poison catalogue

1. Potassium Cyanide / Cyanide

  • Mechanism: Inhibits cytochrome c oxidase, blocking cellular respiration.
  • Time to Kill: 1-15 minutes.
  • Symptoms: Seizures, respiratory arrest, cardiac failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~200-300 mg.
  • Antidote: Hydroxocobalamin, sodium thiosulfate, amyl nitrite.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—blood may smell like almonds; cyanide levels detectable in blood.

2. Scopolamine (Devil’s Breath)

  • Mechanism: Blocks acetylcholine receptors, causing amnesia and sedation.
  • Time to Kill: 6-24 hours in high doses.
  • Symptoms: Hallucinations, confusion, respiratory depression.
  • Lethal Dose: >10 mg.
  • Antidote: Physostigmine.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traceable in blood or urine for days.

3. Nickel Carbonyl

  • Mechanism: Disrupts mitochondrial respiration, causing organ damage.
  • Time to Kill: 24-72 hours.
  • Symptoms: Chest pain, respiratory failure, organ dysfunction.
  • Lethal Dose: 3-6 ppm inhaled over 30 minutes.
  • Antidote: Chelation therapy (dimercaprol).
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—nickel detectable in blood and tissues.

4. Digoxin

  • Mechanism: Inhibits Na+/K+ ATPase, leading to arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 hours.
  • Symptoms: Nausea, vision changes, irregular heartbeat.
  • Lethal Dose: ~5-10 mg.
  • Antidote: Digoxin-specific antibodies (Digibind).
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in blood and heart tissues.

5. Tetraethyl Lead

  • Mechanism: Disrupts neurotransmitter release, causing neurological damage.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Symptoms: Confusion, tremors, seizures, coma.
  • Lethal Dose: ~7 mg/kg.
  • Antidote: Chelation therapy (EDTA).
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—lead levels detected in tissues.

6. Maitotoxin

  • Mechanism: Opens calcium channels, causing cellular dysfunction.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes to hours.
  • Symptoms: Muscle spasms, cardiovascular collapse.
  • Lethal Dose: Sub-nanogram quantities.
  • Antidote: None.
  • Autopsy Detection: Difficult—chemical analysis of blood may help.

7. Dimethylmercury

  • Mechanism: Crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing irreversible neurological damage.
  • Time to Kill: Days to months after exposure.
  • Symptoms: Cognitive decline, tremors, coma.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.1 mL.
  • Antidote: None; only supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—mercury deposits in tissues.

8. Arsenic Poison

  • Mechanism: Inhibits enzymes involved in metabolism, leading to organ failure.
  • Time to Kill: Hours to days.
  • Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, cardiac arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: ~70-200 mg.
  • Antidote: Dimercaprol, succimer.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detected in hair, nails, and tissues.

9. Aconitine Poison

  • Mechanism: Keeps sodium channels open, causing continuous nerve firing.
  • Time to Kill: 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  • Symptoms: Numbness, vomiting, arrhythmias, respiratory failure.
  • Lethal Dose: 2-5 mg.
  • Antidote: No specific antidote; supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traceable in stomach contents.

10. Batrachotoxin

  • Mechanism: Locks sodium channels open, preventing muscle relaxation.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes to hours.
  • Symptoms: Paralysis, cardiac arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: ~2-3 micrograms.
  • Antidote: None.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—chemical residue analysis required.

11. VX Nerve Agent

  • Mechanism: Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, leading to muscle spasms and respiratory failure.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes to 1 hour.
  • Symptoms: Paralysis, convulsions, respiratory arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10 mg via skin exposure.
  • Antidote: Atropine, pralidoxime (2-PAM).
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—enzyme activity tests confirm exposure.

12. Sarin (Nerve Agent)

  • Mechanism: Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, causing seizures and respiratory paralysis.
  • Time to Kill: 1-10 minutes.
  • Symptoms: Convulsions, paralysis, respiratory failure.
  • Lethal Dose: 0.01 mg/kg.
  • Antidote: Atropine, pralidoxime.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—enzyme inhibition tests.

13. Tetrodotoxin

  • Mechanism: Blocks sodium channels, leading to paralysis and respiratory failure.
  • Time to Kill: 20 minutes to 6 hours.
  • Symptoms: Numbness, paralysis, cardiac arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: 1-2 mg.
  • Antidote: Supportive care, including ventilation.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in blood and tissues.

14. Polonium-210

  • Mechanism: Emits alpha radiation, causing tissue and organ damage.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Symptoms: Radiation sickness, organ failure.
  • Lethal Dose: 1 microgram.
  • Antidote: None.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—radioactive signature detectable.

15. Ricin

  • Mechanism: Inhibits ribosomal protein synthesis, leading to cell death.
  • Time to Kill: 36-72 hours.
  • Symptoms: Vomiting, organ failure, respiratory distress.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1 mg if inhaled or injected.
  • Antidote: None; only supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—can be detected in tissues and stomach contents.

16. Botulinum Toxin

  • Mechanism: Blocks acetylcholine release, causing muscle paralysis.
  • Time to Kill: 12-72 hours.
  • Symptoms: Paralysis, respiratory failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1 ng/kg.
  • Antidote: Antitoxin available.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traceable in blood.

17. Nembutal (Pentobarbital)

  • Mechanism: Enhances GABA activity, leading to sedation and respiratory depression.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 hours.
  • Symptoms: Coma, respiratory arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: ~2-10 grams.
  • Antidote: Supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detected in blood and tissues.

18. Ephedrine

  • Mechanism: Stimulates adrenergic receptors, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Time to Kill: Hours in overdose.
  • Symptoms: Hypertension, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: >150 mg.
  • Antidote: Beta-blockers for cardiovascular symptoms.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detected in blood.

19. Sodium Seconal (Secobarbital)

  • Mechanism: Depresses the central nervous system, causing respiratory failure.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 hours.
  • Symptoms: Coma, death by respiratory arrest.
  • Lethal Dose: ~2-4 grams.
  • Antidote: Supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—drug screen detects it in blood and tissues.

Abrin

  • Mechanism: Inhibits protein synthesis by disabling ribosomes.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.1–1 microgram/kg.
  • Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, seizures, respiratory distress, and multi-organ failure.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 days.
  • Antidote: None; supportive care only.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in blood and tissues.

2. Amatoxins

  • Mechanism: Inhibits RNA polymerase, preventing protein synthesis and leading to liver failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.1 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, liver and kidney failure.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 days.
  • Antidote: No specific antidote; liver transplant may be required.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in liver and kidneys.

3. Brodifacoum

  • Mechanism: Inhibits vitamin K recycling, causing fatal internal bleeding.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Bleeding from gums, nosebleeds, internal hemorrhage, and shock.
  • Time to Kill: 3-10 days.
  • Antidote: High doses of vitamin K1.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detectable in blood and liver.

4. Colchicine

  • Mechanism: Disrupts microtubule formation, impairing cell division.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10 mg.
  • Symptoms: Gastrointestinal distress, multi-organ failure, and cardiovascular collapse.
  • Time to Kill: 24-72 hours.
  • Antidote: None; supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in blood and organs.

5. Thallium

  • Mechanism: Disrupts potassium channels, causing neurological and organ damage.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10–15 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Hair loss, nerve pain, tremors, organ failure.
  • Time to Kill: 1-2 weeks.
  • Antidote: Prussian blue.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detectable in hair, nails, and blood.

6. Strychnine

  • Mechanism: Blocks glycine receptors, causing severe muscle contractions and convulsions.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1–2 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Muscle spasms, respiratory arrest, seizures.
  • Time to Kill: 15-30 minutes.
  • Antidote: Muscle relaxants and ventilatory support.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traces found in blood and tissues.

7. Phosgene

  • Mechanism: Causes pulmonary edema by damaging lung tissues.
  • Lethal Dose: ~500 ppm over 30 minutes.
  • Symptoms: Coughing, chest pain, fluid buildup in lungs.
  • Time to Kill: 24-48 hours.
  • Antidote: None; oxygen therapy and supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—fluid-filled lungs evident.

8. Chlorine Gas

  • Mechanism: Reacts with moisture to form hydrochloric acid in airways, causing respiratory failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~400 ppm.
  • Symptoms: Coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes to hours.
  • Antidote: Oxygen therapy.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—lung damage visible.

9. Hydrofluoric Acid

  • Mechanism: Binds calcium, causing hypocalcemia and organ failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~50 mL of 10% solution.
  • Symptoms: Severe pain, tissue necrosis, heart arrhythmias.
  • Time to Kill: Hours to days.
  • Antidote: Calcium gluconate.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—tissue damage and electrolyte imbalance detected.

10. Paraquat

  • Mechanism: Causes oxidative stress, damaging lungs and organs.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10 mL of 20% solution.
  • Symptoms: Nausea, lung fibrosis, multiple organ failure.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Antidote: None; only supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—paraquat residues found in tissues.

11. Fentanyl

  • Mechanism: Opioid that suppresses the respiratory center.
  • Lethal Dose: ~2 mg.
  • Symptoms: Respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes.
  • Antidote: Naloxone.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—detected in blood.

12. Carfentanil

  • Mechanism: Ultra-potent opioid (100x stronger than fentanyl), causing rapid respiratory failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.02 mg.
  • Symptoms: Instant respiratory arrest, unconsciousness.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes.
  • Antidote: Naloxone.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traceable in blood.

13. Aflatoxins

  • Mechanism: Causes liver damage and cancer.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Vomiting, liver failure, jaundice.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Antidote: None; supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in liver tissue.

14. Ergotamine

  • Mechanism: Causes vasoconstriction and neurotoxic effects.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1-2 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Hallucinations, gangrene, seizures.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Antidote: Vasodilators.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—evidence in blood and tissues.

15. Alpha-Amanitin

  • Mechanism: Inhibits RNA polymerase, leading to organ failure.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.1 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, liver failure.
  • Time to Kill: 1-3 days.
  • Antidote: None; liver transplant may help.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in liver.

16. Ciguatoxin

  • Mechanism: Activates sodium channels, causing nerve dysfunction.
  • Lethal Dose: ~0.1 µg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Vomiting, paralysis, cardiac issues.
  • Time to Kill: Hours to days.
  • Antidote: None; supportive care.
  • Autopsy Detection: Difficult—traceable through blood.

17. Saxitoxin

  • Mechanism: Blocks sodium channels, leading to paralysis.
  • Lethal Dose: ~1 mg.
  • Symptoms: Paralysis, respiratory failure.
  • Time to Kill: Minutes to hours.
  • Antidote: None.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—traceable in tissues.

18. TCDD (Dioxin)

  • Mechanism: Disrupts hormonal systems and causes cancer.
  • Lethal Dose: ~10-100 µg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Chloracne, organ damage.
  • Time to Kill: Months to years.
  • Antidote: None.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in fat tissues.

19. Mercury Vapors

  • Mechanism: Causes neurological damage by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
  • Lethal Dose: Varies by exposure.
  • Symptoms: Tremors, memory loss, coma.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Antidote: Chelation therapy.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—mercury detected in tissues.

20. Cadmium

  • Mechanism: Damages kidneys and lungs, disrupting cellular processes.
  • Lethal Dose: ~30 mg/kg.
  • Symptoms: Pulmonary edema, renal failure.
  • Time to Kill: Days to weeks.
  • Antidote: None; chelation may help.
  • Autopsy Detection: Yes—found in kidneys and lungs.