The most dangerous and fast-acting poisons. The most dangerous and deadly poisons in the world

Many inquisitive people, most likely, wondered which creature is the most poisonous on earth. Interestingly, for a long time it was believed that these were snakes and spiders. But research scientists have painted us a different picture. And now we will consider what, in their opinion, is the most poisonous creature in the world. The top 10 suggested below may surprise 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 will agree that this is the most poisonous creature in the world. The Guinness Book of Records also shares this view. This jellyfish is reported to kill a human in a short time, 1 to 3 minutes. But not only this makes her a terrible enemy. The deadly tentacles can simultaneously hit 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 to survive, but this usually fails. Jellyfish victims drowned because they went into shock or died from cardiac arrest. Every year, about 6,000 vacationers die from the poison of the sea wasp. Only a few people survived the bite, and they even felt pain a few 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 an object in the water, since the jellyfish merges. But there is a creature that is not afraid of box jellyfish - this is a sea turtle.

Second place - king cobra

Some are ready to argue that the most poisonous creature on earth is, after all, there are snakes with more toxic poison. But in the Guinness book, she takes an honorable second place due to how much poison she spits out at a time. It reaches 4 meters in length, but since these cobras grow all their lives (and they can live 30 years), some individuals reach 6 meters.

The amount of venom squirted depends on the size of its prey, but the dose is usually slightly more than what is needed to kill.

A case has been recorded when an Indian elephant died within three hours, as it was struck by a king cobra. With a large amount of poison, a person dies in 15 minutes from the onset of paralysis and respiratory arrest. But even more terrible is the fact that the cobra is able to rise to a third of its height. If its length is 5 meters, then it is extended by 1.6 meters. But it can please the fact that they do not attack first (if not disturbed).

Its range is the forests of South Asia, but since there is active logging, the cobras are forced to move closer to the human habitat.

Third place - scorpion 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 gets into the bloodstream, the victim will die.

Initially, the stung place swells and the person feels incredible pain, after which comes a fever that develops into convulsions. The end result is paralysis and death. Interestingly, before committing a deadly attack, the "baby" begins to move, as if dancing, and this warns of its intention.

Fourth place - taipan

Among the world's creature is the taipan. The danger lies in the huge amount of poison that is released during the attack. This land snake is capable of fatally injuring 100 people. Its poisonous mixture is about 400 times more toxic than the venom of an ordinary cobra. After being bitten by an adult, death occurs in an average of 45 minutes. About 90% of attacks for a person are fatal, even though the 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 shy and, sensing danger, can crawl away. This creature lives in Australia on arid plains, but often creeps up to the water.

Fifth place - dart frog

Some believe that the most poisonous creature on the planet is the poison dart frog because of its deceptive appearance. She looks very attractive and completely defenseless, but this is a hoax. Her skin of a bright saturated color is covered with poison (batrachotoxin), which, when it enters a person through microscopic damage, freely enters 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 has got on the skin.

Scientists know 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 the rainforests. They are also called "dart frogs" because in the past the natives used their venom to grease their 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 received 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 gr.), It has a toxic and dangerous poison. One portion, which the octopus excretes at a time, is enough to poison 25 people. Death can come within minutes. During this time, the victim will begin to experience problems with vision and speech, and numbness will occur. Then it becomes difficult for the person to breathe. The next fatal symptom is complete paralysis. Lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest will lead to death. It is impossible to neutralize the action of the poison, since the antidote has not been created.

This "cute" creature lives near the Australian and South Asian coasts. It is widely distributed and prefers shallow depths. But fortunately, he leads a night life, so it is not easy to stumble upon him. 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 venomous creature in the world that is feared without even knowing its toxicity is the wandering spider. He has a rather aggressive disposition. In addition, it is terrifying in that it is the largest of all spiders in the world.

It can be found in Central and South America in the tropical region, especially on banana plantations, but sometimes this creature climbs into houses. He does not weave webs and travels on his own to find food, which is what makes him very dangerous. He can stop to rest in a residential building, hide in a car or clothes. As a result, the percentage of cases of spider attacks is very high. This arthropod is not shy and is immediately ready to attack, so if you had to meet him, do not try to scare him, because he will not retreat, you better run.

Spider venom causes lung spasm and loss of muscle control. The person may become suffocated. Also, toxins affect the lymphatic system and cardiac arrest can occur. The still alive victim feels how the body gradually stiffens. 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 is also noted that more deaths occurred through his fault than from other arthropods.

Eighth place - fugu

Of the vertebrates, this is the most poisonous creature in the world. Many people know him by the name of the ball fish. The entire surface of the fish is considered poisonous, and some puffer organs are also 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, only those professionals who have received a special license can cook fugu.

Ninth place - cone snail

Some, when they see this marble snail, do not understand that it belongs to dangerous creatures, since its appearance is very attractive. But you can’t judge by appearance, because she is just as dangerous as the rest of the representatives of this list. Just one drop of poison can kill 20 people. After the snail stings, the victim begins to experience excruciating pain, then numbness sets in and the bite site becomes inflamed. 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 occupies the last place 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 for suicide or amputation of the bitten place. Such pain causes shock, then paralysis inevitably sets in, and the tissues at the site of the lesion begin to die, without medical assistance a person is threatened with death.

This dangerous "beast" is found in the waters of the Red Sea and in the tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

10. In tenth place is the poison of the Central Asian cobra (Naja oxiana).

The Central Asian cobra, whose length reaches 1.5–1.6 m, is common 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.

The poison of this snake is extremely strong. After the bite, the victim becomes lethargic, but soon the body begins to shake convulsions, breathing quickens, becomes superficial. Without the necessary assistance, death occurs within a few minutes as a result of paralysis of the respiratory tract.

The main damaging component of the poison is neurotoxin II, the minimum sufficient dose (DL) is 0.085 mg / kg.

9. Ninth place is occupied by the poison of a spider that bears the title of "the most poisonous in the world" - a spider from the genus Karakurt (Latrodectus), which is also called the "black widow".

Karakurts ("black widows") live in tropical, subtropical and even temperate latitudes on all continents except Antarctica. Only females are dangerous 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: September is about ten times more powerful than May.

At the time of the bite, an instant burning pain is most often felt (in some sources, the bite is painless), spreading throughout the body after 15–30 minutes. Usually patients complain of unbearable pain in the abdomen, lower back, chest. A sharp tension of the abdominal muscles is characteristic. Shortness of breath, palpitations, increased heart rate, dizziness, headache, tremor, vomiting, pallor or flushing of the face, sweating, a feeling of heaviness in the thoracic and epigastric regions, exophthalmos and dilated pupils. The face becomes bluish. Priapism, bronchospasm, urinary retention and defecation are also characteristic. Psychomotor agitation in the later stages of poisoning is replaced by deep depression, blackout of consciousness, and delirium.

The main damaging component of the poison is a substance called alpha-latrotoxin, the minimum sufficient dose of which is 0.045 mg / kg.

Antidote: anti-karakurt serum.

8. Eighth place behind the poison of the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena).

The blue-ringed octopus is a genus of octopuses that includes four known species that live in the coastal waters of Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea. They are found at a depth of up to 50 meters, and they can be found both near reefs and on the gently sloping coast. The weight of animals varies in the range of 10-100 grams. The body of all mollusks of this genus is covered with large blue rings. Octopus rings are different. In some (Hapalochlaena maculosa), the rings are visible only in an aggressive state, in a period of calm they do not appear.

The venom of the blue-ringed octopus is maculotoxin, more precisely, tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxic poison. It is produced not by the mollusk itself, but by the bacteria living in it.
The poison blocks sodium channels, leading to muscle paralysis, stopping the respiratory muscles and, as a result, the heart. However, if a paralyzed person is kept on artificial respiration, after a while, tetrodotoxin is neutralized by the body.

First aid for a blue-ringed octopus bite:

A tourniquet bandage above the bite, preventing the spread of poison throughout the body

Artificial respiration, which must be done even if the victim seems to be dead, because. the action of the poison leads to a state in which the victim is fully aware of what is happening, but cannot give any signal.

7. In seventh place is the poison of a mollusk that lives on the east and north coasts of Australia, as well as on the east coast of Southeast Asia and China. This mollusk is called Conus geographus, or simply Cone.

Mollusk shells are 15–20 cm long. The cones are very active when touched in their habitat. Their toxic apparatus consists of a poisonous gland connected by a duct to a hard proboscis with a radula-grater located at the wide end of the shell, with sharp spikes that replace the teeth of the mollusk. If you take the shell in your hands, the mollusk instantly pushes the radula and sticks spikes into the body.

The cone venom has a complex composition, the main damaging component is called alpha-conotoxin, the minimum sufficient dose is 0.012 mg / kg.

There is no antidote for shellfish toxin - it is not for nothing that it is considered the most poisonous snail in the world! The only measure is profuse bleeding from the injection site.

6. Yellow scorpion venom (Androctonus australis) in sixth place.

Androctonus australis are medium sized scorpions up to 10-12 cm long and living up to 5 years. They have nothing to do with Australia: australis in Latin is “southern”, and androctonus in Greek is “killer”. They are found in the Middle East, in the north and southeast of Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Iraq, Iran, etc.). Up to 80% of all serious poisonings and up to 95% of deaths from scorpion stings are associated with this type of scorpion.

The bite of these extremely aggressive creatures can be fatal within seconds.

The venom of the yellow fat-tailed scorpion is produced in two enlarged glands located just behind the sting, which looks like a thorn at the end of the tail. It is they who give the scorpions the appearance of "fat men". It also differs from other scorpions in the color of the sting - from dark brown to black. It feeds mainly on small insects such as locusts or beetles, but can easily deal with small lizards or mice. As soon as the victim ceases to resist, the scorpion dismembers the body into small parts with the help of sharp claws.

The main damaging substance of the poison is titutoxin, the minimum sufficient dose is 0.009 mg / kg.

Antidote: antitoxic serum "Antiscorpion". As a slightly less effective replacement, Antikarakurt serum can be used. As a first aid, it is necessary to lubricate the wound with oil and apply a heating pad.

5. The fifth place is occupied by the poison of another representative of the seas - Fugu fish, belonging to the Tetraodontidae family.

Some species of the Tetraodontidae family (four-toothed, they are also pufferfish, dogfish and pufferfish) reach a length of up to half a meter. The habitat of the 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.

The main damaging substance of the poison is tetrodotoxin, the minimum sufficient dose is 0.008 mg / kg. The poison belongs to neurotoxins, when it enters the body, it blocks sodium channels in the nerve endings. Puffer fish poisoning is fatal in 60% of cases. Despite this, the Japanese and Koreans revere fugu as a delicacy and risk their lives for the sake of gastronomic pleasure. Maybe it's worth it?

Antidote: there is no special antidote; in case of poisoning, detoxification and symptomatic treatment are carried out.

4. Australian taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) - the poison of this most poisonous snake on earth takes fourth place.

Taipans reach a length of 2 to 3.6 m. They are distinguished by a very aggressive character, but, fortunately, they are found only in sparsely populated areas on the northeast coast of Australia and southern New Guinea. Taipan is very aggressive. When threatened, it twists its body and vibrates with the end of its tail. Snakes are most aggressive during the mating and skinning season, but that doesn't mean they are peaceful and docile at other times.

When bitten by a taipan, paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs and blood clotting is disturbed. The venom of this snake is about a hundred times stronger than the venom of a cobra, and, without the use of antitoxic taipan serum, death after a bite occurs in 90% of cases. The amount of poison contained in one bite is capable of killing 100 people.

The main damaging component of the poison is a substance called taipotoxin, the minimum sufficient dose is no more than 0.002 mg / kg.

Antidote: antitoxic taipan serum.

3. Opens the top three poison poison dart frogs / leaf climbers, or rather one of their representatives, the most poisonous frog in the world from the genus "Phyllobates" - the terrible leaf climber (Phyllobates terribilis).

Frogs do not exceed 5 cm in length, usually brightly colored in gold, black-orange and black-yellow tones (warning coloration). If you will be brought to South America from Nicaragua to Colombia - do not grab them with your hands. A substance called batrachotoxin is secreted from the skin of these small, brightly colored frogs. It is so toxic that even its contact with the skin causes death. The poison has a strong cardiotoxic effect, causing extrasystoles and ventricular fibrillation, paralyzes the respiratory muscles, myocardium and skeletal muscles. Persistently and irreversibly increases the permeability of the resting membrane for sodium ions, blocks axonal transport.

The American Indians use these poisonous frogs to grease hunting arrows and blowpipe darts. Frogs are completely insensitive to their poison. The frogs themselves are not aggressive and do not rush at people, therefore the easiest and most effective way to protect against them is not to pick them up!

The poison of "Phyllobates terribilis" is stronger than the poison of curare and thousands of times stronger than potassium cyanide. An adult contains enough poison to kill about 1500 people!

The minimum sufficient dose is 0.002 mg/kg.

Antidote: currently does not exist. A strong antagonist is tetrodotoxin - wedge wedge ...

2. In second place is the substance palytoxin, produced by coral polyps Palythoa toxica, P. tuberculosa, P. caribacorum.

The body of these polyps - the inhabitants of the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans - does not consist of eight, as in ordinary corals, but of six or more than eight, the number of rays located on several corollas, usually a multiple of six.

Palitoxin is a cytotoxic poison. With a lesion, death occurs within a few minutes as a result of a sharp narrowing of the coronary vessels and paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

Antidote: no. That's why it's in second place!

1. And, finally, the leader is the larvae of the leaf beetle of the genus Diamphidia (D.Klocusta, D.Knigro-ornata, D.Kfemoralis).

The leaf beetle lives in South Africa and is a distant relative of the common Colorado potato beetle. Adults reach 10-12 mm in length. Females lay their eggs on the branches of Commiphora plants. The larvae burrow into the ground, pupate, and develop to a pupa in a few years.

A single-chain polypeptide that opens all sodium-potassium channels in the cell membrane for input, as a result of which the cell dies due to intracellular electrolyte imbalance. It has a neurotoxic and especially pronounced hemolytic effect, is able to reduce the hemoglobin content in the blood by 75% in a short period of time due to the massive destruction of red blood cells. Bushmen still use crushed diamphidian larvae: an arrow lubricated with this slurry can knock down an adult 500-kilogram giraffe.

The substance diamphotoxin contained in their "blood" is the most powerful natural poison on the planet.

The minimum sufficient dose of diamphotoxin is 0.000025 mg/kg.

Antidote: None.

However, according to other scientists, the first place belongs to the box jellyfish (Cubozoa) or, as it is also called, the sea wasp, whose poison fatally affects skin cells, the nervous system and the heart. On account of this poisonous inhabitant of the deep seas of Asia and Australia, six thousand lives over the past sixty years.

The reputation of the most poisonous creature of the box jellyfish is somewhat spoiled by the fact that treating wounds from it with acetic acid immediately after receiving them significantly increases the chances of survival.

And one more fact. The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider is listed in 2007 in the Guinness Book of Records for the maximum number of human deaths caused, and not so much because of its poisonousness, but because of its choice of a wide variety of places to attack people - buildings, cars, clothes, etc. shoes. What is called - not quality, so quantity!

In the world there are many poisons of very different nature. Some of them act almost instantly, others can torment the victim of poisoning for years, slowly destroying it from the inside. True, the concept of poison has no clear boundaries. It all depends on concentration. And often the same substance can act both as a deadly poison and as one of the most necessary components for sustaining life. Vitamins are a striking example of such duality - even a slight excess of their concentration can completely destroy health or kill on the spot. Here we offer a look at 10 substances that are pure poisons, and are included in the group of the most dangerous and fastest acting.

(Total 10 photos)

A fairly large group of salts of hydrocyanic acid is called cyanides. All of them, like the acid itself, are extremely poisonous. In the last century, both hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride have been used as chemical warfare agents, and have accounted for tens of thousands of lives.

Potassium cyanide is also famous for its extreme toxicity. Only 200-300 mg of this white powder, resembling granulated sugar, is enough to kill an adult in just a few seconds. Thanks to such a low dosage and incredibly quick death, this poison was chosen to die by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Goering and other Nazis.

They tried to poison Grigory Rasputin with this poison. True, the poisoners mixed cyanide into sweet wine and cakes, not knowing that sugar is one of the most powerful antidotes for this poison. So in the end, they had to use a gun.

2. Anthrax bacillus

Anthrax is a very severe, rapidly developing disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. There are several forms of anthrax. The most "harmless" is skin. Even in the absence of treatment, mortality from this form does not exceed 20%. The intestinal form kills about half of the sick, but the pulmonary form is almost certain death. Even with the help of the latest treatment methods, modern doctors manage to save no more than 5% of patients.

Sarin was created by German scientists who were trying to synthesize a powerful pesticide. But this deadly poison, which causes a quick but very painful death, acquired its gloomy glory not in agricultural fields, but as a chemical weapon. Sarin was produced by the ton for military purposes for decades, and it was not until 1993 that its production was banned. But, despite calls for the complete destruction of all stocks of this substance, in our time it is used by both terrorists and the military.

4. Amatoxins

Amatoxins are a whole group of poisons of a protein nature contained in poisonous mushrooms of the amanite family, including the deadly pale grebe. The particular danger of these poisons lies in their "slowness". Once in the human body, they immediately begin their destructive activity, but the victim begins to feel the first ailment no earlier than 10 hours later, and sometimes even after several days, when it is already very difficult for doctors to do anything. Even if such a patient can be saved, he will still suffer for the rest of his life from painful violations of the functions of the liver, kidneys and lungs.

5. Strychnine

Strychnine is found in large quantities in the nuts of the tropical tree chilibuha. It was from them that it was obtained in 1818 by the French chemists Pelletier and Cavantou. In small doses, strychnine can be used as a drug that increases metabolic processes, improves heart function and treats paralysis. It was even actively used as an antidote for barbiturate poisoning.

However, it is one of the most powerful poisons. Its lethal dose is even less than that of the famous potassium cyanide, but it acts much more slowly. Death from strychnine poisoning occurs after about half an hour of terrible torment and severe convulsions.

Mercury is extremely dangerous in all its manifestations, but its vapors and soluble compounds are especially harmful. Even small amounts of mercury that enter the body cause severe damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

When small amounts of mercury enter the body, the process of poisoning proceeds gradually, but inevitably, since this poison is not excreted, but, on the contrary, accumulates. In ancient times, mercury was widely used for the production of mirrors, as well as felt for hats. Chronic poisoning with mercury vapor, which was expressed in a disorder of behavior up to complete insanity, at that time was called the "disease of the old hatter".

7. Tetrodotoxin

This extremely strong poison is found in the liver, milk and caviar of the famous puffer fish, as well as in the skin and caviar of some species of tropical frogs, octopuses, crabs and caviar of the Californian newt. Europeans first became acquainted with the effects of this poison in 1774, when the crew ate an unknown tropical fish on the ship of James Cook, and the slop from dinner was given to the ship's pigs. By morning, all the people were seriously ill, and the pigs were dead.

Tetrodotoxin poisoning is very severe, and even today doctors manage to save less than half of all poisoned people.

It is interesting to note that the famous Japanese delicacy fugu fish is prepared from fish in which the content of the most dangerous toxin exceeds the lethal dose for humans. Lovers of this treat literally entrust their lives to the art of the cook. But, no matter how hard the cooks try, accidents cannot be avoided, and every year several gourmets die after eating an exquisite dish.

Ricin is an extremely powerful plant poison. A great danger is the inhalation of its smallest grains. Ricin is about 6 times more potent than potassium cyanide, but was not used as a weapon of mass destruction due to purely technical difficulties. But various special services and terrorists are very "loving" this substance. Politicians and public figures receive letters stuffed with ricin with enviable regularity. True, it rarely comes to a fatal outcome, since the penetration of ricin through the lungs has a rather low efficiency. For a 100% result, it is necessary to inject ricin directly into the blood.

9. VX (VX)

VX, or, as it is also called, VI-gas, belongs to the category of military poison gases that have a nerve-paralytic effect. He, too, was born as a new pesticide, but soon the military began to use it for their own purposes. Symptoms of poisoning with this gas appear within one minute after inhalation or contact with the skin, and death occurs after 10-15 minutes.

10. Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which are the causative agents of the most dangerous disease - botulism. It is the most powerful organic poison and one of the strongest poisons in the world. In the last century, botulinum toxin was part of the arsenal of chemical weapons, but at the same time, active research was carried out regarding its use in medicine. And today, a huge number of people who want to at least temporarily restore the smoothness of the skin experience the influence of this terrible poison, which is part of the most popular Botox drug, which once again confirms the validity of the famous saying of the great Paracelsus: “Everything is poison, everything - medicine; both are determined by the dose.

The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus famously said: “All substances are poisons; there is not one that is not. The right dose distinguishes the poison, ”and he is right. Even too much water will kill you. However, some substances require very small amounts to cause death - sometimes enough to drop a drop onto a gloved hand - so they were originally placed in the class of poisons. From flowers to heavy metals, from man-made gases to real poison, here are the 25 most dangerous poisons known to mankind.

25. Cyanide can be in the form of a colorless gas or crystals, but in any case it is quite dangerous. It smells like bitter almonds, and once ingested, it causes symptoms such as headache, nausea, rapid breathing and increased heart rate, and weakness in just a few minutes. If left untreated, cyanide kills because the cells are deprived of oxygen. And yes, cyanide can be obtained from apple seeds, but don't worry if you eat a few. You will need to eat about ten kernels before you have enough cyanide in your body for it to have a negative effect. Please don't do this.

24. Hydrofluoric acid (Hydrofluoric acid) is a poison used, among other things, for the production of Teflon. In a liquid state, this substance can easily seep through the skin into the bloodstream. In the body, it reacts with calcium and can even destroy the underlying bone. The worst thing is that at first the contact does not cause any pain, which leaves more time and opportunity for serious damage.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

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

Photo: maxpixel

22. Belladonna or Deadly nightshade is a very poisonous herb (flower) with a very romantic story. An alkaloid called atropine makes it poisonous, and the whole plant is poisonous, with the root containing the most poison and the berries the least. However, even two eaten are enough to kill a child. Some people use belladonna to relax as a hallucinogen, and in Victorian times, women would often drop a tincture of belladonna into their eyes to make their pupils dilate and make their eyes sparkle. Before death, under the influence of belladonna, you may develop a seizure, increase your pulse, and become confused. Don't play with belladonna, kids.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

21. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless substance and slightly less dense than air. It will poison and then kill you. Part of the reason carbon monoxide is so dangerous is that it is difficult to detect; sometimes referred to as the "silent killer". This substance prevents the body from delivering oxygen to where it is needed, for example, to the cells in order to keep them alive and working. The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu without a fever: headache, weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, and confusion. Luckily, you can purchase a carbon monoxide detector from just about every specialty store.

Photo: wikimedia commons

20. The deadliest tree in all of North America grows in Florida. Otherwise, where else would he grow? The Manchineel Tree or Beach Apple Tree has small green fruits that look like apples and are likely to taste sweet. Don't eat them. And don't touch that tree. Do not sit next to or under it, and pray that you will never be under it in the wind. If the juice gets on your skin, it will blister, and if it gets in your eyes, you may go blind. The juice is contained in both the leaves and the bark, so do not touch them. Probably, the juice of this plant killed the conquistador Ponce de Leon, who discovered Florida.

Photo: nps.gov

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

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

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

Photo: lizenzhinweisgenerator.de

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

Photo: wikimedia commons

16. Dimethylmercury (a neurotoxin) is a terrible poison because it can penetrate most standard protective equipment, such as thick latex gloves. This is exactly what happened to a female chemist named Karen Wetterhahn in 1996. A single drop of a colorless liquid fell on the gloved hand, and that was it. Symptoms started FOUR MONTHS later, and six months later she was already dead.

Photo: wikipedia.org

15. Aconite (Wrestler) also known as "monk's hood", "wolfsbane", "leopard venom", "women's curse", "devil's helmet", "poison queen" and "blue rocket". In fact, this is a whole genus, including more than 250 herbs, and most of them are extremely poisonous. The flowers can be either blue or yellow, and while some of the plants are used for traditional medicines, they have also been used as a murder weapon over the past decade.

Photo: maxpixel

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

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13. Anthrax is actually caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. What makes you sick is not so much the bacteria as the toxin they produce when they enter the body. Bacillus Anthracis can enter your system through the skin, mouth, or respiratory tract. The death rate from airborne anthrax is as high as 75% even with treatment.

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12. The hemlock plant is a classic poisonous plant that was regularly used for execution in ancient Greece, including the philosopher Socrates. Several varieties exist, with water hemlock being the most common plant in North America. You can die eating it, but people still do it, believing that hemlock is a perfectly acceptable salad ingredient. Water hemlock causes painful and severe convulsions, convulsions and tremors. Those who survive may subsequently suffer from amnesia, or other long-term problems. The water hemlock is considered the deadliest plant in North America. Serious note: keep an eye on your children, even older ones, when they are out and about. Do not eat anything unless you are 100% sure it is safe.

Photo: flickr.com

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

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10. Most of those who understand such things consider mitotoxin the most powerful marine toxin. It is found in a dinoflagellate algae called Gambierdiscus toxicus, and if those words confuse you, just think of deadly plankton to get the gist. For mice, meiototoxin is the most toxic of the non-protein toxins.

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9. Mercury - the silvery liquid in old school thermometers - is a heavy metal that is quite toxic to humans if inhaled or touched. If touched, it can cause your skin to flake off, and if you inhale mercury vapor, it will eventually turn off your central nervous system and you will die. Before then, you are likely to experience kidney failure, memory loss, brain damage, and blindness.

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8. Polonium is a radioactive chemical element and has been implicated in the deaths of everyone from Yasser Arafat to Russian dissidents. Its most common form is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrocyanic acid. It is radioactive and emits alpha particles (they are not compatible with organic tissues). Alpha particles cannot penetrate the skin, so polonium must be ingested or injected into the victim. However, if this happens, the result will not be long in coming. According to one theory, a gram of polonium 210 could kill up to ten million people if injected or ingested, causing first radiation poisoning and then cancer.

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7. Suicide tree or Cerbera odollam works by disturbing the natural rhythm of the heart and often causing death. A member of the same family as Oleander, the plant has often been used as a "test of innocence" in Madagascar. An estimated 3,000 people a year died from consuming Cerberus venom before the practice was outlawed in 1861. (If you survived, you were found not guilty. If you died, it didn't matter because you were dead.)

Photo: wikipedia.org

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

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

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4. Gas Sarin will give you the opportunity to experience the worst moments in life. Your chest tightens, harder, harder, and then... it relaxes because you're dead. Although Sarin was outlawed in 1995, it has not stopped being used in terrorist attacks.

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3. Golden Frog "Poison Arrow" - tiny, charming and quite dangerous. Just one frog the size of the end of your thumb contains enough neurotoxin to kill ten people! A dose equal to about two grains of salt is enough to kill an adult. This is why some tribes in the Amazon used poison to coat the tips of their hunting arrows. One touch of such an arrow will kill you within minutes! Here's a great rule: if you see a frog and it's yellow, blue, green, or red, don't touch it.

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2. Ricin is more deadly than anthrax. This substance is obtained from castor beans, the same plant from which we obtain castor oil. This poison is especially toxic if inhaled, and a pinch of it will kill you very quickly.

Photo: wikimedia commons

1. Codenamed "Purple Possum", belonging to the VX group, the most powerful nerve gas on Earth. It is completely man-made and we can thank the United Kingdom for that. It was technically banned in 1993 and the US allegedly destroyed its stocks. Other countries are "working on it." Which we should totally trust because governments are known to be 100% honest about these things.

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Poisonous substances are used in medicine, the agricultural industry, the military and, unfortunately, in terrorist operations. The most powerful poison on the planet is determined by various criteria: origin, duration of action, degree of distribution, area of ​​​​damage, type of substance (solid, liquid, gas). Many factors affect the strength of the action, it is impossible to give it an unambiguous assessment. The rating has collected popular and little-known toxins.

cyanides

Cyanides are a large group of substances of organic and inorganic nature. Not the most dangerous, but the most common poisons. These include hydrocyanic acid and its salts. Penetrate into the body through the skin, respiratory tract or with food.

Hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide, formula HCN) was used in the XX century by the French and the Nazis during the wars. In America they were used in prison gas chambers. A poisonous, colorless, volatile liquid with a characteristic odor found in plants and coke oven gas. It is released during smoking, thermal impact on polyurethanes and nylon. Death occurs within 5 to 15 minutes from 0.5 mg/kg orally and at air concentrations above 0.011%. Banned by the Geneva Convention since 1949.

Got particular popularity potassium cyanide (potassium hydrocyanic acid, formula KCN). The substance is similar in appearance to powdered sugar. Lethal outcome occurs after the use of 140-170 mg / kg. Interestingly:

• The poison caused the death of Rasputin and Hitler;
• in 1982 a poisoner operated in the USA. The maniac added cyanide to medicines, from which at least 7 people died;
• in case of poisoning, sulfur and sugar help. There are antidotes in medicine.

Sarin

A colorless liquid with a faint smell of blossoming apple trees was developed for agricultural needs in 1938. But it quickly found application in the military operations of the Nazis. It affects the nervous system through all routes of exposure. Fatal penetration through the skin 0.12 mg / l or a concentration of 0.075 mg / l of air. The man dies in agony and convulsions.

Since 1993 The substance is on the prohibited list. On June 12, 2017, the media of the Russian Federation informed about the complete destruction of liquid reserves in the country. The use by terrorists and the military continues. On August 21, 2013, at least 280 people died in Syria from the effects of sarin.

Treatment begins at the first symptoms. The person is isolated from the damaging agent. The body is treated with a weak solution of alkali, the stomach is washed. The victim is waiting for long-term treatment with antidotes.

Alpha latrotoxin

The poison is produced by spiders of the karakurt family. Females are the most dangerous. The strength of the poisonous substance depends on the season: in the spring, its penetration into the body causes more severe consequences than in the fall. In nature, there are 31 species of insects. The female of the steppe karakurt is notorious - the black widow. Insects live in tropical, subtropical, temperate latitudes. There are populations in the Crimea.

Lethal outcomes are rarely recorded, because. developed a serum that neutralizes the poison. Deaths occur among bitten children and the elderly. The lethal dose is 0.045 mg/kg.

The poison is absorbed into the blood for 15-60 minutes and affects the neuromuscular tissue. Accompanied by pain in the abdomen, chest, lower back; shortness of breath, hypertension, dizziness, dilated pupils. Death occurs from heart failure and impaired respiratory function.

Pale toadstool toxins

The most poisonous mushroom in the world contains aminotoxins and phalloidins. Poisons destroy the liver and kidneys. The danger of poisoning is the long-term absence of symptoms.

The manifestation of the toxin is noticeable after 6-24 hours. Symptoms: severe pain in the abdomen, fainting, dizziness, diarrhea. On the third day, a false improvement in well-being occurs, while the destruction of the body continues. Death occurs within 10 days from cardiovascular failure.

Antidote - an injectable form of silibinin. Due to the late diagnosis, there is a high probability of death from 30 grams of the eaten mushroom.

Ricin

White powder is obtained from castor beans. Odorless, soluble in water. Destructively affects the processes of protein synthesis. The effect of the toxin on the body has been studied since the First World War. Damage to the body is possible both by inhalation and by direct contact with the blood.

In 1978 Bulgarian dissident Georgy Markov died after being stabbed with an umbrella. The tip contained a ricin capsule. In 2001 and 2003 became aware of the use of the substance by terrorists. In 2009 intelligence agencies prevented the mailing of letters with ricin to the president and politicians of the United States.

Symptoms appear within 24 hours if inhaled and 10 hours if ingested with food. The lethal dose is 0.03 mg/kg. Ricin affects the respiratory tract and the heart. Death occurs in 6-8 days. Treatment involves intoxication and symptomatic therapy.

Tetrodotoxin

The poison is known all over the world, thanks to the Japanese delicacy - a dish of puffer fish. The toxin is found in 50% of the carcass of fish: skin, liver, milk, caviar. Cooking is trusted only by experienced chefs who are able to cook fish without damaging the poisonous organs.

Summer 2010 flocks of fugu visited Primorsky Krai. Two Khabarovsk residents caught a fish, fried it on a fire. Both died from anaphylactic shock. In addition to pufferfish, the toad Atelopus varius and the mollusk Babilonia Japonica accumulate the toxin.

The poison has a neuroparalytic effect. Within half an hour, severe pain in the abdomen, itching of the tongue and lips, vomiting and nausea appear. With untimely detoxification, breathing becomes difficult, aphonia develops. A person is doomed to death within 6 hours from paralysis of the respiratory muscles after consuming 0.008 mg/kg of the substance.

Palitoxin

Contains zoantaria - six-beam corals. Of the non-protein toxic compounds, this is the most dangerous substance. Death occurs after ingestion of 0.00015 mg / kg within 2 - 3 minutes after the injection of the polyp.

The toxin disrupts the cells. Symptoms: chest pain, palpitations, hemolysis, shortness of breath. You can run into animals in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is no antidote. Help with vasodilators

The toxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum and causes botulism. It underlies the production of a number of pharmaceuticals and Botox injections. The most powerful poison of protein nature and one of the most powerful in the world. The lethal dose orally is 0.001 mg/kg; with inhalation - 0.0002 mg / l.

The danger lies in the daily risk of contracting botulism. Microorganisms multiply in canned food, sausages, fish with skin lesions, large prepared pieces of meat. They affect the nerve endings in the skeleton, the heart, disrupt the exchange of oxygen. Death occurs as a result of paralysis of the respiratory system, heart; asphyxia, hypoxia.

The patient's stomach is washed and detoxification drugs are administered. Boiling partially helps to prevent the disease. Bacteria withstand a five-hour heat treatment. They die at a temperature of 120 0 C. But the toxin begins to break down at 70 - 80 degrees Celsius.

VX (V-ex)

The substance was obtained in 1955. It was planned to be used as a pesticide, but the toxicity exceeded the norms allowed by agriculture. As a result of oral ingestion of 70 mg / kg, a fatal outcome is possible. This is the most dangerous synthetic poison.

Vi-ex has a neuroparalytic effect. The first 5 minutes there is a narrowing of the pupils, salivation, sweating. The next 5 - 10 minutes the person dies in convulsions and convulsions.

There is a gas ban. Officially, only the United States and Russia recognize the presence of reserves. Practice shows that other countries also produce the substance. With the help of a chemical in February of this year, Kim Jong-un's brother was killed.

The victim is taken out of the affected area, clothes are degassed. The eyes are washed with a 2% solution of baking soda. Symptomatic therapy is applied.

diamphotoxin

Produced by larvae and pupae of South African beetles of the genus Diamphidia. It is the most powerful animal poison. For the death of a person, 0.000025 mg / kg is enough. Used by indigenous peoples to lubricate arrows for hunting. Violates the electrolyte composition of cells, in a short time by 75% reduces the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

No human deaths have been recorded. The toxin is released as a defense against predators.

But you can die not only from poisons, but also from ordinary foods by eating too much of them. Finally, I propose to get acquainted with how you can die by overeating with ordinary products!

Poisonous substances surround us everywhere. Their number is in the thousands. The degree of danger to a person is individual. No one is immune from poisoning. But each person is able to reduce the risk to a minimum. What do you think of these poisons?