A poison that does not act immediately. Household poisons - reference book

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

The most powerful poisonous chemicals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Animal poisons

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

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

Poison can be contained in the biological material of any animal. Therefore, it is best to minimize contact with him, especially when it comes to wild representatives fauna.

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

Bacteriological poisoning

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

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

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

Omega is a highly toxic substance that is part of hemlock. Just 100 milligrams of it (8 leaves) will be enough to kill a person. How it works: all body systems gradually fail, except the brain. As a result, you, being in your right mind, begin to die slowly and painfully until you suffocate.

The most popular hemlock was among the Greeks. Interesting fact: This plant caused the death of Socrates in 399 BC. The Greeks executed him in this way for disrespect for the gods.

Source: wikipedia.org

No. 9 - Aconite

This poison is obtained from the fighter plant. It causes arrhythmia, which ends in suffocation. They say that even touching this plant without gloves can result in death. It is almost impossible to detect traces of poison in the body. Most famous case Applications - Emperor Claudius poisoned his wife Agrippina by adding aconite to her mushroom dish.

Source: wikipedia.org

#8 - Belladonna

In the Middle Ages, belladonna was used as a women's cosmetic (rouge for cheeks). Special drops were even obtained from the plant to dilate the pupils (at that time this was considered fashionable). You could also swallow belladonna leaves - one is just enough for a person to die. Berries are also not a miss: you only need to eat 10 of them to die. In those days, a special poisonous solution was made from the latter, which was used to lubricate arrowheads.

Source: wikipedia.org

#7 - Dimethylmercury

This is the slowest and most insidious killer. This is because even 0.1 milliliter that accidentally gets on your skin will be enough to be fatal. The most notorious case: in 1996, a chemistry teacher at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire dropped a drop of poison onto her hand. Dimethylmercury burned through a latex glove; symptoms of poisoning appeared after 4 months. And 10 months later the scientist died.

Source: wikipedia.org

#6 - Tetrodotoxin

This poison is found in blue-ringed octopuses and pufferfish. With the former, things are very bad: octopuses deliberately attack their prey with tetrodotoxin, imperceptibly pricking it with special needles. Death occurs within a few minutes, but symptoms do not appear immediately - after paralysis sets in. One poison blue-ringed octopus enough to kill 26 healthy men.

It’s easier with fugu: their poison is only dangerous when you’re about to eat the fish. It all depends on the correct preparation: if the cook is not mistaken, the tetrodoxin will all evaporate. And you will eat the dish without any consequences, except for incredible adrenaline rushes...

Source: wikipedia.org

#5 - Polonium

Polonium is a radioactive poison for which there is no antidote. The substance is so dangerous that just 1 gram of it can kill 1.5 million people in a few months. The most sensational case of the use of polonium was the death of Alexander Litvinenko, an employee of the KGB-FSB. He died in 3 weeks, the reason was that 200 grams of poison were found in his body.

Source: wikipedia.org

#4 - Mercury

1. elemental mercury - found in thermometers. Instant death occurs if it is inhaled;
2. inorganic mercury - used in the manufacture of batteries. Lethal if swallowed;
3. organic mercury. Sources are tuna and swordfish. It is recommended to eat no more than 170 grams per month. Otherwise, organic mercury will begin to accumulate in the body.

The most famous case of use is the poisoning of Amadeus Mozart. He was given mercury tablets to treat syphilis.

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 worldwide.

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.

His popularity was based 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 a large batch of letters infected with it and sent innocent victims in USA. 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 is capable of naturally form 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 everything 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 wars. 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 powder white, is bitter in taste and lethal by any means of entry into the body, whether by injection or through Airways.

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.

"Supplier" of this known poison are Puffer fish, which at first glance may not seem like much to you 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 it is in Japan that everyone should know how to properly prepare such a “risky” dish, it is in this country that it is registered greatest number victims per year. 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 injuries.

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.

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

It’s paradoxical: the human body is almost 70% water, but even water in large quantities- 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 either case it is quite dangerous. It smells like bitter almonds, and when it enters the body, in just a few minutes it leads to the appearance of symptoms such as headache, nausea, rapid breathing and increased heart rate, as well as weakness. If action is not taken promptly, cyanide kills by depriving the body's cells of oxygen. And yes, cyanide can be obtained from apple seeds, but don't worry if you eat a few. You will have to eat about ten apples before enough cyanide has accumulated in your body for you to feel all of the above. Please don't do this.

24. Hydrofluoric acid (Fluoric acid)

Hydrofluoric acid is a poison used, among other things, to make Teflon. In its 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 does not appear immediately, which increases the likelihood of causing serious damage to health.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring crystalline semimetal and perhaps one of the best known and most common poisons used as a murder weapon in the late 19th century. However, its use for such purposes began in the mid-1700s. The effect of arsenic lasts from several hours to several days, but the result is the same - death. Symptoms of poisoning include 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 very poisonous herb (flower) with a romantic history. What makes it poisonous is an alkaloid called atropine. Absolutely the entire plant is poisonous, although 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 for relaxation as a hallucinogen, and in Victorian times women would often drop belladonna tincture into their eyes to dilate their pupils and make their eyes sparkle. Before 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 what makes carbon monoxide so dangerous is that it is difficult to detect; sometimes called the "silent killer". This substance prevents oxygen from entering the body for normal cell functioning. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu without 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 North America grows in Florida. The Manchineel tree or Beach apple tree has small green fruits that look like sweet apples. Don't eat them! And don't touch this tree! Don't sit next to it and pray you never end up underneath it in windy weather. If the sap gets on your skin, it will blister, and if it gets in your eyes, you can go blind. The sap is contained in the leaves and bark, so don't touch them!

Fluoride is a highly poisonous, pale yellow gas that is corrosive and will react with almost anything. For fluorine to be lethal, a concentration of 0.000025% is sufficient. It causes blindness and suffocation like mustard gas, but its effects are much worse on the victim.

18. Sodium fluoroacetate

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

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

16. Dimethylmercury (neurotoxin)

Dimethylmercury (a neurotoxin) is a terrible poison because it can penetrate most standard means protection, for example, through thick latex gloves. This is exactly what happened to a chemist named Karen Wetterhan in 1996. A single drop of colorless liquid fell on my gloved hand, and that was it. Symptoms began to appear FOUR MONTHS later and she died six months later.

15. Wolfsbane (Wrestler)

Wolfsbane (Fighter) also known as "Monk's Hood", "Wolfsbane", "Leopard's Venom", "Women's Curse", "Devil's Helmet", "Queen of Poisons" and "Blue Rocket". This is practically an entire genus, which includes 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 attacks liver and kidney cells and kills them within a few days. May affect the heart and central nervous system. Treatment is available, but results are not guaranteed. The poison is temperature stable and cannot be removed by drying. Therefore, if you are not 100% sure of the safety collected mushrooms, don't eat them.

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

12. Hemlock plant

Hemlock - classic poisonous plant, which was regularly used for executions in Ancient Greece. There are several varieties, and in North America, water hemlock is the most common plant. You could die if you ate it, yet people still add hemlock to salads, considering it an acceptable ingredient. Water hemlock causes painful and severe convulsions, cramps and tremors. People who have experienced the full power of the whitehead, but survive, may subsequently suffer from amnesia. Water hemlock is considered the deadliest plant in North America. Keep an eye on small children and even teenagers when they are outside! Don't eat anything unless you are 100% sure it is safe.

11. Strychnine

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

Most knowledgeable people consider maytotoxin to be the most powerful marine toxin. It is found in a dinoflagellate algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. For mice, meiototoxin is the most toxic among non-protein toxins.

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

8. Polonium

Polonium is 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. One theory is that a gram of polonium 210 is injected into the body. could kill up to ten million people, causing first radiation poisoning and then cancer.

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 was often used to perform the "innocence test" in Madagascar. An estimated 3,000 people a year died from drinking Cerberus venom before the practice was made illegal in 1861. (If the person survived, he was found innocent. 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 her neck to help with migraines) that causes muscle paralysis.

5. Pufferfish

Pufferfish is considered a delicacy in some countries, where it is called Fugu; it's a dish that few would literally die for. Why does death occur? Because the insides of the fish contain tetrodotoxin, and in Japan, approximately 5 people a year die from eating puffer fish as a result of improper preparation technology. But gourmets continue to persist.

4. Sarin gas

Sarin gas makes you relive the worst moments of your life. The chest shrinks, stronger and stronger, and then... death comes. Although the use of Sarin was made illegal in 1995, it has not stopped being used in terrorist attacks.

3. "Poison Arrow"

The Golden Poison Arrow Frog is tiny, adorable and very dangerous. Just one frog the size of a phalanx thumb 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 Amazonian tribes used poison on the tips of their hunting arrows. One touch of such an arrow kills within a few minutes! When walking in the Amazon forests, stick to 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 beans, the same plant from which castor oil is extracted. This poison is especially toxic if inhaled, and a pinch is enough to kill an adult.

1. "VX"

Codenamed "Purple Possum," the VX chemical is the most powerful nerve gas on Earth. It is man-made, and you can thank the United Kingdom for that. Technically, it was banned in 1993, and the US government allegedly ordered the destruction of its stock, but whether this is actually the case is anyone's guess.

Dictionary of toxic substances

Aconite. This is the name of two plants: one of them is from the daisy family - aconite. (Aconite napellus), and the second member of the buttercup family is Buttercup aconitifolia (Ranunculus aconilifolius). The same name is used when talking about an alkaloid that is obtained from the root of a relative of the buttercup, which is also called aconite or wolfsbane (“wolf root”).

Aconitine. Medicine, as well as poison obtained from aconite.

Alkaloid. A nitrogen-containing base produced by plants. Most alkaloids are biological active substances, and since many of them are nothing more than strong poisons, then it is for this reason that herbivores do not favor them too much... Morphine, codeine, nicotine, cocaine, hyoscyamine, ephedrine, strychnine and atropine are all alkaloids.

Aniline. Also known as aminobenzene. This is a toxic industrial solvent that can enter the human body through the skin, food or inhalation.

Anticoagulants. In the strict sense of the word, these are not poisons, but they kill because they prevent the blood from clotting. Poultry farm owners use these substances against rats and mice, since anticoagulants have almost no effect on birds. They are also used in a number of medical applications.

Atropine see Belladonna

Belladonna. This plant (also called belladonna, sleeping stupor, mad cherry - or nightshade) produces atropine, and this alkaloid is also known as daturin. Atropine leads to increased contraction of the heart muscle, causing hallucinations and delirium.

Hemlock (hemlock). Similar to parsley, this plant can slowly kill a person (by paralyzing the respiratory muscles) - and without the convulsions and suffocation that another plant, which is poisonous, causes (Cicula virosa)- and although in English it is called “water hemlock”, it is not related to hemlock. Hemlock is widely known as a poison used in Ancient Greece: by decision of government authorities, condemned to death penalty had to drink hemlock juice (as the ancient Greeks called it).

Botox. Toxic substance, which is produced by anaerobic bacteria Closlridium botulinum. It is used for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Mushrooms. Many types of mushrooms are poisonous, and some have a stronger toxic effect in the presence of alcoholic beverages. Fly agaric is used and how poisonous substance, and (as is clear from its name) as a means against flies.

Mustard gas. Its chemical name is dichlorodiethyl sulfide, but it became much better known as mustard gas after the substance was first used near the Belgian city of Ypres as a chemical warfare agent during the First World War. It is capable of depositing on surrounding objects and poisoning through contact, and therefore was considered useful for creating “forbidden zones”...

DDT. An insecticide that has been proven to harm wildlife, but has not yet been found to have any serious effects on humans.

Digitalis (digitalis). The common foxglove produces whole line toxins from similar names: digitalin, digitalein, digitonin and digitoxin. All of them are poisonous, although some are used for medicinal purposes.

Dioxins. Class organic matter containing chlorine. They appear to be somehow capable of influencing DNA and, in any case, have an effect on the offspring of those who have had direct contact with these substances. Dioxins are also formed as pollutants during combustion, for example in the case of underground combustion of peat.

Diethylene glycol. Typically used as one of the components of antifreeze, this substance was previously considered harmless, but alcohol dehydrogenase decomposes this solvent, so that poisonous oxalic acid is released. In case of diethylene glycol poisoning, the patient can be cured by giving him... alcohol!

Datura. Scientific name Datura stramonium, and among the people they call it both “stinking dope” and “devil’s trumpet”. Seeds, fruits and leaves: This plant contains high concentrations of atropine and scopolamine (hyoscine).

Yellow chrome. Also known as lead chromate. Toxic substance, however, not so much that it cannot be used in doses that are sufficient to color food.

Indian berry. Latin name Cocculus indicus, used by thieves and murderers to deprive their victims of the ability to move (this drug gives complete motor paralysis). It was also used by unscrupulous English pub owners to ensure that the diluted beer still gave a certain stupefying feeling.

Calabar bean cm. Physostigma poisonous

Cantharides, or Spanish flies. This poison is believed to cause unbridled lust, but it is more accurately called dangerous toxin. It was obtained by keeping crushed, macerated (that is, soaked) beetles in chloroform. I wonder: what were they all thinking about - both those who made this product and those who took it internally?!

Oxygen. This gas is a poison for anaerobic bacteria, but it is so necessary for human life that the mechanism of action of a number of poisons is precisely to sharply impair the access of oxygen to the human body.

Colocynth or bitter gourd. It has been known since biblical times, when it was used as a rather radical medicine, but it could also lead to death.

Methyl ester of isocyanic acid. Intermediate product in the production of insecticides; in 1984, an accident in Bhopal (India) showed that this substance is both highly toxic and increases the corrosion of metals.

Carbon monoxide. Also known as carbon monoxide. Released during incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels and flammable substances. It is toxic because it binds to hemoglobin in the blood more strongly than oxygen, as a result of which the processes of transporting oxygen or carbon dioxide are blocked.

Arsenic. Both arsenic itself and all its compounds are poisonous. It is usually used in the form of oxides. It is used quite often in cosmetic formulations, and some people have even taken it “for the purpose of improving intestinal gases.” In the 19th century, it was easy to purchase in a pharmacy, and, apparently, in connection with this, the Marsh test was created at the same time - so that it could be easily detected.

Laudanum. Opium solution, which was popular in the 19th century as a medicine (and also as a so-called “recreational drug”); sometimes the tincture was also used for poisoning purposes.

Nerve gases. Different types of poisons that have the same effect: by affecting the transmission of nerve impulses, these gases lead to paralysis of the victim.

Nicotine. This alkaloid is quite harmful even in the amount found in cigarette smoke, but it would also be fatal if it were ingested or if it got under the skin.

Organophosphates. A group of common insecticides that attack the nervous system of insects, blocking the transmission of nerve impulses.

Nerve agents cm. Organophosphorus compounds.

Penicillin. It is a deadly poison for bacteria, but not for people.

Lamellar mushrooms. These include the relatively harmless russula and the red fly agaric, a deadly poisonous mushroom.

PCB. Or polychlorinated biphenyls, substances that were once considered fairly harmless, but today attitudes towards them have changed greatly. This is due to the fact that they appear to accumulate in the food chain, and there is also evidence that they can cause damage to the fetus in the womb.

Ricin. A poison produced by the castor bean (the fruit of the castor plant).

"Roger". This is what workers at caustic soda producing plants in England called a cloud of chlorine gas in the 19th century.

Rotenone. A garden pesticide derived from the root of Piscidia vermilion. (Piscidia etythrina). In the past, it was used to stun fish so that they could be caught almost with bare hands.

Mercury. A toxic heavy metal that is often used in industry. Mercury can also accumulate in fish and seafood and become hazardous to humans.

Lead. A toxic heavy metal, the salts of which are also very toxic. Lead breaks down disulfide bonds in proteins, changing their appearance and blocking their action.

Cardiac glycoside. Steroids that cause maximum damage to the heart and kidneys. Found in some plants, it appears to act as a repellent for herbivores.

Hydrocyanic acid cm. Cyanide.

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol). Or, as it is also commonly called, “alcohol,” that is, drinks containing ethyl alcohol or ethanol. It is a poison even in small doses, but it is one of those poisons that makes most people sick even before they are able to inject themselves with a lethal dose. True, inveterate drunkards can sometimes overcome this reaction and, as a result, die...

Ergot. Fungal disease herbs, which produces up to 20 different toxins.

Strychnine. Alkaloid obtained from ripened, dried seeds of the plant Strychnos fir vomica(chilibukha, or emetic nut). It was widely used as a rat repellent, but also as... a tonic! This substance can accumulate in the body, and it is believed that this is why the famous Australian horse Phar Lap died.

Antimony. A heavy metal that is toxic both in itself and in the form of various chemical compounds.

Thallium. Another heavy metal that, when exposed to humans, leads to a curious side effect - the victim’s hair falls out. Therefore, its compounds are sometimes used for cosmetic hair removal. Toxic properties thallium is such that it began to be successfully used as rat poison: it acts very slowly, so rats manage to eat a lethal dose before they feel the first symptoms of poisoning.

Tetrodoxin. Also known by the abbreviation TTX. This toxin is found in many living organisms. It is apparently produced by a certain single cell organism, perhaps a bacterium, and it then moves up the food chain.

bitter gourd, cm. Colocynthus

Heavy metal. Member of a group of elements with similar chemical properties(this includes lead, arsenic, antimony, mercury and cadmium). They are all toxic, both in the form of metals and especially in the form of compounds. These metals typically accumulate in tissues and as they move up the food chain.

Carbon dioxide. Also known as carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide. It is more likely not a poison, but a suffocating agent: this gas kills without allowing the victim to inhale oxygen.

Physostigma is poisonous. In the fruit of a plant Physostigma venenosum, from the legume family, it contains a very strong poison - physostigmine. The lethal dose is apparently small - about a quarter of one bean, but in West Africa, where these beans were used, wanting to find out whether the person was telling the truth, the test was simple: eat half the bean and survive!

Phosgene. A mixture of chlorine and carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) that was used as a poisonous gas during the First World War. Phosgene caused so much fluid to accumulate in the lungs that its victims could not breathe, as if they had drowned...

Phosphorus. White phosphorus is a highly toxic substance that affects many human organs. It was used in rat poison, but apparently was hardly used against people.

Sodium fluoroacetate. Also known under the code “1080” - this poison is used when baiting baits to get rid of rabbits and foxes.

Chlorine. A lethal gas that was used during the First World War. It causes aggressive corrosion, is toxic, and has a suffocating effect on people.

Cyanide. It is also hydrogen cyanide, or hydrocyanic acid. How detective writers adored this substance! True, this is indeed a deadly poison, since it blocks the mechanism in the blood for transmitting oxygen to cells. Sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide are also extremely dangerous poisons.

Cyanide cacodile. Dimethylarsine cyanide, a substance that produces toxic fumes when exposed to air. As a result of the explosion of this substance, Robert Bunsen lost an eye. And in the years Crimean War it was proposed to use it for military purposes, but the prevailing opinion in the then British Ministry of Defense was that this was barbaric...

Cycad plants. Also: cycads. Primitive, palm-like plants in which the carpels are collected in cones - their seeds are poisonous.

From the book Theory of Culture author author unknown

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Dictionary Agraf (French agrafe) - decoration, buckle, fastener for fastening clothes. Cabochon (French caboche from Latin cabo - head) - a stone not faceted, but convexly polished on one or both sides. The oldest species processing of jewelry stones. Kamer Frau - lady in charge of the restroom

From book back side Japan author Kulanov Alexander Evgenievich

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From the book Etruscan Civilization by Thuillet Jean-Paul

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Dictionary Belatyr stone - white latyr stone, a magical stone in spells, in which the described action is usually performed. tag - a pig's snout with a snout. Spindle - mind. spindle, device for yarn.wind fracture - colds,

From the book History of Ancient Greece in 11 cities by Cartledge Paul

Dictionary Acropolis – upper city, citadel. Agoge is a system of Spartan state education. Greek alphabet - borrowed from the Phoenicians with the addition of letters to indicate vowel sounds, probably from the 8th century. BC. Amphiktyony – collection

From the book Laws of Free Societies of Dagestan XVII–XIX centuries. author Khashaev H.-M.

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From the book Russians. History, culture, traditions author Manyshev Sergey Borisovich

From the book Game as a cultural phenomenon author Guzik M. A.

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From the book Power, Gender and Reproductive Success author Butovskaya Marina Lvovna

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