Poisons have been used from ancient times to the present as a weapon, antidote, and even medicine. In fact, poisons are 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 amounts, poison can lead to poisoning and death. Here are some examples of some of the most insidious poisons that can be fatal to humans.
1. Botulinum toxin
Many poisons can be lethal in small doses, making it difficult to isolate the most dangerous one. However, many experts agree that botulinum toxin, which is used in Botox injections to smooth wrinkles is the strongest.
Botulism is a serious disease leading to paralysis caused by botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This poison causes damage to the nervous system, respiratory arrest and death in terrible agony.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, double vision, weakness of the facial muscles, speech defects, difficulty swallowing other. The bacterium can enter the body through food (usually poorly preserved foods) and through open wounds.
2. Poison ricin
Ricin is natural poison, which is obtained from castor beans castor plants. To kill an adult, a few grains are enough. Ricin kills cells in the human body by preventing the production of the proteins it needs, resulting in organ failure. A person can become poisoned by ricin through inhalation or after ingestion.
If inhaled, symptoms of poisoning usually appear 8 hours after exposure, and include breathing difficulties, fever, cough, nausea, sweating, and chest tightness.
If swallowed, symptoms appear in less than 6 hours and include nausea and diarrhea (possibly bloody), low blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures. Death can occur in 36-72 hours.
3. Sarin gas
Sarin is one of most dangerous and deadly nerve gases, which is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. Sarin was originally produced as a pesticide, but this clear, odorless gas soon became potent. chemical weapons.
A person can become poisoned by sarin through inhalation or exposure of the gas to the eyes and skin. Initially, symptoms such as runny nose and tightness in the chest, breathing is difficult and nausea occurs.
Then the person loses control over all the 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 the poison is ingested.
Several people are known to die each year from agonizing death from tetrodotoxin poisoning after fugu consumption.
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 has been used since ancient times, and in modern world it was the death penalty. Poisoning can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and even touching, causing symptoms such as convulsions, respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death which may come in a few minutes. It kills by binding to iron in blood cells, rendering 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 lights, non-toxic when touched, but may be lethal if inhaled.
Inhalation of mercury vapor (the metal quickly turns into a gas when room temperature) affects lungs and brain shutting down the central nervous system.
Inorganic mercury, which is used to manufacture batteries, can be fatal if ingested, cause kidney damage and other symptoms. Organic mercury, found in fish and seafood, is usually dangerous with long-term exposure. Symptoms of poisoning may include memory loss, blindness, seizures, and others.
7. Strychnine and strychnine poisoning
Strychnine is a white, bitter, odorless crystalline powder that can be ingested, inhaled, in solution, and administered intravenously.
It is received from the seeds of the chilibukha tree(Strychnos nux-vomica), native to India and southeast Asia. Although it is often used as a pesticide, it can also be found in drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
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 long been synonymous with poison. It has often been used as a favorite poison 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, convulsions, 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 have been used for poison arrows. Curare has been used medicinally in a highly diluted form. The main poison is an alkaloid, which causes paralysis and death, as well as strychnine and hemlock. However, after paralysis occurs respiratory system, the heart can keep beating.
Death from curare is slow and painful, as the victim remains conscious but unable to move or speak. However, if artificial respiration is applied before the poison settles, the person can be saved. The 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 poison dart frogs, is one of the most powerful neurotoxins in the world.
The frogs themselves do not produce poison, it accumulates from the foods they consume, mostly small bugs. The most dangerous content of the poison was found in a species of frog terrible leaf climber living in Colombia.
One representative contains enough batrachotoxin to kill two dozen people or several elephants. I affects the nerves, especially around the heart, makes it difficult to breathe and quickly leads to death.
Any toxic substances, whether chemical or vegetable, pose a serious danger to the body. Science knows dozens and hundreds of the strongest poisons, many of which are used by man himself, and far from being for good deeds - this is terrorism, and genocide, and much more. But there were also times when poisons were considered medicines. One way or another, toxic substances are still subjected to active research in laboratories. What is the most powerful poison in the world?
Cyanide
Cyanides are a class of harmful potent substances that are dangerous to humans. Their toxicity is explained by the instantaneous effect on the respiratory functions of cells, which, in turn, stops the work of the whole organism. Cells stop functioning, organs fail. All this leads to a severe condition, fraught with death. Cyanide itself is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid.
Externally, cyanide is a white powder with a crystalline structure. It is rather unstable and dissolves well in water. It is about the most known form- potassium cyanide, and there is also sodium cyanide, which is also quite toxic. The poison is obtained not only in the laboratory, but also extracted from plants. It is important to know that some foods may contain this substance in small amounts. The danger is fraught with almonds, fruit seeds. But poisoning is cumulative.
Cyanide is often used in industrial production - in particular, the production of paper, some fabrics, plastics, as well as in reagents for photo development. In metallurgy, cyanide is used to purify metals from impurities; and in the grain stores they destroy rodents with means based on this poison. The lethal dose of the most dangerous poison in the world is 0.1 mg / l, and death occurs within an hour. If the number is greater, then after ten minutes. First, a person loses consciousness, then stops breathing, and then the heart stops.
For the first time this substance was isolated by the German chemist Bunsen, and in 1845 manufacturing methods were developed on an industrial scale.
Anthrax spores
These substances are causative agents of extremely dangerous infectious disease most often ending in death. At risk of catching Bacillus Anthracis are people who come into contact with agricultural livestock. Spores can be stored for a very long time in the land of the animal burial ground.
The disease has been killing people for many centuries, especially in the Middle Ages. And only in the 19th century, Louis Pasteur managed to create a vaccine against it. He studied the resistance of animals to poisons by injecting them with a weakened strain of the ulcer, as a result of which immunity was developed. In 2010, US scientists created an even more effective vaccine against the disease.
Anthrax spores are found in all secretions of a sick animal, falling with them into water and earth. Thus, they can spread hundreds of kilometers from the source of infection. In African countries, insects that drink blood can also become infected with poison. Incubation ranges from several hours to seven days. The poison causes irreparable damage to blood vessels, causing swelling, loss of sensation, inflammatory process. Carbuncles begin to appear on the skin; especially dangerous if they occur on the face. Subsequently, there may be many other unpleasant symptoms from diarrhea to hematemesis. Often at the end of the patient waiting for a fatal outcome.
The disease caused by anthrax spores develops extremely rapidly and gives terrible external and internal lesions.
Many residents of Russia remember this name from school life safety lessons. One of the most poisonous substances on Earth since 1991 has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction. And it was discovered in 1938 by a chemical company in Germany and from the very beginning was intended for military purposes.
Under normal conditions, Sarin is an odorless liquid that evaporates quickly. Since it cannot be smelled, poisoning can only be guessed when symptoms appear.
Moreover, poisoning occurs both through inhalation of steam, and through contact with the skin or ingestion into the oral cavity.
Sarin binds certain enzymes, in particular protein, so that it can no longer support nerve fibers.
A mild degree of poisoning is expressed in shortness of breath and weakness. With an average - there is a narrowing of the pupils, lacrimation, severe headache, nausea, trembling of the extremities. If you do not provide timely assistance, then death occurs in 100% of cases, but even if assistance is provided, then every second poisoned person dies. The severe degree is characterized by the same symptoms as the average, but they are more pronounced and progress faster. Vomiting opens, spontaneous excretion of feces and urine, a headache of incredible strength appears. A minute later, a person faints, five minutes later he dies from damage to the respiratory center.
Sarin was not used in World War II due to Hitler's prejudice against poison gases.
Amatoxin
This is the most powerful poison of those that are independently produced in nature, it is more powerful than the poison of any snake. It is mainly found in white toadstools and, when ingested, affects the kidneys and liver, and then gradually kills all cells over several days.
The poison is very insidious: the first symptoms appear only after 12 hours, and sometimes up to a day. Of course, gastric lavage is then too late, you need to call an ambulance. Within two days, traces of amatoxin can be detected in the urine test. Activated charcoal and cephalosporin can also help the patient, and in especially difficult cases, one has to resort to a liver transplant. But even after the cure, the patient may still suffer from heart, kidney and liver failure for a long time.
A large dose of penicillin is used as an antidote; if it is not introduced, then a person dies on average per week
It is a poison of plant origin, most often used in the persecution of small rodents. It has been produced in the laboratory since 1818, extracting from the seeds of the African chilibukha plant. Strychnine is mentioned in many detective novels, where characters die from exposure to this substance. One of the properties of strychnine is also played up: at the very beginning, it causes a sharp and powerful surge of strength by blocking some neurotransmitters.
The substance is used in the manufacture of medicines, but preparations containing strychnine nitrate are prescribed only in the most extreme cases. Indirect indications for use may be neurological diseases in which nerve impulses are inhibited; poor appetite; impotence; severe forms of alcoholism that cannot be cured by other methods.
Symptoms of poisoning with this poison are similar to the primary symptoms of tetanus. These are difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, fear of light and convulsions.
A dose of 1 milligram per 1 kilogram of body weight leads to a lethal outcome.
The first information about mercury came to us from the depths of time, it is mentioned in documents from 350 BC, and archaeological excavations have found even more ancient traces. The metal was widely used and continues to be used in medicine, art, and industry. Its vapors are extremely toxic, and poisoning can be both instantaneous and cumulative. First of all, the nervous system is harmed, and then the rest of the body systems.
The initial symptoms of mercury poisoning are trembling of the fingers and eyelids, later - of all parts of the body. Then there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, insomnia, headache, vomiting, memory impairment. In case of poisoning by vapors, and not by mercury compounds, the respiratory tract is initially noticed. If exposure to the substance is not stopped in a timely manner, it can lead to death.
The consequences of mercury poisoning can be inherited
Most often, a person encounters mercury from a thermometer, especially if it is broken. But not everyone knows exactly how to act in this situation. First you need to quickly collect all the parts of the thermometer and the balls of mercury. This must be done as carefully as possible, because the remaining particles can cause irreparable harm residents, especially children and animals. This is done with rubber gloves. In hard-to-reach places, you can collect mercury with a syringe or patch. Put everything collected in a tightly closed container.
The next step is a thorough treatment of the premises, which is also carried out with gloves (already new) and a medical mask. A highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate is suitable for processing. Wipe absolutely all surfaces in the house with this solution using a rag. Fill any gaps, cracks and other depressions with mortar. It is advisable to leave everything in this form for at least a day. For the next few days, ventilate the room daily.
You can call specialists who will make sure that there is no mercury and its vapors in the house if the thermometer is broken
Tetrodotoxin
The most effective defense mechanisms of those with which nature endowed living beings are neurotoxins. These are the substances in a specific way damaging the nervous system. Tetrodotoxin is perhaps the most dangerous and unusual of them. It is found in a variety of both terrestrial and aquatic animals. The substance tightly blocks the channels nerve cells which causes muscle paralysis.
The most common poison was poisoned in Japan by eating fugu fish. It is surprising that today this fish is still used in cooking and is considered a delicacy - however, you need to know what parts are there and in what season to catch fish. Poisoning occurs extremely quickly, in some cases as early as six hours. It begins with a slight tingling of the lips and tongue, followed by vomiting and weakness, after which the patient falls into a coma. Effective emergency measures of assistance have not yet been developed. Only artificial respiration can prolong life, because before death, breathing first stops, and only after a while the heartbeat stops.
Tetrodotoxin has been studied for many years, but not all the details about it have been revealed yet.
The poisons described above have an extremely harmful effect on animal organisms, so extreme care must be taken when handling them. It is better if professionals do this.
All of us, one way or another, faced with such a phenomenon as poisons.
Someone enthusiastically read about them in books, someone was briefly told in class at school, and someone directly worked with them.
Poisons are divided into natural and artificially created, and have been present in human history since time immemorial. People, such ruthless and sophisticated creatures, not only learned how to extract poison from natural materials, but also decided to go further - they created ways to kill with their own hands. And, I must admit, they did it well.
The heyday of poisons fell on the dark and mysterious Middle Ages - the time when animal fear, cruelty and unquestioning obedience to religion dominated society. And, as it turned out, the endless games of the nobility with death, in the struggle for the throne, became the finishing touch in the gloomy trail of the Middle Ages.
However, even today, poisons have not lost their relevance and continue to interest many people. It is a pity, of course, that not only for scientific purposes.
But, if you found this article out of pure curiosity - why not?
Check out the top 10 most dangerous poisons in the world.
The dangerous effect of mercury on the human body is known to everyone. That is why we were so often told to be careful with thermometers and immediately take appropriate measures if it turned out to be broken.
Theoretically, there are three forms of mercury that are deadly to humans: elemental, organic, and inorganic mercury. We often encounter elemental mercury in Everyday life- these are the same banal old thermometers or fluorescent lamps. This kind of mercury is safe to touch, but can be fatal if inhaled.
The symptoms of mercury poisoning are almost the same in all species, and can range from nausea and seizures to blindness and even memory loss.
If we turn to history, then arsenic at one time was the most popular poison and a favorite among killers. It was even called "royal poison".
Arsenic has been used since ancient times (the use of this poison was even attributed to Caligula), mainly in order to eliminate enemies and competitors in the endless struggle for the throne - and it does not matter, royal or papal. Arsenic was the poison of choice for all European nobility during the Middle Ages.
Its popularity was justified by various factors - both power and availability. For example, in the UK, arsenic was sold in pharmacies as a rodent poison.
However, while in Europe arsenic brought only death and suffering, traditional Chinese medicine used it to treat diseases such as syphilis and psoriasis for two thousand years. Nowadays, scientists have experimentally proven that leukemia can be treated with arsenic. And it was the Chinese doctors who discovered that such a strong poison, as it turned out, was able to successfully block the proteins responsible for the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
Quite a sensational poison in its time.
Anthrax is a frequent guest in funds mass media due to the large batch of letters infected by her and sent to innocent victims in the United States. As a result of this attack, 10 people died and another 17 were seriously infected.
In this regard, a grandiose universal paranoia broke out in the country, affecting millions. And, we must admit that it is not in vain. After all, anthrax is caused by bacteria, and one breath is enough for complete infection. Such a strong poison is spread by spores that are released into the air.
After infection, the victim feels only a chill, gradually turning into a violation of breathing, and then into a stop. Mortality from this disease reaches as much as 90% percent in the first week after infection.
This famous toxin has become literally synonymous with poison.
Potassium cyanide can be in the form of a colorless gas with the smell of bitter almonds (everyone remembers the novels of Agatha Christie?), or crystals. Cyanide is present almost everywhere: this poison is able to form naturally in some foods and plants.
Also, cyanide is present in cigarettes. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, printing photographs, and, of course, potassium cyanide is a must in insecticides.
You can get poisoned by cyanide by inhaling this substance, swallowing it, or even simply touching it. The smallest dose is enough for the poison, once it enters the body, to paralyze the bloodstream and block the access of oxygen. Death occurs almost instantly.
Potassium cyanide was actively used during World War I, and was banned along with all chemical weapons later, in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
Sarin is one of the most powerful nerve agents and is considered a weapon of mass destruction. Death from this poison is always incredibly painful and brings terrible agony to the victim. Causing complete asphyxiation, Zarin kills a person in just a minute, which, however, seems like an eternity to the victim.
Despite the fact that the production of Sarin has been banned by law since 1993, quite a few cases of its use have been recorded since then. For example, in terrorist attacks or chemical wars. It stands out especially strongly against this background. chemical attack 1995 in the Tokyo subway and the riots in Syria and Iraq.
Initially, strychnine was extracted from trees that grew in Southeast Asia and India.
Pure strychnine is a white powder, bitter tasting and deadly by any means of ingestion, whether by injection or inhalation.
Although strychnine's original use was as a pesticide, it has been reported numerous times as being added to drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
In case of strychnine poisoning, many symptoms can appear within thirty minutes, such as: muscle spasms, respiratory failure, nausea, vomiting, and it is not uncommon that the entire process of spreading the poison throughout the body ends in brain death. And all this in just half an hour!
A mushroom that contains such a powerful poison, unfortunately, looks no more dangerous than its edible counterparts. However, only thirty grams of a deadly mushroom can send a person to the "other world."
Amatoxin has an incredibly destructive effect on the human body. This poison can cause serious damage to the kidneys and liver, cause necrosis of organ cells in just a couple of days. Also, it often causes multiple organ failure and even coma.
Amatoxin is such a strong poison that it can seriously harm the heart. In this case, certain death awaits the victim, without the imminent introduction of an antidote, which, by the way, is a large dose of penicillin. Without an antidote, victims of amatoxin have a 100% chance of falling into a coma and dying from liver or heart failure in a few days.
The “supplier” of this well-known poison is Fugu fish, which at first glance will not seem to you particularly dangerous predators. However, their skin, intestines, liver and other organs contain one of the most dangerous and deadly poisons known to mankind.
If cooked incorrectly, Fugu fish can cause convulsions, paralysis, various mental disorders and many other health problems in those who dare to try it. Despite this danger, because tetrodotoxin is a deadly poison, people in many countries continue to order this fish, sometimes even paying an insurance premium in advance.
And although the delicacy is Japanese, and it would seem that it is in Japan that everyone should know how to cook such a “risky” dish, it is in this country that the largest number of victims per year is registered. About three hundred people are poisoned with tetrodotoxin every year, and more than half of them die.
As a derivative of the castor bean, a perennial, highly poisonous plant, ricin is also considered a natural poison. Therefore, people are at risk of succumbing to its effects in several ways: through food, air or water. And, depending on this pathway, the symptoms of ricin poisoning can vary.
However, the principle of damage to the body remains the same. Ricin poisons the body, blocking the ability of cells to synthesize the protein necessary for life. As a result, such "blocked" cells die, and this, in turn, often leads to the failure of the entire organ, which has undergone a poisonous attack of ricin.
And the fact that ricin has the most lethal effect when inhaled served as a signal to many people who began to mail the poison in envelopes, as they once did with anthrax. After all, just one pinch of ricin can kill a person.
When all these facts are taken into account, it becomes clear why the decision was made to study ricin as a tool for chemical warfare.
In this article, we have listed quite a few poisons that are incredibly powerful and can kill in record time. However, many experts in the field of toxicology unanimously agree that the most deadly poison in the world can be called botulinum toxin. By the way, it is he who is used in Botox injections in order to smooth out wrinkles.
This poison leads to botulism, a disease that causes respiratory failure, neurological damage, and other more severe injuries.
Several factors have led to the status of the most dangerous poison on Earth, Botulinum toxin. Its volatile and easily accessible nature, its powerful effect on the body and its frequent use in medicine. For example, just one tube full of this toxin could potentially kill about a hundred people.
The scope of botulinum toxin is multifaceted - starting from the well-known Botox and ending as a way to treat migraine. Therefore, even deaths among patients are not uncommon, as a result of procedures that included Botox injections.
Residents of city apartments and gardeners always deal with insecticides - thiophos, karbofos, chlorophos, metaphos, whose brand names can be very bizarre and even poetic. Their essence, however, does not change - they all belong to organophosphorus compounds, being direct relatives of nerve gases. And they also act by selectively disrupting the work of the cholinesterase enzyme and, thus, "paralyzing" the nervous system.
According to the degree of toxicity, these insect control agents do not look very "modest" - in thiophos lethal dose when taken orally, 1-2 g, and according to some reports, only 0.24 g (less than 10 drops). Metaphos is about five times less toxic (however, not only for humans, but also for insects). Among household poisons, both of them are included in the "leading" group in terms of toxicity.
The most dangerous poisoning is for children, who often hang around bottles of organophosphorus insecticides and can use them on their own at any time. Few adults follow the instructions placed on the bottles: "Keep out of the reach of children!". In addition, in the struggle for the consumer, firms rarely objectively talk about the toxicity of the products they produce, so that adults have a very vague idea about it. Phosphorus organic insecticides are absorbed rapidly - already in the nasal cavity and pharynx.
Poisons penetrate the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes. All of this makes it difficult to help acute poisoning, especially a child who really can't even explain what happened.
But even the correct, according to the instructions, the use of "home" insecticides can lead to many troubles. So, companies guarantee that 1-3 hours after airing a room sprayed with insecticides, you can enter it without any health consequences. Recent studies have debunked this misconception. It turned out that even after two or three weeks, insecticides remain in tangible amounts on the surface of the sprayed objects. At the same time, their highest concentration was determined on toys (!) - both soft and plastic, which absorbed poisons like a sponge. The most striking thing is that when completely clean toys were introduced into the sprayed room, after two weeks they were completely saturated with insecticide to a level 20 times higher than the permissible one.
No less serious is the problem of exposure to pesticides on children in the womb. Even negligible concentrations of these poisons lead to serious violations of the physical and mental development of children. Children exposed to their attack in utero have a weakened memory, poorly recognize objects, and learn various skills more slowly. Both in children and adults, DDT and its related compounds disrupt the exchange of sex hormones, which adversely affect the formation of sexual characteristics in adolescents and sexual function in adults.
ACID
Acid poisoning (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, zinc chloride solution in hydrochloric acid e (soldering liquid), a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids ("aqua regia"), etc.) occur when they are mistakenly taken orally, as a rule, in a state of alcoholic or drug intoxication. All acids have a cauterizing effect. The most damaging effect on tissues sulfuric acid. Burns are found everywhere where acid has come into contact with tissues - on the lips, face, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach. Very concentrated acids can cause destruction of the walls of the stomach. When exposed to the outer skin, acids cause severe burns, which (especially in the case of nitric acid) turn into hard-to-heal ulcers. Depending on the type of acid, burns (both internal and external) differ in color. When burned with sulfuric acid - blackish, hydrochloric acid - grayish-yellow, nitric acid - a characteristic yellow color.
Victims complain of excruciating pains, they do not stop vomiting with blood, breathing is difficult, swelling of the larynx develops, suffocation. With severe burns, a painful shock occurs, which can cause death in the first hours (up to a day) after poisoning. In later periods, death can occur from severe complications - severe internal bleeding, destruction of the walls of the esophagus and stomach, acute pancreatitis.
First aid is the same as for poisoning with acetic acid.
DYES
The list of dyes and pigments used in everyday life and industry is updated every year. What they are not used for - they are part of paints, they are used for tinting food and medicines, in medicine and printing, for the manufacture of inks and coloring pastes.
They contain almost the entire Periodic Table and are very dangerous if ingested in the form of dust or aerosol. Contacting with open parts of the body and eyes, dyes cause severe dermatoses and conjunctivitis. The latter also occur in contact with painted objects. Dyes often contain very toxic compounds used in their synthesis: mercury, arsenic, etc. Many dyes are extremely insidious, causing cancer.
To prevent poisoning during painting work, it is necessary to use gloves, goggles, if possible sealed overalls, do not eat or drink, after painting, wash your hands thoroughly, wash clothes. If the ink comes into contact with the skin, it must be removed immediately using suitable solvents (eg kerosene) or soapy water.
COPPER AND ITS SALT
Copper salts are widely used in the paint and varnish industry, in agriculture and everyday life to combat fungal diseases. In acute poisoning with them, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain immediately occur, jaundice and anemia develop, symptoms of acute liver and kidney failure are pronounced, hemorrhages are observed in the stomach and intestines. The lethal dose is 1-2 g, but acute poisoning also occurs at doses of 0.2-0.5 g (depending on the type of salt). Acute poisoning also occurs when copper dust or copper oxide enters the body, which are obtained by grinding, welding and cutting products made of copper or copper-containing alloys. The first signs of poisoning are irritation of the mucous membranes, a sweet taste in the mouth. A few hours later, as soon as the copper "dissolves" and absorbs into the tissues, a headache, weakness in the legs, redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, severe chills with an increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees appear. Poisoning is also possible when the dust of copper salts enters the body during crushing and pouring them in order to prepare plant protection products (for example, Bordeaux mixture) or "stain" for building materials. When dry grain is treated with copper carbonate, after a few hours the temperature can rise to 39 degrees and above, the victim is shivering, sweat is pouring from him, he feels weak, aching pain in the muscles, he is tormented by a cough with green sputum (the color of copper salts), which lasts a long time. persists even after the cessation of the fever. Another scenario of poisoning is also possible, when the victim gets a little chilly in the evenings, and after some time an acute attack develops - the so-called copper pickle fever, which lasts 3-4 days.
In chronic poisoning with copper and its salts, the work of the nervous system, kidneys and liver is disrupted, the nasal septum is destroyed, teeth are affected, severe dermatitis, gastritis and peptic ulcer occur. Every year of work with copper reduces life expectancy by almost 4 months. The skin of the face, hair and conjunctiva of the eyes at the same time are painted in a greenish-yellow or greenish-black color, a dark red or purple-red border appears on the gums. Copper dust causes destruction of the cornea of the eye.
Urgent care. Same as with mercury poisoning.
DETERGENTS (WASHING POWDERS, SOAPS)
The incredible variety of detergents and soaps used in everyday life makes it impossible to create any general picture of their poisoning. Their toxic effect also depends on how they enter the body - through the respiratory system in the form of dust when pouring or aerosol when dissolved, through the mouth when accidentally ingested (this is typical for young children left near soaked linen), in contact with the skin during washing, with poorly rinsed clothes.
In case of contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, conjunctivitis occurs, clouding of the cornea and inflammation of the iris are possible (see Alkalis). Inhalation may cause respiratory complications, including burns and pneumonia. In the case of ingestion, the digestive system is disrupted, vomiting occurs, which is dangerous because the foam formed during it can enter the respiratory tract. In severe cases, the nervous system is affected, blood pressure decreases, oxygen deficiency occurs. Constant contact with detergents leads to the development of allergic dermatoses, in particular, urticaria. An additional danger is counterfeit detergents, which may contain the most unexpected toxic substances, so you should avoid buying uncertified products with dubious origin. Thus, bleach is added to some "home-made products", which, when in contact with water, begins to exude poisonous chlorine (see Chlorine).
Urgent care. If detergents come into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, they should be rinsed with a strong stream of water. In case of ingestion, rinse the stomach with water, whole milk or an aqueous suspension of milk and egg whites. The victim is given plenty of fluids, mucous substances (starch, jelly). In severe cases, you need to see a doctor.
MERCURY AND ITS SALT
People's attitude to mercury at all times was almost mystical - it was known to the ancient Romans and Greeks, and alchemists also preferred it. Already in those days, it was well known about its toxicity.
Mercury poisoning in our time is possible both with "entertainment" with mercury balls that fell out of a broken thermometer, and with poisoning with mercury-containing substances widely used in medicine, photography, pyrotechnics, and agriculture. The high danger of mercury itself is associated with its ability to evaporate (in laboratories and in production, it is stored in specially equipped rooms under a layer of water).
The toxicity of mercury vapor is unusually high - poisoning can occur even at a concentration of just a fraction of a milligram per cubic meter. meter of air, with possible fatal outcomes. Soluble salts of mercury are even more poisonous, the lethal dose of which is only 0.2-0.5 g. In chronic poisoning, there is increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, indifference to the environment, headaches, dizziness, emotional excitability - the so-called "mercury neurasthenia" . All this is accompanied by trembling ("mercury trembling"), covering the hands, eyelids and tongue, in severe cases - first the legs, and then the whole body. The poisoned person becomes shy, timid, timid, depressed, extremely irritable, whiny, his memory weakens. All this is the result of damage to the central nervous system. There are pains in the limbs, various neuralgia, sometimes paresis of the ulnar nerve. Damage to other organs and systems gradually joins, chronic diseases become aggravated, resistance to infections decreases (mortality from tuberculosis is very high among people in contact with mercury).
Diagnosis of mercury poisoning is very difficult. They hide under the guise of diseases of the respiratory or nervous system. In almost all cases, however, there is a small and frequent trembling of the fingers of the outstretched hands, and many have trembling of the eyelids and tongue. The thyroid gland is usually enlarged, the gums bleed, sweating is pronounced. In women, menstrual irregularities are observed, and with prolonged work, the frequency of miscarriages and premature births progressively increases. One of the important diagnostic criteria are significant changes in the blood formula.
Urgent care. In the absence of special drugs that bind mercury (for example, unithiol), it is necessary to wash the stomach with water from 20-30 g activated carbon or another enterosorbent, protein water is also effective. Then you need to give milk, egg white whipped with water, laxatives.
Further treatment is carried out under the supervision of a physician, especially since in cases of acute poisoning intensive therapy is required. The victims are shown a milk diet and taking vitamins (including B1 and C).
Prussic acid (CYANIDES)
Hydrocyanic acid and its salts, cyanides, are among the most toxic substances and cause severe poisoning both when taken orally and when inhaled. Hydrocyanic acid vapors have the smell of bitter almonds. Hydrocyanic acid and cyanides are widely used in the production of synthetic fibers, polymers, plexiglass, in medicine, for disinfection, rodent control, fumigation fruit trees. In addition, hydrocyanic acid is a chemical warfare agent. But it can also be poisoned in completely harmless situations - as a result of eating the grains of some fruits, the seeds of which contain glycosides that release hydrocyanic acid in the stomach. So, 5-25 of these bones can contain a dose of cyanide that is fatal for a small child. It is believed that a lethal dose of the cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin, which is only 1 g, is contained in 40 g of bitter almonds or 100 g of peeled apricot pits. The stones of plums and cherries are dangerous.
There are frequent cases when, when consuming plum and other compotes with seeds not removed from the fruit, severe and sometimes fatal poisoning is observed.
Hydrocyanic acid and its salts are poisons that disrupt tissue respiration. A manifestation of a sharp decrease in the ability of tissues to consume the oxygen delivered to them is the scarlet color of the blood in the veins. As a result of oxygen starvation, the brain and central nervous system are primarily affected.
Poisoning with cyanide compounds is manifested in increased respiration, lowering blood pressure, convulsions and coma. When taking large doses, consciousness is immediately lost, convulsions occur and death occurs within a few minutes. This is the so-called lightning-fast form of poisoning. With a smaller amount of poison, gradual intoxication develops.
Emergency care and treatment. In case of poisoning, the victim should immediately be allowed to breathe in vapors of amyl nitrite (several minutes). When taking cyanides inside, it is necessary to wash the stomach with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a 5% solution of thiosulfate, give a saline laxative. Intravenously introduce sequentially a 1% solution of methylene blue and a 30% solution of sodium thiosulfate. In another option, intravenously inject sodium nitrite (all operations are carried out under strict medical supervision and with monitoring of blood pressure). Additionally, glucose with ascorbic acid, cardiovascular drugs, B vitamins are administered. The use of pure oxygen gives a good effect.
TEAR SUBSTANCES (LACHRIMATORS)
During the First World War, about 600 tons of lachrymators were used. Now they are used to disperse demonstrations, to hold special operations. In addition, lachrymators (from the Greek "lacrime" - a tear) are the main type of substances pumped into cans for self-defense. The effect of these substances on the body is to irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes and nasopharynx, which leads to profuse lacrimation, eyelid spasm, and profuse nasal discharge. These effects appear almost instantly - within a few seconds. Lachrymators irritate the nerve endings located in the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes, and they cause a protective reaction: the desire to wash away the irritant with tears and the closing of the eyelids, which can turn into a spasm. If the eyes are closed, then the tears are removed through the nose, mixing with the secretions from the nose itself. The destruction of the mucous membranes under the action of low concentrations of tear gases does not occur, therefore, after the termination of their action, all functions are restored. However, prolonged use of lachrymators can lead to the development of photophobia, which lasts for several days.
The sequence of appearance of signs of damage depends on the type of lacrimator, its dose and method of application. First, there is a slight irritation of the mucous membranes, weak lacrimation, then severe lacrimation with copious discharge from the nose, pain in the eyes, spasm of the eyelids, and with prolonged poisoning - temporary blindness (when using lachrymators of blistering action, partial or complete loss of vision is possible). A direct hit of a strong jet of some types of lachrymators directly into the eyes is quite dangerous - the principle of the damaging effect of gas cartridges is based on this. The best known lachrymators are cyanogen chloride, which was used as a chemical warfare agent in the early world war(since 1916), chloroacetophenone, widely used by the Americans in Vietnam and the Portuguese in Angola, bromobenzyl cyanide, chloropicrin. In addition to tearing, these substances also have a general poisonous (cyanogen chloride), suffocating (all lachrymators), skin-abscess (chloroacetophenone) action.
Symptoms of the lesion quickly disappear when the action of lacrimators ceases. It alleviates the condition of washing the eyes with boric acid or albucide, and the nasopharynx with a weak (2%) solution of baking soda. In severe cases, strong analgesics are used - promedol, morphine, a 1% solution of ethylmorphine is instilled into the eyes. Measures must be taken to remove drops of low-volatile tear substances from the surface of the body and clothing into which they are intensively absorbed, otherwise poisoning may recur.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CARBON OXIDE)
One of the most common sources of poisoning in everyday life. It is formed during improper use of gas, malfunctioning chimneys or inept heating of stoves, as well as in the process of heating car interiors in winter as a product of incomplete combustion of carbon and its compounds. Car exhaust gases can contain up to 13% carbon monoxide. In addition, it is formed when smoking, burning household waste, its concentration is high near chemical and metallurgical industries.
The essence of poisoning lies in the fact that carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the coloring matter of blood hemoglobin and, thus, disrupts the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen to body tissues, resulting in their oxygen starvation. The picture of poisoning depends on the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. When inhaling small amounts of it, one feels heaviness and pressure in the head, severe pain in the forehead and temples, tinnitus, fog in the eyes, dizziness, redness and burning of the skin of the face, trembling, a feeling of weakness and fear, coordination of movements worsens, nausea and vomiting appear. . Further poisoning, while maintaining consciousness, leads to numbness of the victim, he weakens, is indifferent to his own fate, which is why he cannot leave the infection zone. Then confusion increases, intoxication intensifies, the temperature rises to 38-40 degrees. In case of severe poisoning, when the content of hemoglobin associated with carbon monoxide in the blood reaches 50-60%, consciousness is lost, the functioning of the nervous system is seriously impaired: hallucinations, delirium, convulsions, paralysis develop. The feeling of pain is lost early - poisoned with carbon monoxide, not yet losing consciousness, they do not notice the burns received.
Memory is weakened, sometimes to such an extent that the victim ceases to recognize loved ones, the circumstances that caused the poisoning are completely erased from his memory. Breathing is upset - shortness of breath appears, which can last for hours and even days and end in death from respiratory arrest. Death from asphyxiation in acute carbon monoxide poisoning can occur almost instantly.
In severe cases, after recovery, the "memory" of poisoning "remains" and can manifest itself in the form of fainting and psychosis, decreased intelligence, and odd behavior. Possible paralysis of the cranial nerves, paresis of the extremities. For a very long time there are violations of the function of the intestines, bladder. The organs of vision are severely affected. Even a single poisoning reduces the accuracy of visual perception of space, color and night vision, and its sharpness. Even after mild poisoning myocardial infarction, gangrene of the extremities and other deadly complications may develop.
With prolonged chronic carbon monoxide poisoning, a whole "bouquet" of symptoms develops, indicating damage to both the nervous system and other organs and systems of the body. Memory and attention decrease, fatigue, irritability increase, obsessive fear, melancholy appear, unpleasant sensations in the heart area, shortness of breath appear. The skin becomes bright red, coordination of movements is disturbed, fingers tremble. After a year and a half of "close contact" with carbon monoxide, persistent disorders of cardiovascular activity occur, heart attacks are frequent. The endocrine system suffers. For men, sexual disorders are typical, in some cases there is severe pain in the testicles, spermatozoa are inactive, which, ultimately, may result in infertility. In women, sexual desire decreases, the menstrual cycle is disturbed, premature births, abortions are possible. Even after single carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy, the fetus may die, although the woman herself can endure it without visible consequences. In case of poisoning in the first three months of pregnancy, fetal deformities or the development of cerebral palsy in the future are possible.
Urgent care. The victim must be immediately taken out in a supine position (even if he can move himself) to fresh air, free from clothing that restricts breathing (unbutton the collar, belt), give the body a comfortable position, provide him with peace and warmth (for this you can use heating pads, mustard plasters to legs). When using heating pads, care must be taken, as the victim may not feel the burn. In mild cases of poisoning, give coffee, strong tea. Remove nausea and vomiting with a 0.5% solution of novocaine (inside with teaspoons). Subcutaneously introduce camphor, caffeine, cordiamine, glucose, ascorbic acid. In case of severe poisoning, oxygen should be applied as soon as possible; in this case, intensive care in a hospital is necessary.
ACETIC ACID (VINEGAR)
Most often, burns and poisoning are caused by vinegar essence used in everyday life - an 80% solution of acetic acid. However, they can also be obtained from 30% acid. Both its 2% solution and vapors are dangerous for the eyes.
Immediately after taking vinegar essence, there is a sharp pain in the mouth, pharynx and along the digestive tract, depending on the extent of the burn. The pain intensifies when swallowing, passing food and lasts more than a week. A stomach burn, in addition to a sharp pain in the epigastric region, is accompanied by excruciating vomiting with an admixture of blood. When the essence enters the larynx, in addition to pain, a hoarseness of voice appears, with massive edema - labored, wheezing breathing, the skin turns blue, and suffocation is possible. When taking 15-30 ml, a mild form of poisoning occurs, 30-70 ml - medium, and at 70 ml and above - severe, in which deaths are frequent. Death can occur on the first or second day after poisoning due to burn shock, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) and other intoxication phenomena (40% of cases). On the third or fifth day after poisoning, the cause of death is most often pneumonia (45% of cases), and in longer periods (6-11 days) - bleeding from the digestive tract (up to 2% of cases). In acute poisoning, the causes of death are acute renal and hepatic failure (12% of cases).
First aid. In case of contact with eyes - immediate, prolonged (15-20 minutes) and abundant (stream) washing with tap water, then instillation of 1-2 drops of a 2% solution of novocaine. Subsequently, instillation of antibiotics (for example, a 0.25% solution of chloramphenicol).
Irritation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract can be eliminated by rinsing the nose and throat with water, inhalation with a 2% soda solution. A warm drink is recommended (milk with soda or Borjomi). In case of contact with skin, rinse immediately with plenty of water. You can use soap or a weak solution (0.5-1%) of alkali. Treat the burn site with disinfectant solutions, for example, furacilin.
In case of poisoning by mouth - immediate gastric lavage cold water(12-15 l) using a thick probe lubricated vegetable oil. You can add milk or egg white to the water. Soda and laxatives should not be used. If gastric lavage fails, then the victim should be given 3-5 glasses of water to drink and induce vomiting artificially (by inserting a finger into the mouth). This procedure is repeated 3-4 times.
Emetics are contraindicated. Inside give beaten egg whites, starch, mucous decoctions, milk. It is recommended to swallow pieces of ice, an ice pack is placed on the stomach. To eliminate pain and prevent shock, strong analgesics (promedol, morphine) are administered. In a hospital, intensive care and symptomatic treatment are carried out.
ALKALI
Poisoning with caustic alkalis (caustic soda, caustic potash, caustic soda), as well as ammonia (ammonia) occurs both with erroneous ingestion and with improper use. For example, ammonia is sometimes used to eliminate alcohol intoxication (which is completely wrong), resulting in severe poisoning. Even more often, poisoning with soda solutions is observed. When ordinary baking soda is dissolved in boiling water, it begins to bubble due to the release of carbon dioxide. The reaction of the solution becomes strongly alkaline, and rinsing the mouth or swallowing such a concentrated solution can lead to severe poisoning. In this case, children often suffer, often swallowing soda solutions. Poisoning often occurs when the dosages and times of taking alkaline drugs for the treatment of peptic ulcer and gastritis associated with hyperacidity gastric juice.
All caustic alkalis have a very powerful cauterizing effect, and ammonia is a particularly sharp irritating effect. They are deeper than acids (see Acids), penetrate the tissues, forming loose necrotic ulcers covered with whitish or gray scabs. As a result of their ingestion, strong thirst, salivation, bloody vomiting appear. A strong pain shock develops, from which already in the first hours death may occur as a result of a burn and swelling of the pharynx, asphyxiation may develop.? After poisoning, a lot of side effects develop, almost all organs and tissues suffer, massive internal bleeding occurs, the integrity of the wall of the esophagus and stomach is violated, which leads to peritonitis and can be fatal. In case of poisoning with ammonia, due to a sharp excitation of the central nervous system, the respiratory center is depressed, pulmonary and cerebral edema develops. Deaths are very common. With the combined use of alcohol and ammonia, supposedly intended for sobering up, the toxic effects of both poisons are summed up and the picture of poisoning becomes even more severe.
First aid is the same as for acid poisoning, with the exception of the composition of the gastric lavage liquid: in order to neutralize alkalis and ammonia, a 2% solution of citric or acetic acid is used. You can use water or whole milk. If it is impossible to wash the stomach through a tube, then it is necessary to drink weak solutions of citric or acetic acid.
A serious problem is superficial burns caused by alkalis (which happens much more often than poisoning after ingestion). In this case, there are long non-healing ulcers. With constant work with alkalis, the skin softens, the stratum corneum of the skin of the hands is gradually removed (this condition is called "washerwomen's hands"), eczema occurs, the nails become dull and exfoliate from the nail bed. It is dangerous to get even the smallest droplets of alkaline solutions into the eyes - not only the cornea is affected, but also the deep parts of the eye. The outcome is usually tragic - blindness, and vision is practically not restored. This must be taken into account when inhaling soda solutions, especially concentrated and hot ones.
In case of contact with the skin - washing the affected area with a stream of water for 10 minutes, then lotion from a 5% solution of acetic, hydrochloric or citric acid. In case of contact with eyes, rinse thoroughly with water for 10-30 minutes. Washing should be repeated in the future, for which you can use very weak acidic solutions. If ammonia gets into the eyes after washing, they are instilled with a 1% solution of boric acid or a 30% solution of albucid.
CHLORINE
With this extremely dangerous gas, fate confronts a person more often than we would like. One of the most common reagents in the chemical industry, it enters our lives in the form of chlorinated water, bleach and detergents, and disinfectants, such as bleach. If acid accidentally enters the latter, a rapid release of chlorine begins in quantities sufficient for severe poisoning.
High concentrations of chlorine can lead to instant death due to paralysis of the respiratory center. The victim begins to quickly suffocate, his face turns blue, he rushes about, makes an attempt to escape, but immediately falls, loses consciousness, his pulse gradually disappears. In case of poisoning with slightly smaller amounts, breathing resumes after a short stop, but becomes convulsive, the pauses between respiratory movements are longer and longer, until after a few minutes the victim dies from respiratory arrest due to a severe burn of the lungs.
In everyday life, there are poisonings with very low concentrations of chlorine or chronic poisoning due to constant contact with active chlorine-releasing substances. A mild form of poisoning is characterized by redness of the conjunctiva and oral cavity, bronchitis, sometimes slight emphysema, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and often vomiting. Pulmonary edema rarely develops.
Chlorine can stimulate the development of tuberculosis. With chronic contact, the respiratory organs are primarily affected, the gums become inflamed, the teeth and nasal septum are destroyed, and gastrointestinal disorders occur.
Urgent care. First of all, you need clean air, peace, warmth. Immediate hospitalization for severe and moderate forms of poisoning. In case of irritation of the upper respiratory tract, inhalation of a sprayed 2% solution of sodium thiosulfate, solutions of soda or borax. Eyes, nose and mouth should be washed with a 2% soda solution. Plentiful drink is recommended - milk with Borjomi or soda, coffee. With persistent painful cough inside or intravenously, codeine, mustard plasters. With narrowing of the glottis, warm alkaline inhalations, warming of the neck area, subcutaneous 0.1% atropine solution are necessary.
Many doctors know how to poison a person at home and how to avoid suspicious signs, however, such an act is a criminal offense. Nevertheless, today some people resort to this method in order to eliminate an opponent, this often happens in criminal communities.
Means of natural origin are dangerous if you know what can poison a person. Death is affected not only by pathogens, but also by compounds. A well-known poison is botulinum toxin, which is produced by special microbes that can multiply intensively in a protein environment. It is the cause of intoxication after eating spoiled canned food, mushrooms and other products. In the digestive tract, this toxin is not destroyed by enzymes and is absorbed into the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines.
Persons who choose how to poison a person to death rarely prefer botulinum toxin, since a lethal outcome is rare in this case.
However, signs of illness can always be attributed to the last meal, during which canned meats, sausages and other unsafe food were consumed. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting and dry skin, after which paralysis of the striated muscles develops.
Most people are familiar with castor oil, but few are familiar with ricin, a toxin found in castor seeds. Criminals looking for something to quietly poison a person often stop at this poison. It is white, odorless crystals that dissolve in liquid, however, when the aqueous solution is boiled, the dangerous properties of ricin disappear.
The toxic substance does not penetrate through the skin, it acts only when it enters the body. With ricin poisoning, the latent period of intoxication varies from 15 to 24 hours, sometimes symptoms appear earlier. So, intestinal colic, diarrhea with blood, nausea and vomiting are found, and hemorrhages occur on the retina of the eye.
When a significant portion of castor seeds enters the body, death occurs after 6 days due to damage to internal organs, as well as extensive bleeding.
This poison is sometimes chosen by intruders who think how they can quickly poison a person. However, death is rare.
The poison of the pale toadstool was known to medieval politicians and healers who knew how to poison a person to death. Today, scientists have found that the mushroom contains toxins such as phalloidins and alpha-amanitins, which act quickly and irreversibly, these substances are not destroyed by heat treatment.
The latent period without warning signs lasts up to 40 hours before the poison enters the blood in large quantities and causes depressing signs of poisoning. It is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, as well as pallor of the skin and increased heart rate. A few days later, extensive damage to internal organs occurs - the liver and kidneys, toxic hepatitis develops, after which death is declared.
What can poison a person, if you do not take into account the above means? The following components are used for this purpose:
- atropine;
- solanine;
- aflatoxin.
Atropine is a substance from the group of alkaloids, it lies in plants - belladonna, dope, henbane and others. Intoxication occurs 1 hour after taking the poison, the degree of poisoning may be different.
It is known that atropine affects the structure of the brain, causing impaired coordination, damage to the heart and lungs. Death occurs infrequently due to an insufficient dose of the toxin.
How to poison a person for a short time? In this case, the solanine contained in root vegetables will be a suitable option. It can be found not only in potatoes, but also in tomatoes and eggplants.
Intoxication manifests itself in the form of nausea, vomiting, spastic pain in the abdomen and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth. Nevertheless, it is unlikely to consume a large dose of solanine, therefore death does not threaten the victims.
In addition, aflatoxins, a group of toxic substances secreted by a microscopic fungus, are a common method of poisoning. Under the condition of improper storage, they affect various food products, for example, dried fruits, milk, rice, tea and much more.
The poison in large quantities causes the death of liver cells, however, the poisoning passes without serious consequences and is limited to a temporary deterioration in well-being
In the old days, people knew the best way to poison a person. This is easy to do with the help of ordinary mercury, a dangerous metal causes fatigue, headaches, and memory loss. In addition, there is an increase in body temperature and a decrease in blood pressure. The digestive system also suffers, diarrhea and a metallic taste in the mouth are often observed. When a significant amount of mercury vapor is inhaled, a fatal outcome is inevitable, which is why this remedy has been a weapon of offenders for centuries, who understood how to poison a person without traces of a crime.
