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Main article: Toxins
File:Hazard T.svg

In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms,[1] usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism. Legally and in hazardous chemical labelling, poisons are especially toxic substances; less toxic substances are labelled "harmful", "irritant", or not labelled at all.






Within chemistry and physics, a poison is a substance that obstructs or inhibits a reaction, for example by binding to a catalyst. For an example, see nuclear poison.


List of poisons with psychological effectsEdit

Main article: Toxic disorders


Poisoning is a substantial health problem throuhot the world

File:Poisonings world map - DALY - WHO2004.svg

In the USEdit

  • In 2004, poisonings surpassed firearms accidents to become the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths and in 2007, unintentional poisonings were the leading cause of unintentional injury death for adults 35-54.
  • From 2006-2007, unintentional poisoning deaths increased 6%, while motor vehicle accidents, the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, decreased 4%.
  • In 2009, U.S. poison centers received nearly 2.5 million calls related to human toxin exposure, 1.7 million poison information calls, and over 116,000 non-human exposure calls and a poison center answers a call about a suspected or actual poisoning exposure every 13 seconds.

Children are particularly at riskEdit

  • those under the age of 6 were involved in the majority of poisoning exposures in 2009, but they made up less than 2% of poisoning fatalities.

By SubstanceEdit

  • Cosmetics and personal care products were the most frequently involved substances in pediatric (5 years old and younger) poisoning exposures in 2009.
  • Prescription and non-prescription pain medicines (analgesics) were the most frequently involved substances in poisoning exposures for callers of all ages in 2009.

Biological poisoningEdit




Inhaled or ingested cyanide, used as a method of execution in gas chambers, almost instantly starves the body of energy by inhibiting the enzymes in mitochondria that make ATP. Intravenous injection of an unnaturally high concentration of potassium chloride, such as in the execution of prisoners in parts of the United States, quickly stops the heart by eliminating the cell potential necessary for muscle contraction.






Poisoning managementEdit

  • Poison Control Centers (reachable at 1-800-222-1222 in the US worldwide) provide immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance over the telephone in case of suspected exposure to poisons or toxic substances.

Initial managementEdit


    • Activated charcoal is the treatment of choice to prevent absorption of the poison. It is usually administered when the patient is in the emergency room or by a trained emergency healthcare provider such as a Paramedic or EMT. However, charcoal is ineffective against metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and alcohols and glycols; it is also not recommended for ingestion of corrosive chemicals such as acids and alkalis.[3]
    • Emesis (i.e. induced by ipecac) is no longer recommended in poisoning situations.[6]


Some poisons have specific antidotes:

Poison/Drug Antidote
paracetamol (acetaminophen) N-acetylcysteine
vitamin K anticoagulants, e.g. warfarin vitamin K
opioids naloxone
iron (and other heavy metals) desferrioxamine, Deferasirox or Deferiprone
benzodiazepines flumazenil
ethylene glycol ethanol or fomepizole, and thiamine
methanol ethanol or fomepizole, and folinic acid
cyanide amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate
Organophosphates Atropine and Pralidoxime
Magnesium Calcium Gluconate
Calcium Channel Blockers (Verapamil, Diltiazem) Calcium Gluconate
Beta-Blockers (Propranolo, Sotalol) Calcium Gluconate and/or Glucagon
Isoniazid Pyridoxine
Atropine Physostigmine
Thallium Prussian blue

Enhanced excretionEdit

Further treatmentEdit


See alsoEdit


  1. Template:DorlandsDict
  3. Chyka PA, Seger D, Krenzelok EP, Vale JA (2005). Position paper: Single-dose activated charcoal. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 43 (2): 61–87.
  4. (2004). Position paper: whole bowel irrigation. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 42 (6): 843–54.
  6. American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres Clinical Toxicologists (2004). Position paper: Ipecac syrup. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 42 (2): 133–43.
  7. Toxicology, American Academy of Clinical (2004). Position paper: cathartics. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 42 (3): 243–53.

External linksEdit


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