Top 50 World Poisons and How They Work

Poisonous substances, both natural and synthetic, have been used for centuries for various purposes, from medicine to malice. This article provides an in-depth look at the top 50 deadliest poisons, their mechanisms, lethal doses, and the effects they have on the human body.

1. Botulinum Toxin

• Mechanism: Blocks neurotransmitter release, causing paralysis.
• Lethal Dose: 1 ng/kg
• Effect: Muscle paralysis, respiratory failure.

2. Ricin

• Mechanism: Inhibits protein synthesis by damaging ribosomes.
• Lethal Dose: 1-5 mg/kg
• Effect: Organ failure, respiratory distress.

3. Cyanide

• Mechanism: Blocks cellular respiration by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase.
• Lethal Dose: 50-200 mg (oral)
• Effect: Rapid asphyxiation, seizures, cardiac arrest.

4. Polonium-210

• Mechanism: Alpha radiation damages internal organs at a cellular level.
• Lethal Dose: 1 microgram
• Effect: Multi-organ failure due to radiation poisoning.

5. VX Nerve Agent

• Mechanism: Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, causing overstimulation of muscles.
• Lethal Dose: 10 mg
• Effect: Paralysis, respiratory failure.

6. Sarin Gas

• Mechanism: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, causing uncontrollable nerve and muscle activation.
• Lethal Dose: 0.01 mg/kg
• Effect: Convulsions, paralysis, death by asphyxiation.

7. Tetrodotoxin

• Mechanism: Blocks sodium channels, disrupting nerve function.
• Lethal Dose: 1-2 mg/kg
• Effect: Paralysis, respiratory failure.

8. Aconitine

• Mechanism: Opens sodium channels in nerves, leading to overstimulation.
• Lethal Dose: 1-3 mg
• Effect: Cardiac arrest, respiratory paralysis.

9. Batrachotoxin

• Mechanism: Increases permeability of sodium ions, leading to nerve disruption.
• Lethal Dose: 2-3 micrograms
• Effect: Cardiac arrest, paralysis.

10. Amatoxin

• Mechanism: Inhibits RNA polymerase II, preventing protein synthesis.
• Lethal Dose: 0.1 mg/kg
• Effect: Liver and kidney failure.

11. Dimethylmercury

• Mechanism: Easily absorbed through skin, causing severe neurological damage.
• Lethal Dose: 0.1 mL
• Effect: Brain damage, paralysis, death.

12. Thallium

• Mechanism: Disrupts potassium ion transport.
• Lethal Dose: 15-20 mg/kg
• Effect: Hair loss, organ failure, death.

13. Hydrogen Cyanide

• Mechanism: Inhibits cellular respiration.
• Lethal Dose: 50-60 mg
• Effect: Suffocation at the cellular level, respiratory arrest.

14. Carbon Monoxide

• Mechanism: Binds with hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport.
• Lethal Dose: 100-200 ppm (prolonged exposure)
• Effect: Asphyxiation, unconsciousness, death.

15. Strychnine

• Mechanism: Blocks glycine receptors, causing severe muscle contractions.
• Lethal Dose: 1-2 mg/kg
• Effect: Muscle spasms, respiratory failure.

16. Arsenic

• Mechanism: Disrupts ATP production in cells.
• Lethal Dose: 70-200 mg
• Effect: Multi-organ failure, heart attack.

17. Lead

• Mechanism: Disrupts enzyme function by interfering with calcium.
• Lethal Dose: 0.5-1 g (acute exposure)
• Effect: Neurological damage, anemia, kidney failure.

18. Chloroform

• Mechanism: Depresses central nervous system.
• Lethal Dose: 30-50 mL
• Effect: Respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmia.

19. Phosgene Gas

• Mechanism: Reacts with lung tissue, causing respiratory failure.
• Lethal Dose: 50 ppm
• Effect: Pulmonary edema, respiratory failure.

20. Benzene

• Mechanism: Damages bone marrow and impairs red blood cell production.
• Lethal Dose: 50-150 mg/kg
• Effect: Leukemia, anemia, immune suppression.

21. Ethylene Glycol

• Mechanism: Metabolizes into toxic compounds, damaging kidneys.
• Lethal Dose: 100 mL
• Effect: Kidney failure, acidosis.

22. Methanol

• Mechanism: Metabolizes into formaldehyde and formic acid.
• Lethal Dose: 30-240 mL
• Effect: Blindness, organ failure.

23. Belladonna (Atropine)

• Mechanism: Blocks acetylcholine receptors.
• Lethal Dose: 10-20 berries or 100 mg
• Effect: Delirium, hallucinations, death.

24. Nicotine

• Mechanism: Stimulates acetylcholine receptors, leading to paralysis.
• Lethal Dose: 30-60 mg
• Effect: Seizures, respiratory failure.

25. Formaldehyde

• Mechanism: Cross-links proteins and DNA.
• Lethal Dose: 30-100 mL (oral)
• Effect: Respiratory distress, organ failure.

26. Chlorine Gas

• Mechanism: Causes severe irritation and damage to lung tissues.
• Lethal Dose: 500 ppm
• Effect: Pulmonary edema, respiratory failure.

27. Thioacetamide

• Mechanism: Metabolizes into toxic compounds that damage liver cells.
• Lethal Dose: 100 mg/kg
• Effect: Liver failure, coma.

28. Curare

• Mechanism: Blocks acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions.
• Lethal Dose: 0.2 mg/kg
• Effect: Paralysis, respiratory failure.

29. Dioxins

• Mechanism: Disrupts hormone and enzyme activity.
• Lethal Dose: 0.1 mg/kg (in long-term exposure)
• Effect: Cancer, reproductive damage.

30. Hexane

• Mechanism: Damages peripheral nerves.
• Lethal Dose: 5,000 ppm
• Effect: Neuropathy, paralysis.

31. Radon Gas

• Mechanism: Causes DNA damage through alpha radiation.
• Lethal Dose: Long-term exposure
• Effect: Lung cancer.

32. Zinc Phosphide

• Mechanism: Releases phosphine gas in stomach, causing cell death.
• Lethal Dose: 40-50 mg/kg
• Effect: Organ failure, death.

33. Bromine

• Mechanism: Causes irritation and oxidation damage to tissues.
• Lethal Dose: 3.5-10 ppm
• Effect: Respiratory distress, organ failure.

34. Maitotoxin

• Mechanism: Disrupts calcium homeostasis in cells.
• Lethal Dose: Less than 1 microgram/kg
• Effect: Cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory failure.

35. Tetraethyl Lead

• Mechanism: Interferes with enzyme function in the brain.
• Lethal Dose: 20 mg/kg
• Effect: Neurological damage, seizures.

36. Colchicine

• Mechanism: Inhibits microtubule formation in cells.
• Lethal Dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg
• Effect: Multi-organ failure.

37. Digitalis (Digoxin)

• Mechanism: Inhibits sodium-potassium ATPase, disrupting heart function.
• Lethal Dose: 0.3 mg/kg
• Effect: Arrhythmia, cardiac arrest.

38. Chloral Hydrate

• Mechanism: Central nervous system depressant.
• Lethal Dose: 4-10 g
• Effect: Coma, respiratory arrest.

39. Paraquat

• Mechanism: Generates free radicals, damaging lungs.
• Lethal Dose: 3-5 g
• Effect: Respiratory failure.

40. Mercury Vapor

• Mechanism: Damages brain and kidney tissues.
• Lethal Dose: Chronic exposure to high levels.
• Effect: Neurological damage, kidney failure.

41. Potassium Cyanide

• Mechanism: Inhibits cellular respiration.
• Lethal Dose: 200 mg
• Effect: Rapid suffocation, seizures.

42. Dieldrin

• Mechanism: Disrupts neurotransmission in the central nervous system.
• Lethal Dose: 3-5 mg/kg
• Effect: Convulsions, respiratory failure.

43. Chlorpyrifos

• Mechanism: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, causing overstimulation of nerves.
• Lethal Dose: 135 mg/kg
• Effect: Muscle spasms, respiratory paralysis.

44. Ethanol

• Mechanism: Central nervous system depressant.
• Lethal Dose: 5-8 g/kg
• Effect: Respiratory arrest, coma.

45. Isopropanol

• Mechanism: Depresses central nervous system.
• Lethal Dose: 240 mL
• Effect: Coma, respiratory failure.

46. Methylene Chloride

• Mechanism: Metabolizes into carbon monoxide, causing hypoxia.
• Lethal Dose: 1000 ppm
• Effect: Asphyxiation, heart failure.

47. Nitrogen Mustard

• Mechanism: Alkylates DNA, causing cell death.
• Lethal Dose: 1-2 mg/kg
• Effect: Bone marrow suppression, organ failure.

48. Oleander

• Mechanism: Inhibits sodium-potassium ATPase in the heart.
• Lethal Dose: 0.5 mg/kg
• Effect: Cardiac arrest.

49. Picrotoxin

• Mechanism: Blocks GABA receptors, causing convulsions.
• Lethal Dose: 5 mg/kg
• Effect: Seizures, respiratory failure.

50. Beryllium

• Mechanism: Causes immune system to attack lung tissues.
• Lethal Dose: Chronic exposure
• Effect: Lung damage, cancer.

This comprehensive list highlights the potency and danger of some of the deadliest substances known to humanity. Understanding how these poisons work can help with safety precautions and medical treatments in cases of exposure.