Foods and drinks that are very familiar to us can turn out to be deadly. And the simplest objects contain poison. It turns out that the most powerful poisons are sometimes close to us, and we don’t even suspect it.
Dangerous poisons
- Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is a very dangerous poison. This is explained by the fact that it is easy to confuse it with ordinary wine alcohol, since they are indistinguishable in taste and smell. Counterfeit alcoholic drinks are sometimes made from methyl alcohol, but without an examination it is impossible to determine the presence of methanol. Unfortunately, the consequences of consuming such drinks are irreversible; at best, a person becomes blind. 
Mercury. Everyone at home has the most common item - a mercury thermometer. It turns out that if you spill mercury from two or three thermometers in a medium-sized room, this will be enough to cause serious poisoning. True, elemental mercury itself is not dangerous, its vapors are dangerous, and it begins to evaporate already at room temperature. In addition to thermometers, the same type of mercury is found in fluorescent lamps. So be careful with them.
Snake venom. There are more than two and a half thousand species of reptiles, but only about 250 species are poisonous. The most famous are common vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, black mambas, and small snakes - sand ephs.
People have long found out that snake venom is dangerous only when it enters the human bloodstream. And, since humanity has been dealing with snakes for many millennia, it is not surprising that it was while studying the effects of snake venom on the bodies of animals and people that the first antidote was created in 1895 - anti-snake serum. By the way, there is no universal antidote even in case of poisoning by snake venom; for each type of snake, its own antitoxin is created - for king cobras - one, for vipers - another, for rattlesnakes - a third.
The fastest poison
There are many poisons, but potassium cyanide is still considered one of the fastest-acting. It has been used since ancient times and is probably the most famous "spy" poison: many agents in films and books use cyanide in ampoules or tablets. And everyone probably read about such a sign as the smell of “bitter almonds” in Agatha Christie’s wonderful detective stories. 
You can be poisoned by cyanide not only by ingestion, but also by inhalation or touching. Potassium cyanide is found in some plants and foods, as well as cigarettes. It is used in the extraction of gold from ore. Cyanide kills by binding iron in blood cells, thereby preventing them from delivering oxygen to vital organs.
Cyanide can be determined using a solution of ferric salts
By the way, they tried to poison Grigory Rasputin with potassium cyanide, but they couldn’t, because they added the poison to a sweet pie. Glucose is an antidote to potassium cyanide.
The most accessible poisons
In summer and autumn, the time comes for seasonal mushroom poisoning - by the way, these are the most accessible poisonous substances today. The most famous poisonous mushrooms are false mushrooms, toadstools, lines and fly agarics. The most poisoned mushroom is the toadstool, since it has many varieties, sometimes indistinguishable from edible mushrooms, and one such mushroom can lead to the death of several people. 
Although the Germans have learned to prepare fly agarics in such a way that they are not poisoned by them, it is true that it takes them a lot of time to prepare these mushrooms - they boil them for days. True, the question arises - why do they need fly agarics when they can simply take other mushrooms for food? And of course, we must remember the rules for storing cooked mushrooms; even edible mushrooms can become poisonous if the shelf life is violated.
Regular potatoes or bread can also be poisonous. When stored improperly, potatoes accumulate the substance solanine, which causes poisoning to the body. And bread becomes poisonous if flour was used to make it and contained cereals contaminated with ergot. We are not talking about fatal poisoning, but it is quite possible to ruin your health with such products.
In addition, there are many household chemicals and fertilizers that can also cause poisoning. For example, potassium chloride is the most common fertilizer, but if it gets into the blood it becomes deadly, since potassium ions block the activity of the heart.
The most famous poison
In South America, the most famous poison is curare, a poison of plant origin; there are several subspecies of this poison. It causes paralysis of the respiratory system. Initially it was used for hunting animals, but in the 20th century it was successfully used in medicine. 
There is also strychnine, a white powder that is sometimes used in some drugs (such as heroin and cocaine). Although it is much more often used in the manufacture of pesticides. To obtain this powder, the seeds of the chilibuhi tree, which is native to Southeast Asia and India, are taken.
But the most famous poison is, of course, arsenic; it can be called the “royal poison.” It has been used since ancient times (its use is also attributed to Caligula) to eliminate their enemies and competitors in the struggle for the throne, no matter the papal or royal one. It was the favorite poison of European nobility in the Middle Ages.
The most famous poisoners
The story of the Italian Borgia dynasty of poisoners, who elevated poisoning almost to the level of art, is unique. Everyone without exception was afraid of their invitation to the feast. The most famous representatives of this family for their treachery are Pope Alexander VI Borgia and his children: son Cesare, who became a cardinal, and daughter Lucrezia. This family had their own poison, "cantarella", supposedly containing arsenic, phosphorus and copper salts. It is known that the head of the family himself ultimately paid with his life for his treachery, having mistakenly drunk a cup of poison that he had prepared for another. 
In France, arsenic was used by women, the most famous of them was Catherine de Medici, who became Queen of France. There were also poisoners of lower rank - favorites of kings, marquises, baronesses and wives of jewelers. It is believed that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic.
The most powerful poison in the world
And now scientists will not answer the question of what poison is the most powerful in the world. Some of the most powerful poisons are botulism and tetanus toxins. 
Among natural poisons, batrachotoxin is very dangerous; it is secreted by the skin of small but dangerous amphibians - dart frogs, fortunately, they can only be found in Colombia. One such frog contains so much poisonous substance that it is enough to destroy several elephants.
In addition, there are radioactive poisons, such as polonium. It acts slowly, but only 1 gram of this substance is needed to destroy one and a half million people. Snake venom, curare, potassium cyanide - they are all inferior to the above poisons.
It's not just snakes that are poisonous. As the editors of the site found out, the most poisonous creature on Earth is the jellyfish.
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There are many poisons of various natures in the world. Some of them act almost instantly, others can torment the victim of poisoning for years, slowly destroying him 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 maintaining life. A striking example of such duality are vitamins - even a slight excess of their concentration can completely destroy health or kill on the spot.
Here we propose to take a look at 10 substances that are classified as pure poisons, and are among the most dangerous and fast-acting.
Cyanide
Cyanides are a fairly large group of hydrocyanic acid salts. They are all, like the acid itself, extremely poisonous. In the last century, both hydrocyanic acid and cyanogen chloride were used as chemical warfare agents and were responsible for tens of thousands of deaths.
Potassium cyanide is also famous for its extreme toxicity. Just 200-300 mg of this white powder, which resembles granulated sugar in appearance, is enough to kill an adult in just a few seconds. Thanks to such a small dosage and incredibly quick death, this poison was chosen to kill Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Goering and other Nazis.
They tried to poison Grigory Rasputin with this poison. True, the senders 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 the gun.
Bacillus anthrax
Anthrax is a very serious, rapidly developing disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. There are several forms of anthrax. The most “harmless” one is the skin one. Even without treatment, the mortality rate from this form does not exceed 20%. The intestinal form kills about half of those 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
Sarin was created by German scientists trying to synthesize a powerful pesticide. But this deadly poison, which causes quick but very painful death, acquired its dark fame not in agricultural fields, but as a chemical weapon. Sarin was produced by the ton for military purposes for decades, and it was only in 1993 that its production was banned. But despite calls for the complete destruction of all stocks of this substance, both terrorists and the military still use it in our time.
Amatoxins
Amatoxins are a whole group of protein poisons contained in poisonous mushrooms of the amanita family, including the deadly toadstool. The particular danger of these poisons lies in their “slowness”. Once they enter the human body, they immediately begin their destructive activity, but the victim begins to feel the first discomfort no earlier than 10 hours later, and sometimes several days later, 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 dysfunctions of the liver, kidneys and lungs.
Strychnine
Strychnine is found in large quantities in the nuts of the tropical chilibuha tree. 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 medicine 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 the famous potassium cyanide, but it acts much more slowly. Death from strychnine poisoning occurs after about half an hour of terrible agony and severe convulsions.
Mercury
Mercury is extremely dangerous in all its manifestations, but its vapors and soluble compounds cause especially great harm. Even small amounts of mercury entering 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 occurs gradually, but inevitably, since this poison is not eliminated, but rather accumulates. In ancient times, mercury was widely used for the production of mirrors, as well as felt for hats. Chronic poisoning with mercury vapor, expressed in behavioral disorders up to complete insanity, was at that time called “the old hatter’s disease.”
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 in the caviar of the Californian newt. Europeans first became acquainted with the effects of this poison in 1774, when the crew on James Cook's ship ate an unknown tropical fish, and the slops from dinner were given to the ship's pigs. By morning, all the people were seriously ill, and the pigs died.
Tetrodotoxin poisoning is very serious, and even today doctors manage to save less than half of all those poisoned.
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 lethal doses for humans. Lovers of this treat literally entrust their lives to the art of the cook. But no matter how hard the chefs try, accidents cannot be avoided, and every year several gourmets die after feasting on a delicious dish.
Ricin
Ricin is an extremely powerful poison of plant origin. The greatest danger is inhaling its smallest grains. Ricin is about 6 times more powerful a poison than potassium cyanide, but it has not been used as a weapon of mass destruction due to purely technical difficulties. But various intelligence services and terrorists are very fond of this substance. Politicians and public figures receive letters filled with ricin with enviable regularity. True, the case quite rarely ends in death, since the penetration of ricin through the lungs is quite low in efficiency. For a 100% result, it is necessary to inject ricin directly into the blood.
Vi-Ex (VX)
VX, or, as it is also called, VI gas, belongs to the category of chemical warfare gases that have a nerve-paralytic effect. It was also 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 1 minute after inhalation or contact with the skin, and death occurs within 10-15 minutes.
Botulism toxin
Botulinum toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which are the causative agents of the most dangerous disease - botulism. This is the most powerful poison of organic nature and one of the strongest poisons in the world. In the last century, botulinum toxin was part of the arsenals of chemical weapons, but at the same time, active research was conducted regarding its use in medicine. And today, a huge number of people who want to at least temporarily restore the smoothness of their skin are experiencing the influence of this terrible poison, which is part of the popular drug Botox, 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.”
Excerpts from the book "Claws of Invisibility" by Alexei Gorbylev
“Our destiny is to be invisible, we are knights of the order of invisible deeds, we are a caste of ghosts standing above mere mortals,” these are the words the famous Soviet writer Roman Nikolaevich Kim puts into the mouth of a ninjutsu teacher in his story about ninjas “Ghost School.” Reading these lines, I immediately remember poisons - the most insidious, invisible weapon. Here is a man reading a book, admiring the sunset, basking in the sun's rays, feasting with friends... And suddenly he begins to shake, faints and dies a few minutes later. Yes, poison is a serious thing!
Ninjas, the invisible killers of medieval Japan, were well versed in poisons and knew how and when to use them. Of course, science has come a long way since then. But, despite the fact that the “night demons” did not know the sophisticated synthetic poisons of our days, they
the arsenal was no less effective and terrifying.
Ninjas had many requirements for the quality of poison. They needed poisons that killed instantly, and poisons that killed the victim after many days, so that the shadow of suspicion would not fall on the spy, and he would have time to get out of enemy territory. They needed poisons for which there were no antidotes, poisons whose effects were not similar to those of poison. There is no doubt that over many centuries of searching, the “night demons” were able to find both. We will probably never be able to find out how many prominent political figures and generals were killed by invisible poisoners so that their death did not arouse suspicion in anyone.
DEADLY POISONS (ANSATSUYAKU)
The deadly poisons described in the ninjutsu manuals are divided into four categories:
1. slow-acting poisons mixed into food;
2. poisons that kill after a short period of time, mixed into food;
3. instant poisons mixed into food;
4. poisons that kill when they enter the blood.
1. Slow-acting poisons
A typical example is the poison that was extracted from premium green tea with the poetic name “Gyokuro” - “Jasper Dew”. Thanks to its unique properties, it was very popular among the “night demons.” Gyokuro tea was brewed very strongly, poured into a bamboo container, tightly closed in it and buried for thirty to forty days under the veranda of the house to rot. The resulting liquid black gruel had to be mixed into the victim’s food for several days, 2-3 drops per day. As a result, the average healthy person became seriously ill on the 30th day, and by the 70th day he was sent to the next world. A person weakened by illness gave his soul to God much earlier. So much so that later not a single doctor could determine that the patient’s death
caused by poisoning. Of course, over time, the secret of the gyo-kuro poison was unraveled by doctors, and even a special medical term “shukucha no doku” appeared - “poisoning with tea infused at night.”
American journalists Al Weiss and Tom Philbin tell a legend about how one ninja, who settled under the guise of an ordinary resident in an enemy city, slowly but surely poisoned the local “mayor” with gyokuro poison for several months. At the same time, he himself drank the same green tea, to which he added poison, as the mayor and thus averted suspicions that could creep into the soul of the enemy. But... after each tea party he took an antidote. As a result, the “mayor” died, as it seemed to everyone, a natural death, and no one suspected a spy. Al Weiss and Tom Philbin also suggest that ninjas used bamboo, which grows in abundance in Japan, as poison, although this is not specifically mentioned in the literature. As National Geographic magazine wrote, “The stems of many types of bamboo have a skin covered with fluffy, fine hairs. Be careful not to touch them. They penetrate the skin and cause severe irritation.” Indeed, these hairs are the perfect poison. “Bacteria on hairs can even cause blood poisoning. “I read,” the author continues, “that in ancient times hairs from the skin were mixed into food to send the enemy to the next world.”
2. Poisons that kill after a short period of time
Poisons of this effect were made from mineral, plant or animal raw materials. An example of poisons of the first kind is copper oxide (green; green coating formed on copper as a result of oxidation) and rat poison (arsenic).
Plant poisons were extracted from plants such as lycoris (higambana; Fig. 231), caustic buttercup (kimpoge, umanoashigata; Fig. 232), etc.
As for poisons extracted from animals, the ninjas preferred the poison obtained from the hammyo sand beetle (Fig. 233).
3. Instant poisons
The ninja poetically called such poisons “zagarashi-yaku” - “poisons that dry out right on the spot.” The most popular version of this poison was made from the seeds of green plums and green peach, which were taken in equal proportions. In order to obtain poison, the bones were boiled for a long time (always together). This poison was secretly mixed into the victim's food or sprayed into the air in the form of fine dust so that it entered the respiratory tract. In the latter case, in a matter of seconds one could be sent to the next world with
a dozen enemies crammed into a small Japanese room.
In the Bansenshukai there is a paragraph called “Hoken-jutsu” - “Technique of meeting a dog”, which explains the technique of poisoning man’s four-legged friend: “When entering a house in which there is a dog, two to three days [before operations] need to be mixed with yakimeshi rice (toasted boiled rice)[poison] matin [in proportion] 1 pound (1 pound = 0.375 g) per 1 kolobok and place several koloboks in the place where the dog may appear.” 
The poison matin mentioned in the Bansenshukai is nothing more than strychnine. Strychnine is an extremely dangerous deadly poison. To kill a person, only 0.98 milligrams of this substance is enough. When it enters the body with food, it causes
characteristic convulsions when the victim seems to lean back. The poisoned person experiences terrible pain and after a while dies from paralysis of the respiratory system.
Strychnine is an alkaloid. It was extracted from the dried seeds of tropical plants of the genus strychnos (chillibuha), containing up to 3% poisonous alkaloids (Fig. 234).
In Japan, strychnine was widely used during the Edo period as an ingredient in rat poison. It came to Europe only in the 16th century, but its production was strictly prohibited due to the increasing incidence of poisoning.
4. Poisons that kill when they enter the blood
It was with these poisons that ninjas smeared their “death stars”, shurikens, arrowheads, and fukibari arrows. When they entered the bloodstream, they caused almost instantaneous paralysis of the respiratory system and heart, leading to the death of a person. Such poison was obtained from the juice of the torikabuto plant (Japanese wrestler; Fig. 235). Torika-butoh poison is believed to have been invented by the ancient Ainu people of Japan.
(edzo), who treated the tips of their arrows with it and with their help felled bears. 
In the absence of torikabuto poison, the victim could be sent to the next world using a shuriken smeared with horse manure. Horse manure contains many pathogenic bacteria that cause erysipelas (erysipelas), often leading to the death of the patient. It is interesting that American soldiers were able to become familiar with this poison, as they say, “first hand” during the Vietnam War: the Vietnamese, just like the ninjas, dipped their knives and bayonets in horse manure and blood.
In addition to deadly poisons, ninjas knew recipes for sleeping potions, drugs that caused paralysis, insanity, and inappropriate reactions.
SLEEPING DRUGS (NARCOTICS) (MASUYAKU)
The instructions for ninjutsu contain recipes for three poisons of this kind.
The first remedy has already been described in Chapter 2 in the section “Poisonous Agents”. It was made from the blood of the red-bellied newt-imori, the blood of the Japanese mole-moger, the blood of a snake and some secret drug, the composition of which has not yet been clarified by researchers. This mixture was soaked into paper, which was twisted into paper twine, set on fire and thrown to the enemy. It was also possible
quietly throw a piece of paper into the brazier in the guardhouse or into the fire at the enemy’s bivouac. Having inhaled the poisonous soporific smoke, the enemy soon fell into a deep sleep.
Another sleeping drug was made from bat, leaves of the aogiri tree (firmiana, sterculia), scolopendra, sandalwood and paper tree kernels, clove tree, evergreen aquilaria tree, mercury and bovine dung. All this had to be crushed into powder, mixed (often small balls were molded from the resulting substance) and set on fire. Having swallowed the smoke of this terrible mixture, people soon fell into a deep sleep.
The recipe for the third sleeping agent, described in the secret instructions of the ninja, was as follows. The hemp leaves had to be dried in the shade and ground into flour. Then the flour was boiled. The resulting broth was mixed with weak tea, which was eventually given to the chosen victim. From one sip a person fell asleep, from 2-3 - he fell into a sleep that was accompanied by fever. If a person was forced
drinking the drug for several days in a row, he simply went crazy.
POISONS CAUSING PARALYSIS (SIBIREYAKU)
The texts describe two poisons of this effect that should be mixed into food. The first ninja poison was obtained from a liquid that
extracted from growths above the eyes of the giant Japanese toad hikigaeru (bufo marinus), considered the largest toad in the world (Fig. 236): the length of its body, not counting the length of its legs, is 22.5 cm! This liquid is so toxic that even if you touch it with your finger, your finger immediately begins to go numb.
Hikigaeru venom causes high blood pressure, headaches and paralysis. Its effects resemble those of taking too much heart medication. To extract the poison, the toad is skewered and roasted. Blisters form on the toad's skin and poison leaks out of the glands. It is collected in a container and allowed to ferment. The second paralysis-causing poison was extracted from the liver of the poisonous puffer fish (Fig. 237). Puffer fish are often called "exploding" or "puffing" fish because they puff up when they get angry or when they are looking for food. Despite the fact that almost all Japanese know about the poisonousness of fugu, every year in the Land of the Rising Sun dozens of people die from its hell. The fact is that fugu is considered a delicious delicacy, served in the most expensive and sophisticated restaurants. The top-class chefs who work there are able not only to prepare fugu for food, but also to remove its hell, which is certified by the state
license. But it's not that simple. Fugu's venom, which chemists call "tetradoxin," retains its properties even when the fish is cooked, and only a tiny amount, 8 to 10 milligrams, is required to be fatal. In addition, hell can be found in any organ of the fish. 
The result is multiple deaths caused by eating fugu. In one of the post-war years, 250 accidental poisonings of this kind were recorded. Moreover, more than half of the victims died. Poisoning most often occurs in winter, when fugu fish is the most delicious and at the same time the most poisonous.
To destroy the enemy, it was not at all necessary to extract hell from the fugu. It was enough, under the guise of a cook, to slip a “tasty” piece of undercooked fish onto the victim’s plate. That's all. The poison affected the respiratory center of the brain and paralyzed the respiratory muscles.
POISONS CAUSING TEMPORARY INTERFERENCE OF MIND (KYOKIYAKU)
In order to induce insanity in the victim, it was enough to crush the seeds of white dope (chosen asagao, mandarage; Fig. 238) into dust and mix them into the victim’s food.
A few hours after ingesting 5-10 seeds, a person either fell asleep or went crazy.
POISONS THAT ALLOW TO CAUSE A STATE OF ANXIETY, EXCITATION, INADQUATE REACTIONS IN THE VICTIM (SOJO-YAKU)
A poison that causes severe itching. This poison was extracted from the thorns of the kaikaigusa grass (a type of iracus - Tumberg's nettle; Fig. 239). Of these
they made the finest powder, which they sprinkled on the underwear or neck of the victim, who was then ready to tear her skin to shreds from the terrible itching.
Poison that causes causeless laughter
The poisonous hallucinogenic mushroom waraidake was used as such a remedy (Fig. 240). It was finely chopped and mixed into the food of the victim, who as a result began to roll on the floor, shaking with causeless laughter with a complete lack of self-control.
Al Weiss and Tom Philbin recount in their book a strange incident that occurred when two princes were fighting for control of one of the provinces. One of them, in front of a large gathering of people, declared that he was a god and could strike with blindness anyone who stood in his way. The second prince responded to this statement with laughter. However, soon after lunch he began to go blind and announced to the whole world that his opponent was indeed a god. In fact, the creator of the “deity” was a ninja who poisoned the prince’s bath towel with a poison that caused temporary blindness.
Poisons have been used from ancient times to the present day as weapons, antidotes, and even medicine.
In fact, poisons are found all around us, in drinking water, in household items and even in our blood.
The word "poison" is used to describe any substance that can cause a dangerous disorder in the body.
Even in small quantities, the poison can lead to poisoning and death.
Here are some examples of some of the most insidious poisons that can be fatal to humans.
Many poisons can be lethal in small doses, so it is quite difficult to single out the most dangerous one. However, many experts agree that botulinum toxin, which is used in Botox injections to smooth out wrinkles is the strongest.
Botulism is a serious disease leading to paralysis, caused by botulinum toxin, which is produced by bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This poison causes damage to the nervous system, respiratory arrest and death in terrible agony.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, double vision, facial weakness, speech impediments, difficulty swallowing and others. The bacterium can enter the body through food (usually poorly canned foods) and through open wounds.
2. Poison ricin
Ricin is a natural poison. A few grains are enough to kill an adult. Ricin kills cells in the human body, preventing it from producing the proteins it needs, resulting in organ failure. A person can become poisoned by ricin through inhalation or ingestion.
If inhaled, symptoms of poisoning usually appear within 8 hours of exposure and include difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea, sweating and chest tightness.
If ingested, symptoms appear in less than 6 hours and include nausea and diarrhea (possibly bloody), low blood pressure, hallucinations and seizures. Death may occur within 36-72 hours.
3. Sarin gas
Sarin is one of the the most dangerous and deadly nerve gases, which is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. Sarin was originally produced as a pesticide, but the clear, odorless gas soon became a powerful chemical weapon.
A person can be poisoned by sarin gas by inhaling or exposing the gas to the eyes and skin. Initially, symptoms may appear such as runny nose and chest tightness, difficulty breathing and nausea.
Then the person loses control over all functions of his body and falls into a coma, convulsions and spasms occur until suffocation occurs.
4. Tetrodotoxin
This deadly poison found in the organs of fish of the genus pufferfish, from which the famous Japanese delicacy "fugu" is prepared. Tetrodotoxin persists in the skin, liver, intestines and other organs, even after the fish has been cooked.
This toxin causes paralysis, convulsions, mental disorder and other symptoms. Death occurs within 6 hours after ingestion of the poison.
Every year, several people are known to die painful deaths from tetrodotoxin poisoning after eating fugu.
5. Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is one of the fastest deadly poisons known to mankind. It may be in the form of crystals and colorless gas with a bitter almond odor. Cyanide can be found in some foods and plants. It is found in cigarettes and is used to make plastic, photographs, extract gold from ore, and kill unwanted insects.
Cyanide was used in ancient times, and in the modern world it was a method of capital punishment. Poisoning can occur through inhalation, ingestion and even touching, causing symptoms such as seizures, respiratory failure and in severe cases death, which may occur in a few minutes. It kills by binding to iron in blood cells, making them unable to carry oxygen.
6. Mercury and mercury poisoning
There are three forms of mercury that can be potentially hazardous: elemental, inorganic and organic. Elemental mercury, which found in mercury thermometers, old fillings and fluorescent lamps, non-toxic on contact, but may be fatal if inhaled.
Inhalation of mercury vapor (the metal quickly turns into a gas at room temperature) affects the lungs and brain, turning off the central nervous system.
Inorganic mercury, which is used to make batteries, can be fatal if ingested and cause kidney damage and other symptoms. Organic mercury found in fish and seafood is usually hazardous over long-term exposure. Symptoms of poisoning may include memory loss, blindness, seizures and others.
7. Strychnine and strychnine poisoning
Strychnine is an odorless, white, bitter crystalline powder that can be acquired by ingestion, inhalation, solution, and intravenous injection.
The degree of strychnine poisoning depends on the amount and route of entry into the body, but a small amount of this poison is enough to cause a serious condition. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle spasms, respiratory failure and even lead to brain death 30 minutes after exposure.
8. Arsenic and arsenic poisoning
Arsenic, which is the 33rd element in the periodic table, has been synonymous with poison since ancient times. It was often used as a poison of choice in political assassinations, as Arsenic poisoning resembled cholera symptoms.
Arsenic is considered a heavy metal with properties similar to those of lead and mercury. In high concentrations it can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as abdominal pain, seizures, coma and death. In small amounts, it can contribute to a number of diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
9. Poison curare
Curare is a mixture of various South American plants that were used for poison arrows. Curare has been used for medicinal purposes in a highly diluted form. The main poison is an alkaloid, which causes paralysis and death, as well as strychnine and hemlock. However, after respiratory paralysis occurs, the heart may continue to beat.
Death from curare is slow and painful, as the victim remains conscious but cannot move or speak. However, if artificial respiration is applied before the poison settles, the person can be saved. Amazon tribes used curare to hunt animals, but the poisoned animal meat was not dangerous to those who consumed it.
10. Batrachotoxin
Fortunately, the chances of encountering this poison are very small. Batrachotoxin, found in the skin of tiny dart frogs, is one of the most powerful neurotoxins in the world.
Frogs themselves do not produce poison; it is accumulated from the foods they consume, mainly small bugs. The most dangerous poison content was found in a species of frogs terrible leaf climber, living in Colombia.
One specimen contains enough batrachotoxin to kill two dozen people or several elephants. I affects nerves, especially around the heart, makes breathing difficult and quickly leads to death.
