Poison

The Skull with Bones mark is traditionally used to mark toxic substances.

Poison, poison - a substance that leads in certain doses , small relative to body weight, to disruption of the body : poisoning , disease , other painful conditions and deaths.

Poisons of biological origin are called toxins .

Poisons and their effects are studied by toxicology . Toxicology studies poisons of biological origin (can be considered as a branch of toxicology).

Content

Types of Poisons

Label with the words "Poison!", Used in Soviet pharmacies in the 1930s

By their action

Hematic poisons ( Heamotoxis ) - poisons that affect the blood .
Neurotoxic poisons ( Neurotoxis ) - poisons that affect the nervous system and brain .
Myotoxic poisons ( Myotoxis ) - poisons that damage muscles .
Hemotoxins ( Haemorrhaginistoxins ) are toxins that damage blood vessels and cause bleeding.
Hemolytic toxins ( Haemolysinstoxins ) are toxins that damage red blood cells ( red blood cells ).
Nephrotoxins ( Nephrotoxins ) - toxins that damage the kidneys .
Cardiotoxins ( Cardiotoxins ) - toxins that damage the heart .
Necrotoxins ( Necrotoxins ) are toxins that non-specifically destroy tissue.
Protoplasmic poisons - poisons that act at the level of cells.
Other toxins

By origin

Natural ( toxins )
- Bacteriotoxins or bacterial toxins (e.g., botulinum toxin (Botox), tetanotoxin )
- Mycotoxins (e.g. aflatoxins , T-2 )
- Phytotoxins are poisons of plant origin, as a rule, of an alkaloid nature ( muscarine , atropine , nicotine , etc.)
- Poisons of animals - arthropods (bees, wasps, spiders, scorpions, scolopendras, etc.), amphibians (salamanders, toads), mollusks (octopuses), snakes, jellyfish, etc.
- Poisons of mineral origin (soluble arsenic minerals)
Artificial (Synthetic)
- Inorganic poisons (e.g. salts of arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium)
- Organic Poisons ( Mustard , DDT )
Radioactive isotopes
Ecotoxicants ( Ecotoxins , e.g. dioxins )

Routes of Poison ingestion

Oral route

The ingestion of poisons through the mouth is the most common cause of poisoning. It is characteristic of most household and food poisoning. With this variant of poisoning, poisons are absorbed into the body in the mouth, for example, cyanides , nicotine , phenol , nitroglycerin , etc., or in the gastrointestinal tract. The acidic environment of the stomach promotes the absorption of organic acids (in particular, barbiturates ) and lipidophilic substances, and at the same time prevents the absorption of basic organic substances (amines, alkaloids , etc.). Alkaloids and lipid-soluble substances are absorbed in the small intestine

Inhalation route

Poisonous substances in a gaseous or aerosol state ( carbon monoxide, II , formaldehyde , hydrogen sulfide ) enter the body through the upper respiratory tract, which is often observed in poorly ventilated rooms. Due to the large surface of the bronchi and pulmonary alveoli, these substances quickly enter the bloodstream. In addition, solids in the aerosol state remaining in the oral cavity, together with saliva, can also enter the stomach.

Through the skin

Fat-soluble poisons, in particular, nicotine , chlorinated hydrocarbons , salts of mercury and thallium , etc. enter the human body through the skin. Damage to the skin as a result of injuries and burns facilitates the penetration of toxic substances through it.

Parenteral route (as a result of injections)
Across the placenta

Some poisons can penetrate from mother to fetus through the placenta: ethanol , salts of heavy metals , some chlorine - containing substances, etc.

Perrectal path

Literature

Kramarenko V.F. Toxicological chemistry. - K .: High school. Head Publishing House, 1989 .-- 447 p.
Frank Collard. The history of poisoning. Power and poisons. From antiquity to the present. M., Text , 2010.