Classification of poisons | Toxicology | Forensic toxicology notes

Summary

In this video, the presenter provides a detailed overview of poisons and their classification. Poisons are defined as substances that cause damage to the body through chemical reactions, potentially leading to illness or death. The classification of poisons is explored based on symptoms (corrosive, irritant, systemic, and miscellaneous), analytical basis (organic, inorganic, volatile, non-volatile), and physical state (solid, liquid, gas). Examples of each category, such as acids, snake venom, pesticides, and gases like carbon monoxide, are discussed to illustrate their harmful effects. The video offers a comprehensive understanding of how poisons affect the body and their varied forms.

Takeaways

• 😀 A poison is any substance that, when entered into the body in small amounts, can cause damage to structures or functions, leading to symptoms, illness, or even death.
• 😀 Poisons can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, injection, or even develop within the body.
• 😀 Ideal characteristics of poisons include being tasteless, odorless, colorless, and easily absorbed, though not all poisons exhibit these traits.
• 😀 Corrosive poisons cause inflammation or corrosion at the site of contact or inside the body. Examples include sulfuric acid and potassium cyanide.
• 😀 Irritant poisons cause irritation or pain, leading to symptoms like vomiting. Examples include arsenic and snake venom.
• 😀 Systemic poisons affect specific body functions, such as the nervous system or cardiovascular system. Examples include alcohol, nicotine, and opium.
• 😀 Miscellaneous poisons include those causing food poisoning, botulism, or mechanical irritants like glass powder and chopped hair.
• 😀 Analytical classification divides poisons into categories like volatile organic, volatile inorganic, non-volatile organic, and more, depending on their chemical properties.
• 😀 Physical state classification divides poisons into solid, liquid, and gas categories. Solid poisons like lead need to be dissolved in the body to cause harm.
• 😀 Poison examples include pesticides, insecticides, cyanide, arsenic, and various gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.
• 😀 The impact of poisons can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions, and their detection can be challenging due to their odorless and tasteless properties.

Q & A

What is a poison and how does it affect the body?

A poison is any substance that, when ingested, inhaled, absorbed, applied, injected, or developed within the body in small amounts, causes a chemical reaction leading to damage to the body’s structure or function, resulting in symptoms, illness, or even death.

What are the ideal characteristics of a poison?

The ideal characteristics of a poison include being tasteless, odorless, colorless, soluble in various substances, having a delayed onset of action, being exotic and undetectable, lethal in low doses, easily absorbed and obtained, mimicking natural diseases, chemically stable, and decomposing after death.

How are poisons classified based on symptoms?

Poisons are classified into four categories based on symptoms: corrosive, irritant, systemic, and miscellaneous. Corrosive poisons cause inflammation or corrosion, irritant poisons cause pain and irritation, systemic poisons affect specific body functions, and miscellaneous poisons cause conditions like food poisoning.

What are the types of corrosive poisons, and how do they affect the body?

Corrosive poisons include strong acids (e.g., sulfuric acid), strong alkalis (e.g., sodium hydroxide), and metallic salts (e.g., zinc chloride). They cause inflammation and damage to the body by corroding tissues upon contact or ingestion.

What are some examples of irritant poisons and how do they work?

Irritant poisons cause irritation and pain, leading to symptoms like vomiting. Examples include inorganic irritants (e.g., arsenic, mercury), organic irritants (e.g., plant poisons like castor), and mechanical irritants (e.g., powdered glass).

What are systemic poisons, and how do they affect the body?

Systemic poisons affect specific parts of the body, such as the brain, spinal cord, cardiovascular system, or peripheral nerves. Examples include opium (somniferous), alcohol (inability), and carbon monoxide (spinal or cardiovascular).

How are poisons classified based on their chemical composition?

Poison classification based on chemistry includes volatile organic poisons (e.g., methanol), volatile inorganic poisons (e.g., cyanide), non-volatile inorganic poisons (e.g., lead), non-volatile organic poisons (e.g., pesticides), and acidic or alkaline poisons (e.g., barbiturates).

What is the difference between solid, liquid, and gaseous poisons?

Solid poisons are not absorbed easily and must be dissolved in a liquid before entering the bloodstream (e.g., lead, arsenic). Liquid poisons can be organic or inorganic, with some being volatile (e.g., alcohol). Gaseous poisons, like carbon monoxide and methane, are absorbed through the respiratory system.

What are some examples of noxious gases that are considered poisons?

Noxious gases that are poisonous include carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methane, chlorine gas, and tear gas. These gases can cause severe health issues or death when inhaled.

What are some examples of plant-based and animal-based poisons?

Plant-based poisons include species like Ricinus communis (castor plant) and Nerium oleander. Animal-based poisons include snake venom, scorpion venom, and cantharides. These poisons can lead to symptoms ranging from irritation to death.