The 5 most dangerous types of poison in the world

When thinking about poison, we often think of famous names like cyanide, arsenic, or strychnine. However, they are not the most toxic substances ever known.

Evaluating the toxicity of a substance is not a simple thing. For example, if you swallow liquid mercury, most of the time they will be released without causing any harm. However, if we inhale mercury vapor, things will be extremely bad.

Just a very small amount of these substances is enough to kill you.(Image source: AMC).

Here are the 5 most powerful poisons in the world ever known. They are hundreds of times more toxic than poisonous substances like cyanide or strychnine.

5. Ricin poison

Ricin is extracted from the seeds of castor plant (Ricinus communis).(Photo source: Flickr).

The poison of this extremely toxic plant was used to kill the famous Bulgarian politician Georgi Markov when he was in exile in London. On September 7, 1978, when Markov was waiting for the bus near Waterloo Bridge, he suddenly felt something touch his thigh.

He looked behind and saw a man bending down to pick up an umbrella. Markov immediately felt dizzy and fainted at the bus stop. He was taken to hospital with high fever symptoms and died three days later.

An autopsy revealed a very small sphere made of a platinum-iridium alloy stuck on Markov's lap. The sphere has many small needles coated with a little ricin and this substance is the cause of death.

Ricin is extracted from the seeds of castor plant (Ricinus communis). This substance is a type of glycoprotein that interferes with the synthesis of proteins and thereby causing cell death. Just 1mg per kilogram of human body is enough to kill the victim.

4. Toxic VX

In 1950, VX was banned worldwide because of excessive toxicity.(Image source: zidbits).

VX is a nerve agent extracted from engine lubricating oil. Initially, this substance was invented and used in pesticides. However, by 1950, VX was banned all over the world because of excessive toxicity. VX interferes with the transmission of nerve messages between cells by acting on a molecule called acetylcholine.

After acetylcholine has transmitted nerve messages, they need to be destroyed with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Otherwise they will continue to send signals forever. VX prevents the enzyme acetylcholinesterase activity, causing acetylcholine to function continuously. From there your muscles will lose control and you will die from contractions and suffocation.

3. Batrachotoxin poison

Batrachotoxin poison is taken from poison frogs.(Photo source: musemalady).

Perhaps we are all familiar with images of South American Indians who use darts to hunt animals. But have you ever thought why such a tiny dart could kill a buffalo? That's because they have been impregnated with a poisonous substance called Batrachotoxin from poison frogs.

Aboriginal people will try to catch the frogs as much as possible colors and grill them on the fire. These frogs will release poison and the aborigines will catch it and smear it on the dart.

Batrachotoxin causes death by acting on Na + ion channels in the cells of muscles and nerves, making them unable to close. This will cause the sodium ion flow to flow continuously and thereby cause death due to heart failure.

However, the interesting thing here is that the frogs themselves are not poisonous. The toxins they get are from beetles that they often eat in the forest.

2. Maitotoxin poison

This is the most dangerous toxin that exists in the bodies of marine animals.(Photo source: Flickr).

Maitotoxin is the most dangerous toxin that exists in marine animals . This type of poison is formed in an algae and has a very complex structure. So they are difficult to synthesize artificially. Maitotoxin will increase the flow of calcium ions through the heart muscle cell membrane, causing heart failure and death.

1. Botulinum toxin toxin

Just one nanogram per kg of body weight is enough to kill immediately.(Image source: npr).

Scientists now agree that botulinum toxin, a compound produced by anaerobic bacteria, is the most toxic known. Just one nanogram per kg of body weight is enough to kill immediately.

There are different types of botulinum toxins with type A being the strongest. The structure of this substance is a polypeptide, consisting of more than 1,000 amino acid molecules linked together. They cause paralysis of muscles by preventing the production of acetylcholine neurons.

However, this substance is applied in the cosmetic and beauty industry. A small amount of botulinum will stop the facial muscles bunching and thereby reducing wrinkles.