known to science among 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.
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 on the island of St. Helena with arsenic compounds.
The average lethal dose, DL50 (lat. dosis letalis), causes the death of half of the experimental animals (DL100 is the dose minimally sufficient to kill everyone who received it). DL is measured in milligrams of a substance per 1 kg of animal body weight (mg/kg); in our rating it is indicated in parentheses after the name of the substance. So, the top 10 most toxic poisons with DL50 are for mice when administered intramuscularly.
Neurotoxin II (0.085 mg/kg)
Source: component of the venom of the Central Asian cobra (Naja oxiana).
The venom of this snake is extremely strong. When bitten, it has a neurotoxic effect. After the bite, the victim becomes lethargic, but soon the body begins to be shaken by convulsions, breathing quickens, and becomes shallow. Death occurs after some time due to paralysis of the respiratory tract. Local manifestations (hematomas, tumors) do not occur with the bite of a Central Asian cobra.
The Central Asian cobra, which reaches a length of 1.5–1.6 m, is distributed in northwestern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and northeastern Iran. In Central Asia, this snake is found in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The northern border of the range is the Nura-Tau ridge and the Bel-Tau-Ata mountains, the western border is the spurs of the Turkestan ridge.
Alpha-latrotoxin (0.045 mg/kg)
Source: contained in the venom of 31 species of spiders of the genus Latrodectus (karakurts).
At the moment of a bite, an immediate burning pain is most often felt (in some sources, the bite is painless), which spreads throughout the body within 15–30 minutes. Typically, patients complain of unbearable pain in the abdomen, lower back, and chest. Characterized by sharp tension in the abdominal muscles. Shortness of breath, palpitations, increased heart rate, dizziness, headache, tremor, vomiting, pallor or flushing of the face, sweating, a feeling of heaviness in the chest and epigastric areas, exophthalmos and dilated pupils. The face takes on a bluish tint.
Deaths have been reported in humans and farm animals. After 3–5 days, the skin becomes covered with a rash, and the victim’s condition improves somewhat. Recovery begins in 2–3 weeks, but for a long time the person feels general weakness.
Karakurts (“black widows”) live in tropical, subtropical and even temperate latitudes on all continents except Antarctica. Only females pose a danger to humans (their body size is up to 2 cm). Males are much smaller (0.5 cm) and are not able to bite through human skin. The toxicity of the poison has a pronounced seasonal dependence: the September one is about ten times more powerful than the May one.
Antidote: antikarakurt serum.
Alpha-conotoxin (0.012 mg/kg)
Source: component of the complex venom of the mollusk Conus geographus (geographic cone).
Cones are very active when touched in their habitat. Their toxic apparatus consists of a poisonous gland located at the wide end of the shell, with sharp spines that replace the mollusk’s teeth. If you take the shell in your hands, the mollusk instantly extends the radula and thrusts spines into the body. The injection is accompanied by acute pain leading to loss of consciousness, numbness of the fingers, strong heartbeat, shortness of breath, and sometimes paralysis. In the Pacific Islands, cases of shell collectors dying from cone stings have been recorded.
The cone shells are 15–20 cm long. Habitat is the eastern and northern coasts of Australia, the eastern coast of Southeast Asia and China, and the Central Pacific region.
Antidote: There is no antidote. The only measure is copious bloodletting from the injection site.
Chiriquitotoxin (0.01 mg/kg)
Source: Produced by the skin of the toad Atelopus chiriquiensis.
Causes impaired coordination of movements, convulsions, incomplete paralysis of the limbs.
Small (males - about 3 cm, females - 3.5–5 cm) toads with the beautiful name chiriquita are found on the isthmus between North and South America - in Panama and Costa Rica. The species is endangered. The toxin is produced by the skin of the chirikit, and the toxicity, we recall, was assessed when administered intramuscularly.
Tityutoxin (0.009 mg/kg)
Source: one of the components of the venom of the yellow fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus australis).
The venom of the yellow fat-tailed scorpion is produced in two enlarged glands located immediately behind the sting, which looks like a barb at the end of the tail. They are what give Scorpios the “fat” appearance. It also differs from other scorpions in the color of its sting - from dark brown to black. The venom of the fat-tailed scorpion is so toxic that it can kill even an adult. It feeds mainly on small insects such as locusts or beetles, but can easily kill small lizards or mice.
This type of scorpion is associated with up to 80% of all serious poisonings and up to 95% of deaths from scorpion injections. Androctonus australis are medium-sized scorpions up to 10 cm long. They have no relation to Australia: australis in Latin means “southern”, and androctonus in Greek means “murderer”. Found in the Middle East, north and southeast Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Iraq, Iran, etc.).
Antidote: anti-toxic serum "Antiscorpion". Antikarakurt serum can be used as a slightly less effective replacement.
Tetrodotoxin (0.008 mg/kg)
Source: produced and accumulated in the tissues of fish of the Tetraodontidae family, the mollusk BabyIonia japonica and a close relative of the chirikit, the toad Atelopus varius.
Some species of the Tetraodontidae family (four-toothed, also known as rock-toothed, dogfish and pufferfish) reach a length of up to half a meter. Both these fish and the dish made from them are called “fugu” in Japan. The poison is contained in the liver, milk, caviar, intestines and skin, so only specially trained chefs are allowed to prepare fugu, who remove the poisonous organs using a separate method for each type. If pufferfish meat is prepared by ignorant amateurs, then in 60 cases out of 100, trying such a dish leads to death. And such cases are still not uncommon. According to a Japanese proverb, “he who eats fugu is a fool, but he who does not eat is also a fool.”
The habitat of puffer fish is from the northern coast of Australia to the northern coast of Japan and from the southern coast of China to the eastern islands of Oceania.
Tetraodontidae (puffer fish):
The mollusk Babylonia japonica has a very beautiful shell with a classic spiral shape, 40–85 mm long. Habitat - the coast of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and Japan:
Toads Atelopus varius (Atelop variegated) are small, 2.5–4 cm, and if you are “lucky” you can stumble upon them only in the jungles of Panama and Costa Rica:
This is a dangerous poison that, once in the digestive tract, causes severe pain, convulsions and usually leads to death.
Antidote: there is no specific antidote; detoxification and symptomatic therapy is carried out.
Many inquisitive people have most likely wondered what the most poisonous creature on earth is. Interestingly, for a long time it was generally accepted that these were snakes and spiders. But research by scientists has painted a different picture for us. And now we will look at what, in their opinion, is the most poisonous creature in the world. The top 10 offered below may be extremely surprising to some nature lovers.
First place - box jellyfish
The box jellyfish has another name - “sea wasp”, because after it stings, the victim experiences unbearable pain. Many would agree that this is the most poisonous creature in the world. The Guinness Book of Records also shares this point of view. This jellyfish is reported to kill a person in a short time, from 1 to 3 minutes. But this is not the only thing that makes her a terrible enemy. The deadly tentacles can simultaneously affect up to 60 people if they are within a radius of 8 meters. Extremely fast and irreversible. Toxins attack the heart muscle and nervous system, causing hellish pain. If the touch of the tentacles was superficial, severe burns remain.
There is an antidote. If you immediately treat the bite with a solution of acetic acid, there is a chance of survival, but this is usually not possible. Jellyfish victims drowned because they went into shock or died from cardiac arrest. Every year, about 6,000 vacationers die from sea wasp venom. Only a few people survived the bite, and they were still in pain weeks later.
This most poisonous creature in the world (photo shown above) lives in the waters of Northern Australia, but sometimes the “wasp” is found near South Asia. At the same time, it is quite difficult to see the object in the water, since the jellyfish merges. But there is a creature that is not afraid of the box jellyfish - the sea turtle.
Second place - king cobra
Some are ready to dispute that the most poisonous creature on earth is that there are snakes with more toxic poison. But in the Guinness book it takes an honorable second place due to how much poison it sprays at a time. It reaches a length of 4 meters, but since these cobras grow throughout their lives (and they can live 30 years), some individuals reach 6 meters.
The amount of venom injected depends on the size of the victim, but the dose is usually slightly larger than necessary to be lethal.
There was a recorded case where an Indian elephant died within three hours because it was struck by a king cobra. With a large amount of poison, a person dies within 15 minutes from paralysis and respiratory arrest. But even scarier is the fact that the cobra is capable of rising up to a third of its height. If its length is 5 meters, then it extends to 1.6 meters. But the good news is that they do not attack first (unless disturbed).
Its habitat is the forests of South Asia, but since active deforestation is underway, cobras are forced to move closer to human habitat.
Third place - Scorpio Leyurus
Another most poisonous creature in the world is the Leyurus scorpion, which is found in North Africa, as well as in the Middle East. Although these scorpions are not aggressive and will not attack unless they sense danger, their venom can kill a person. Although there are many dangerous scorpions in nature, this subspecies is the most deadly. Leiruses carry a “cocktail” of neuroleptics; if it enters the bloodstream, the victim will die.
Initially, the stung area swells and the person feels incredible pain, after which a fever sets in, developing into convulsions. Finally, paralysis and death occur. It is interesting that before committing a deadly attack, the “baby” begins to move, as if dancing, and this warns of his intention.
Fourth place - taipan
Among the world's creatures is the taipan. The danger lies in the huge amount of poison that is released during the attack. This land snake is capable of killing 100 people. Its poisonous mixture is approximately 400 times more toxic than the venom of an ordinary cobra. After being bitten by an adult, death occurs on average within 45 minutes. About 90% of attacks on humans are fatal, even though an antidote exists and many people know about it.
This snake is very aggressive and can attack suddenly at a speed of 4 m/sec. But at the same time, taipans are quite timid and, sensing danger, can crawl away. This creature lives in Australia on arid plains, but often crawls towards water.
Fifth place - dart frog
Some believe that the most poisonous creature on the planet is the dart frog because of its deceptive appearance. She looks very attractive and completely defenseless, but this is a deception. Her skin of bright, rich color is covered with poison (batrachotoxin), which, when it comes into contact with a person through microscopic damage, easily penetrates the body. A gram of its poison can kill 10 people. This toxic substance consists of hundreds of components that have a nerve-paralytic effect. The scary thing is that the antidote has not yet been created and it is practically impossible to escape from the effects of the poison that gets on the skin.
Scientists know of 179 species of these “deceptive” creatures. They are divided into nocturnal (harmless) and daytime (toxic).
These poisonous amphibians can grow up to 8 cm. But the smallest ones (1.5 - 2.5 cm) are considered the most poisonous. They can be found in Central and South America in rain forests. They are also called "dart frogs" because in the past, Aboriginal people used their poison to lubricate arrowheads.
It is noteworthy that these creatures do not produce poison on their own; they get it from poisonous insects.
Sixth place - blue-ringed octopus
This ring-shaped octopus has also earned a place in the ranking of "the most poisonous creature on the planet." Although this creature is small in size, no larger than a baseball (weight 100 grams), it has a toxic and dangerous poison. One portion that the octopus releases at a time is enough to poison 25 people. Death can occur in a few minutes. During this time, the victim will begin to experience problems with vision and speech, and numbness will occur. Next, the person will have difficulty breathing. The next disastrous symptom is complete paralysis. Lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest will lead to death. It is impossible to neutralize the effect of the poison, since no antidote has been created.
This “cute” creature lives near the Australian and South Asian coasts. It is widespread and prefers shallow depths. But fortunately it is nocturnal, so it’s not easy to stumble upon it. In addition, the creature has a calm disposition and attacks only if it is “pissed off.” Its ability to change color sometimes leads to incidents, because the octopus is confused with other harmless coastal inhabitants.
Seventh place - wandering spider
Another most poisonous creature in the world, which is feared without even knowing about its toxicity, is the wandering spider. He has a rather aggressive disposition. In addition, it is terrifying because it is the largest of all spiders in the world.
It can be found in Central and South America in tropical areas, especially in banana plantations, but sometimes this creature gets into houses. It does not spin webs and travels on its own to find food, which is what makes it very dangerous. He can stop to rest in a residential building, hide in a car or clothes. As a result, the percentage of spider attacks is very high. This arthropod is not shy and is immediately ready to attack, so if you happen to encounter it, do not try to scare it, as it will not retreat; it is better for you to run.
The spider's venom causes lung spasms and loss of muscle control. The person may experience suffocation. Toxins also affect the lymphatic system and cardiac arrest can occur. The still living victim feels his body gradually becoming numb. The poison is 20 times more toxic than the black widow.
Interestingly, in the Guinness book this is the most poisonous creature in the world among spiders. It was also noted that more deaths occurred due to its fault than from other arthropods.
Eighth place - fugu
Of the vertebrates, this is the most poisonous creature in the world. Many people know it as ball fish. The entire surface of the fish is considered poisonous, and some organs of the fugu are also considered dangerous. A set of toxins causes paralysis and suffocation in the affected person, which in turn leads to death from insufficient oxygen. But despite this, in Korea and Japan this fish is a first-class delicacy. Given its dangerous composition, fugu can only be prepared by professionals who have received a special license.
Ninth place - cone snail
Some people, when they see this marbled snail, do not understand that it is a dangerous creature, since its appearance is very attractive. But you can’t judge by appearance, since she is just as dangerous as the rest of the representatives on this list. Just one drop of poison can kill 20 people. After the snail stings, the victim begins to experience excruciating pain, followed by numbness and inflammation of the bite site. The next stage is paralysis and suffocation. There is no cure for such poisoning.
But if you look at the statistics, only 30 deaths were recorded due to the fault of this snail.
Tenth place - stone fish
This unsightly creature ranks last in the ranking of “the most poisonous creature in the world.” The bite of this underwater inhabitant provokes the most acute pain known to man. The sensations are so strong that in search of relief the victim is ready to commit suicide or amputation of the bitten area. Such pain causes shock, then paralysis inevitably sets in, and the tissues at the site of the lesion begin to die; without medical assistance, the person faces death.
This dangerous “beast” is found in the waters of the Red Sea and in the tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
All of us, one way or another, have encountered such a phenomenon as poisons.
Some enthusiastically read about them in books, some were briefly told about them in school lessons, and some directly worked with them.
Poisons are divided into natural and artificially created, and have been present in human history since time immemorial. People, such ruthless and sophisticated creatures, not only learned to extract poison from natural materials, but also decided to go further - they created methods of killing with their own hands. And, I must admit, they did it well.
The heyday of poisons occurred in the dark and mysterious Middle Ages - a time when animal fear, cruelty and unquestioning obedience to religion dominated society. And, as it turned out, the endless games of the nobility with death, in the struggle for the throne, became the final touch in the dark trail of the Middle Ages.
However, even today poisons have not lost their relevance and continue to interest many people. It’s a pity, of course, that it’s not only for scientific purposes.
But, if you found this article out of pure curiosity, why not?
Check out the top 10 most dangerous poisons in the world.
Everyone knows the dangerous effects of mercury on the human body. That is why we were so often told to be careful with thermometers and immediately take appropriate measures if it turned out to be broken.
Theoretically, there are three forms of mercury that are deadly to humans: elemental, organic and inorganic mercury. We often encounter elemental mercury in everyday life - these are the same banal old thermometers or fluorescent lamps. This type of mercury is safe to touch, but can be fatal if inhaled.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning are almost the same in all species, and can range from nausea and seizures to blindness and even memory loss.
If we look at history, arsenic was at one time the most popular poison and a favorite among murderers. It was even called “royal poison.”
The use of arsenic began in ancient times (the use of this poison was even attributed to Caligula), mainly in order to eliminate enemies and competitors in the endless struggle for the throne - no matter whether royal or papal. Arsenic was the poison of choice for all European nobility during the Middle Ages.
Its popularity was justified by various factors - both power and availability. For example, in Great Britain, arsenic was sold in pharmacies as a rodent poison.
However, while in Europe arsenic brought only death and suffering, traditional Chinese medicine used it to treat diseases such as syphilis and psoriasis for two thousand years. Nowadays, scientists have experimentally proven that leukemia can be treated with arsenic. And it was Chinese doctors who discovered that such a strong poison was able to successfully block proteins responsible for the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
Quite a sensational poison in its time.
Anthrax is a frequent guest in the media due to the large volume of letters contaminated with it and sent to innocent victims in the United States. As a result of this attack, 10 people died and another 17 were seriously infected.
In this regard, a huge general paranoia broke out in the country, affecting millions. And, I must admit, it’s not in vain. After all, anthrax is caused by bacteria, and one breath is enough for complete infection. Such a strong poison is spread by spores that are released into the air.
After infection, the victim feels only a chill, which gradually turns into impaired breathing, and then to a stop. The mortality rate from this disease reaches as much as 90% in the first week from the moment of infection.
This famous toxin has become literally synonymous with poison.
Potassium cyanide can be in the form of a colorless gas with the smell of bitter almonds (does everyone remember Agatha Christie's novels?), or crystals. Cyanide is present almost everywhere: this poison can form naturally in some foods and plants.
Also, cyanide is present in cigarettes. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, printing photographs, and, of course, potassium cyanide is a must in the composition of insect baiting agents.
Cyanide poisoning can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or even simple touching. The slightest dose is enough for the poison, once in the body, to paralyze the blood flow and block the access of oxygen. Death occurs almost instantly.
Potassium cyanide was actively used during World War I, and was banned along with all chemical weapons later, in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
Sarin is one of the most powerful nerve gases, which is considered a weapon of mass destruction. Death from this poison is always incredibly painful and brings terrible agony to the victim. Causing complete suffocation, Sarin kills a person in just a minute, which, however, seems like an eternity to the victim.
Despite the fact that the production of Sarin has been prohibited by law since 1993, since then quite a few cases of its use have been recorded. For example, in terrorist attacks or chemical warfare. The chemical attack of 1995 in the Tokyo subway and the uprisings in Syria and Iraq stand out especially strongly against this background.
Strychnine was originally extracted from trees that grew in Southeast Asia and India.
Pure strychnine is a white powder, bitter in taste and lethal if it enters the body by any means, whether by injection or inhalation.
Despite the fact that the original purpose of strychnine was to use it as a pesticide, it has been added to drugs such as cocaine and heroin on many occasions.
When poisoned with strychnine, many symptoms may appear within thirty minutes, such as: muscle spasms, respiratory failure, nausea, vomiting, and it is not uncommon that the entire process of spreading the poison throughout the body ends in brain death. And all this in just half an hour!
The mushroom, which contains such a powerful poison, looks, unfortunately, no more dangerous than its edible counterparts. However, just thirty grams of the deadly mushroom can send a person to the “other world.”
Amatoxin has an incredibly destructive effect on the human body. This poison can cause serious damage to the kidneys and liver and cause death of organ cells in just a couple of days. Also, it often causes multiple organ failure and even coma.
Amatoxin is such a strong poison that it can seriously harm the heart. In this case, the victim will face certain death, without the immediate administration of an antidote, which, by the way, is a large dose of penicillin. Without an antidote, victims of amatoxin have a 100% chance of falling into a coma and dying from liver or heart failure within a few days.
The “supplier” of this well-known poison is Fugu fish, which at first glance will not seem to you to be particularly dangerous predators. However, their skin, intestines, liver and other organs contain one of the most dangerous and deadly poisons known to mankind.
If improperly prepared, Fugu fish can cause convulsions, paralysis, various mental disorders and many other health problems in those who dare to try it. Despite this danger, because tetrodotoxin is a deadly poison, people in many countries continue to order this fish, sometimes even paying an insurance premium in advance.
And although the delicacy is Japanese, and it would seem that in Japan everyone should know how to properly prepare such a “risky” dish, it is in this country that the largest number of victims per year is registered. About three hundred people are poisoned by tetrodotoxin every year, and more than half of them die.
Being a derivative of the castor bean, a perennial, highly poisonous plant, ricin is also considered a natural poison. Therefore, people risk being exposed to it in several ways: through food, air or water. And, depending on this route, the symptoms of ricin poisoning may vary.
However, the principle of damage to the body remains unchanged. Ricin poisons the body, blocking the ability of cells to synthesize proteins necessary for life. As a result, such “blocked” cells die, and this, in turn, often leads to failure of the entire organ that was subjected to the poisonous attack of ricin.
And the fact that ricin is most lethal when inhaled served as a signal for many people who began sending the poison by mail in envelopes, as they once did with anthrax. After all, just one pinch of ricin can kill a person.
If we take all these facts into account, it becomes clear why the decision was made to study ricin as a tool for chemical warfare.
In this article, we have listed many poisons that are simply incredibly powerful and can kill in record time. However, many experts in the field of toxicology unanimously agree that botulinum toxin can be called the deadliest poison in the world. By the way, this is what is used in Botox injections to smooth out wrinkles.
This poison leads to botulism, a disease that causes respiratory failure, neurological disorders and other more severe damage.
Several factors led to Botulinum toxin becoming the most dangerous poison on Earth. Its volatile and easily accessible nature, its powerful effects on the body and its frequent use in medicine. For example, just one test tube full of this toxin could potentially kill about a hundred people.
The scope of application of botulinum toxin is multifaceted - starting from the well-known Botox and ending as a method of treating migraines. Therefore, even deaths among patients as a result of procedures that included Botox injections are not uncommon.
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