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Toxin

A toxin is a substance that causes damage to biological systems by chemical
means. The term is usually reserved for substances that are life-threatening
in small quantities. (Other substances can be lethal in large quantities,
but are not usually called poisons. Even water is lethal if a few teaspoons
are inhaled all at once.)

The study of toxins and their adverse effects is known as toxicology.

Orally administered toxins are also called poisons, especially if
intentionally administered by a human. Animal toxins that are delivered
subcutaneously (e.g. by sting or bite) are also called venom. (In normal
usage, a poisonous organism is one that is harmful to consume, but a
venomous organism uses poison to defend itself while still alive. A single
organism can be both.)

Toxins may be gases, liquids or solids. Many plants, animals and
microorganisms generate toxins to discourage or kill predators. Food
poisoning is a term for a broad range of illnesses that can result from
eating food that is spoiled or tainted by bacterium, such as E. coli or
botulin toxin.

Naturally occurring or human-modified toxins may be intentionally released
by humans in chemical warfare.

Molecular engineering and biomimicry are believed to have potential to
displace toxins in industry. However, a molecular assembler or other new
molecule may itself be a toxin, or reasonably defined as one by default
under Precautionary Principle.

Ranges of poisoning

The onset of symptoms of poisoning may be rapid and swiftly lead to illness
or death. Examples are poisoning due to inhalation of hydrogen cyanide or
injection of potassium chloride. This is called acute poisoning.

A poison may also take effect slowly. This is known as chronic poisoning and
is most common for poisons that bioaccumulate. Examples of these types of
poisons are mercury, lead, and asbestos.

Examples of toxins

Non-radioactive inorganic toxins

   * Elemental metals
        o beryllium
        o cadmium
        o lead
        o thallium
        o mercury
   * Elemental metalloids
        o arsenic
   * Elemental nonmetals
        o fluorine
        o chlorine
        o bromine
   * Carbon compounds
        o cyanides
             + potassium cyanide
             + hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid)
        o carbon monoxide
        o ethanol
        o methanol
        o formaldehyde
        o alkaloids
             + solanine
             + atropine
             + hyoscyamine
             + aconite
             + strychnine
   * Arsenic compounds
        o arsenic trioxide
        o Fowler's solution
   * ammonia

Radioactive inorganic poisons

   * Elemental metals
        o Plutonium
        o Polonium
        o Radium
        o Strontium 90 - See Nuclear fallout
        o Uranium
        o Americium

Toxins produced by living things:

   * Microorganisms
        o botulin toxin
        o Tetrodotoxin
   * snake and spider venoms
   * curare
   * digitoxin
   * digoxin
   * domoic acid (or Amnesic Shellfish Poison, ASP)
   * Mushroom toxins
        o amanita toxin,
   * muscarine
   * ricin
   * Ciguatera poisoning
   * Shellfish toxins (PSP, DSP, NSP, ASP )
   * Scombroid poisoning
   * Aflatoxins
   * oubain
   * Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
   * Phytohaemagglutinin (Red kidney bean poisoning)
   * Grayanotoxin (Honey intoxication)

Famous Cases Of Poisoning

   * Charles Darwin (Claimed only by rumor: self-medication with Fowler's
     solution, one percent potassium arsenite)
   * Jamestown colonists Standard historical accounts claim deaths by
     starvation, but the possibility of arsenic poisoning by rat poison (or
     of death by Bubonic plague) has also been reported.
   * Jonestown inhabitants died from a poisoned drink in a mass
     sucide/murder.
   * Clare Boothe Luce (Did not die of her poisoning)
   * Georgi Markov (Assassinated in London by KGB agents with ricin)
   * Napoleon Bonaparte (Claimed only by rumor: killed by someone on his
     staff; however, arsenic was measured but not found in his hair after
     his death)
   * Socrates According to Plato, killed by drinking Hemlock (water hemlock,
     not hemlock the evergreen tree)

Poisons in crime fiction

Novels:

   * Anthony Berkeley: The Poisoned Chocolates Case
   * Francis Iles: Before the Fact (filmed as Suspicion)
   * Francis Iles: Malice Aforethought
   * Agatha Christie: Three Act Tragedy
   * Agatha Christie: A Pocket Full of Rye
   * Agatha Christie: Crooked House
   * Cornell Woolrich: Waltz into Darkness (filmed as Mississippi Mermaid
     and Original Sin)
   * Joseph Kesselring: Arsenic and Old Lace (play)

Films:

   * D.O.A. (1950 movie)

Poison is also the name of a US rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s. For
more information, see Poison.

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