One Drop of This Poison Could Kill the Whole World
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the world's deadliest poisons, from the widely used rat poison Brodifacoum to the highly radioactive Polonium. It delves into natural toxins like Tetrodotoxin found in pufferfish and synthetic nerve agents like VX, highlighting their sources, effects, and potential treatments. The video also touches on historical uses, such as ricin in warfare and cyanide in assassinations, emphasizing the lethality and the ongoing search for antidotes.
Takeaways
- đ Brodifacoum, a potent anticoagulant, is widely used in rat poison and can remain in the blood for up to nine months, posing a risk to humans if ingested.
- đĄ Tetrodotoxin, found in pufferfish, is a powerful neurotoxin that can cause paralysis, respiratory failure, and death within hours, with no known antidote.
- đ Cyanide, with a sweet taste, is present in apricot pits and can be lethal in processed forms like sodium or potassium cyanide, affecting the heart and nervous system.
- đł Strychnine, derived from the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, is a neurotoxin that causes muscle spasms and can be fatal, though it's used as a pesticide for large pests.
- â ïž Ricin, from the castor oil plant, is a deadly protein that inhibits protein synthesis and can be lethal through various exposure routes, with limited treatment options.
- đź VX, a synthetic nerve agent, is highly lethal and was infamously used in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, highlighting its potential as an assassination tool.
- đž Batrachotoxin, found on poison dart frogs, is a potent neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and cardiac arrest, with no known antidote, but tetrodotoxin has shown some treatment potential.
- đ Maitotoxin, produced by a marine plankton, is an extremely potent cardiotoxin that can cause heart failure and is almost always fatal, even in minute quantities.
- đ Botulinum Toxin, despite its deadly reputation, has found use in medical treatments and cosmetic procedures like Botox, showing its dual nature as both a poison and a therapeutic agent.
- âąïž Polonium, a radioactive element, is the most deadly poison mentioned, with the potential to kill an entire country with a single gram, and has no effective treatment or antidote.
Q & A
What is the primary use of Brodifacoum and why is it dangerous to humans?
-Brodifacoum is primarily used as a pesticide to control vermin, particularly rats, due to its effectiveness in eliminating large colonies through poisoned food. It is dangerous to humans because it is a powerful anticoagulant that can cause severe bleeding if ingested, and it can remain in the bloodstream for up to nine months. Treatment involves infusions of Vitamin K and possibly blood transfusions, which need to continue until the poison is out of the blood.
How does Tetrodotoxin work, and what are its effects on humans?
-Tetrodotoxin is a potent neurotoxin found in certain animals like pufferfish. It works by blocking sodium channels, which shuts down the nervous system and prevents muscles from contracting. In humans, it can cause paralysis, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures, and eventually respiratory failure. There is no known antidote, and death can occur within six hours, often while the victim remains conscious but completely paralyzed.
What is the common source of Cyanide poisoning and how can it be treated?
-Cyanide poisoning can occur from various sources, including apricot pits, which contain cyanide. It can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Treatment involves the use of hydroxocobalamin, an antidote that neutralizes cyanide and allows the kidneys to eliminate it.
How does Strychnine affect the human body, and what are its common uses?
-Strychnine is a powerful neurotoxin that affects the spinal cord's nerve fibers, leading to muscle spasms, possible kidney failure, seizures, and respiratory failure. It is commonly used as a pesticide to control pests like gophers and coyotes, although its use in rat poison has declined due to its potential to harm unintended targets like pets.
What is Ricin and how was it considered for use in warfare?
-Ricin is a toxin derived from the castor oil plant seeds. It is a potent poison that can kill by inhalation, injection, ingestion, or absorption through the eyes or minor skin wounds. During World War I, the United States considered weaponizing Ricin by coating bullets or using it as a dusting agent, but it was never deployed. Later, it was used in assassinations and sent to US politicians in letters.
How does VX, a synthetic nerve agent, affect the human body?
-VX is a synthetic nerve agent that interferes with nerve cell transmission, causing muscle contractions and respiratory failure. It is highly volatile and dangerous, and exposure can lead to death. The best way to avoid death from VX is through early decontamination and the administration of standard nerve agent antidotes.
What is Batrachotoxin, and how is it used by indigenous people?
-Batrachotoxin is a potent neurotoxin found on the skin of poison dart frogs. It blocks nerve signal transmission to muscles, causing paralysis and cardiac arrest. Indigenous people have used it by carefully scraping off a layer of the frog's skin to coat darts, which are then shot through blowguns, turning a mild weapon into a deadly one.
How does Maitotoxin, a toxin produced by a plankton, affect the human body?
-Maitotoxin is a cardiotoxin produced by the dinoflagellate, a type of plankton. It activates extra calcium channels in cells, leading to heart failure that is almost always fatal. It is extremely potent, with less than one nanogram being a lethal dose for a mouse, and any amount encountered in nature could potentially be lethal to humans.
What is the unique characteristic of Botulinum Toxin that makes it both deadly and useful in medicine?
-Botulinum Toxin is a neurotoxin that affects muscles and nerves, causing paralysis. It is deadly in small amounts but has been adapted for medical use, particularly in the form of Botox, where it is used to create localized paralysis in facial muscles to reduce wrinkles.
Why is Polonium considered the deadliest poison, and what are the challenges in treating its effects?
-Polonium is considered the deadliest poison because it is a highly radioactive metal that causes fatal radiation poisoning with minuscule amounts. There is no effective treatment or antidote for polonium exposure, which is invariably fatal. It is challenging to produce and is only accessible to nuclear-powered nations, making it a rare but extremely dangerous substance.
Outlines
đ Top 10 Deadliest Poisons: Introduction and Brodifacoum
The video script introduces the topic of the deadliest poisons in the world, starting with Brodifacoum, a potent anticoagulant pesticide commonly used for rodent control. It discusses how Brodifacoum prevents blood clotting, leading to severe bleeding, and its long-lasting presence in the bloodstream. The script also mentions the potential danger to humans if ingested, with treatments involving Vitamin K and blood transfusions. The poison's low likelihood of accidental human ingestion is highlighted, with most cases resulting from accidental consumption or intentional poisoning.
đĄ Tetrodotoxin and Cyanide: Lethal Neurotoxins and Their Effects
The script continues with Tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin found in pufferfish, which can cause paralysis, respiratory failure, and death if ingested. It emphasizes the lack of an antidote and the grim prognosis for those affected. The video then discusses cyanide, a chemical compound found in various forms, including apricot pits. It explains how cyanide can be toxic in its processed forms, such as sodium cyanide and hydrogen cyanide, affecting the heart and central nervous system. The script notes the availability of an antidote, hydroxocobalamin, which can neutralize cyanide.
đł Strychnine and Ricin: Poisons from Nature and Their Historical Uses
The video script describes Strychnine, a neurotoxin derived from the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, which causes muscle spasms and can be fatal to mammals. It discusses the historical use of Strychnine as a pesticide and its potential dangers to humans. The script then covers Ricin, a toxin found in castor oil plant seeds, which can cause severe gastrointestinal damage and affect the central nervous system. It mentions Ricin's potential as a weapon, its use in assassinations, and ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine against it.
đŹ VX and Batrachotoxin: Synthetic and Natural Neurotoxins
The script introduces VX, a synthetic nerve agent developed as an insecticide but later recognized for its deadly potential. It explains how VX interferes with nerve cell transmission, leading to muscle contractions and respiratory failure. The video recounts the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam using VX and discusses the limited treatment options available. It then describes Batrachotoxin, a neurotoxin found on poison dart frogs, which causes paralysis and cardiac arrest. The script notes the lack of an antidote but mentions tetrodotoxin's potential in reversing its effects.
đ Maitotoxin and Botulinum Toxin: Marine and Bacterial Toxins
The video script discusses Maitotoxin, a potent cardiotoxin produced by a marine plankton, which can cause heart failure. It highlights the toxin's rarity and the lack of testing on it, with a fatal dose for mice being extremely small. The script then covers Botulinum Toxin, a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and is associated with food poisoning. It explains the toxin's growth conditions and its medical applications, particularly in the form of Botox for cosmetic purposes.
âąïž Polonium: The Deadliest Poison
The script concludes with Polonium, a radioactive metal that is one of the rarest and deadliest elements. It details Polonium's extreme radioactivity and the fatal consequences of exposure, with no effective treatment or antidote. The video mentions historical cases of Polonium poisoning, such as the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, and emphasizes the element's rarity and the need for responsible handling by nations with access to it.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄPoison
đĄDefense mechanism
đĄNeurotoxin
đĄAnticoagulant
đĄCyanide
đĄStrychnine
đĄRicin
đĄVX
đĄBatrachotoxin
đĄMaitotoxin
đĄBotulinum Toxin
đĄPolonium
Highlights
Brodifacoum, a powerful anticoagulant poison, is widely used as a pesticide.
Brodifacoum can remain in the blood for up to nine months, posing a risk to larger animals and humans if ingested.
Tetrodotoxin, found in pufferfish, is a potent neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.
There is no known antidote for tetrodotoxin, but respiratory aid can help survival until the poison wears off.
Cyanide, found in apricot pits, can be toxic in processed forms like sodium cyanide and hydrogen cyanide.
An antidote for cyanide poisoning exists, hydroxocobalamin, which can neutralize and help eliminate the compound.
Strychnine, derived from the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, is a neurotoxin that causes muscle spasms and can be fatal.
Ricin, a protein from the castor oil plant, is one of the deadliest toxins and can be lethal through various exposure routes.
Ricin has been considered as a weapon and was used in assassinations, highlighting its potential as a bioweapon.
VX, a synthetic nerve agent, is highly lethal and was infamously used in the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam.
Batrachotoxin, found in poison dart frogs, is a powerful neurotoxin with no known antidote.
Maitotoxin, produced by a marine plankton, is an extremely potent cardiotoxin that can cause heart failure.
Botulinum toxin, despite its deadliness, has been repurposed for medical and cosmetic uses, such as Botox.
Polonium, a radioactive element, is the most deadly poison mentioned, with the potential to kill everyone on Earth.
Alexander Litvinenko's poisoning case illustrates the extreme toxicity and radioactivity of polonium.
Transcripts
Poison. In an animal or plant, it can be a defense mechanism - and in the hands of a Â
villain, an untraceable murder tool. But which poison packs the deadliest punch?
Here are the ten deadliest poisons in the world.
#10. Brodifacoum
Rats! If a place has a vermin problem, they probably take action fast to get rid Â
of the disease-spreading rodents. One of the most effective methods is using pesticides, Â
which can take out a large colony of rats quickly through poisoned food. And Brodifacoum, Â
a powerful anticoagulant poison, has become one of the most widely used pesticides in the world. Â
Not only does it make it difficult from the blood to clot, leading to severe bleeding, but it stays Â
in the blood for up to nine months. Itâs not a surprise itâs a best-seller for exterminators.
But it can target larger animals too.
Brodifacoum is powerful enough that it can take out larger pests like opossums - but humans Â
arenât safe either. Any human who ingests it can survive - but only if theyâre treated quickly, Â
with infusions of Vitamin K and possibly blood transfusions. And these treatments Â
will need to continue until the poison is out of the blood, which can be months - if Â
itâs caught before heavy bleeding begins. The good news is, itâs not too easy to ingest this! Â
Most cases involve people accidentally consuming rat poison - or being poisoned Â
with it. But this potent poison isnât something humans are likely to come across regularly.
Neither is this next one - but that doesnât keep people from seeking it out.
#9. Tetrodotoxin
The sushi chef carefully slices the fish. But heâs not just looking to avoid wasting Â
valuable fish with sloppy cuts - heâs attempting to avoid painful death for Â
the diner. Thatâs because heâs slicing pufferfish, Â
which contains the lethal tetrodotoxin - one of the most powerful neurotoxins in the world. Â
While the poison is found in other animals like the Blue-Ringed Octopus and Moon Snail, Â
itâs actually produced by bacteria - and it packs a punch. This sodium-channel blocker Â
poison basically shuts down the nervous system and keeps muscles from contracting.
And if it affects a human, the odds are grim.
It can enter the bloodstream by being eaten, injected, or absorbed by the skin. It causes Â
paralysis, trouble breathing, vomiting, seizures, and eventually total respiratory failure. Â
Death comes within six hours, while the victim is usually completely paralyzed but still conscious. Â
There is no known antidote, but some people have survived thanks to fast-moving respiratory Â
aid - keeping them alive until the poison starts wearing off. They usually recover Â
fully - but the majority of those infected by this deadly neurotoxin never get that chance.
You may be surprised by just how often you eat this next poisonâŠ
#8. Cyanide
Itâs oddly sweet, almost like a marzipan flavor. You may have tasted it when you bit Â
into an apricot pit as a child. But donât get addicted - that harmless-looking fruit pit is Â
actually packing a deadly punch. Itâs loaded with cyanide, a chemical compound that is Â
poisonous in many forms. Itâll take a lot of eating apricot pits to get poisoned, though, Â
which is unlikely - except when some health food companies started marketing the pits as a Â
nutrition-packed food! But most of us consume this chemical regularly with no ill effects.
But that doesnât mean cyanide will stay harmless.
When processed, cyanide gains a much more powerful toxic kick. Sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide Â
are two of the deadlier forms, and can affect the heart and central nervous system. And when itâs Â
turned into a gas, hydrogen cyanide, it can become a deadly aerosol that can incapacitate or kill a Â
large group of people. Fortunately, an antidote is available, since the compound hydroxocobalamin can Â
neutralize cyanide and turn it into a compound that the kidneys can eliminate. Thatâs one of Â
the perks of a much more common poison - itâs easier to crack the case of how to stop it.
This next poison also comes from an unassuming source.
#7. Strychnine
The Strychnos nux-vomica tree is a nice, mid-sized tree that grows in India and Southeast Asia, Â
but it has another name - the poison nut tree. Thatâs because its nuts contain Â
the deadly poison strychnine, a powerful neurotoxin. It works by shutting down the Â
nerve fibers in the spinal cord, which makes it impossible for the muscles to contract. Â
The poison is a defense mechanism for the tree, because itâs only absorbed if the nuts are chewed. Â
Birds will eat them whole, poop them out, and spread the seeds, Â
but mammals arenât likely to - so theyâll rarely eat them more than once.
Strychnine is deadly - but it also has its uses.
Itâs highly poisonous, and as such makes an effective pesticide. Itâs usually used to wipe Â
out mid-sized or even large pests like gophers and coyotes. However, using it as rat poison Â
has fallen out of favor because the potent baits can kill anything that comes across Â
it - including pets. For humans, it causes muscle spasms, possible kidney failure, seizures, Â
and respiratory failure in high doses. While there is no specific antidote, the best chance Â
for recovery is neutralizing it or removing it from the stomach - so get that stomach pump ready.
This next poison is so deadly, it made its way into war.
#6. Ricin
The castor oil plant has many uses, but its seeds pack a powerful punch. They contain ricin, Â
a carbohydrate-binding protein thatâs one of the deadliest in the world. Â
It can kill easily by being inhaled, injected, or eaten - and can even be absorbed through the eyes Â
or through minor wounds on the skin. It causes the body to not be able to synthesize protein, Â
and can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. But if it stays in the system long enough, Â
it can start to affect just about every organ including the central nervous system.
Itâs deadly enough that it even attracted the attention of world powers.
World War I was notorious for its use of toxic gas and poison as weapons. Â
The United States looked into Ricin as one of its agents, considering coating bullets with Â
it or using it as a dusting weapon. The war ended before it could be weaponized, Â
but both the US and the USSR wound up keeping weaponized samples in store - that were thankfully Â
never used. While it was never used in war, it was used to assassinate several dissidents Â
in Russia and Eastern Europe, and Ricin powder was sent to politicians in the US in letters. Â
While right now treatment is limited, the US and UK militaries are testing the first Ricin vaccine.
And now weâre getting into the top five -Â starting with the deadliest man-made toxic.
#5. VX
It looks like engine oil, but this synthetic nerve agent compound is Â
packing only one thing - killing power. When ICI developed it as an insecticide in the 1950s, Â
they discovered it worked a little too well. It interferes with the transmission of nerve cells, Â
and causes muscle contractions and respiratory failure. So volatile and dangerous, Â
it was eventually taken out of development as a pesticide, but it wouldnât be long before other Â
powers realized it could be used for something else - a deadly, hard to stop assassination tool.
And VX became world-famous in 2017.
Kim Jong-Nam was the half-brother of the notorious leader of North Korea, Kim-Jong-Un. He had left Â
North Korea and was traveling to a resort in Malaysia when he was approached by two women. Â
They splashed him with a liquid and exposed him to more of the substance with a cloth. Â
He was taken to a hospital, but died soon after - and an investigation revealed the poison was VX. Â
As VX is a liquid, the best way to avoid death is through early decontamination Â
and injection with sedatives, but only standard antidotes for nerve agents are available.
You may be tempted to give the source of this next poison a little pat on the head. Donât.
#4. Batrachotoxin.
Theyâre among the most striking creatures in the jungle. Tiny frogs with skin that combines black Â
with brightly colored patches. But theyâre also among the most poisonous creatures in Â
the world - their skin is coated with a potent neurotoxin named Batrachotoxin. It affects the Â
peripheral nervous system in a way that blocks nerve signal transmission to the muscles, Â
causing permanent and fatal paralysis. Not only that, but it has a powerful effect on Â
heart muscles and leads to cardiac arrest. Even scarier, no antidote is available.
But that doesnât keep some people from coming close to them.
These frogs are most famous by another name - poison dart frogs. Thatâs because indigenous Â
residents have been using them for a long time - very carefully. They scrape off a small layer of Â
the poisonous skin coating and use it to coat a dart that they then shoot out through a blowgun. Â
It turns a mildly annoying weapon into a deadly one to deter any invaders. While the poison is Â
one of the deadliest in the world, some success in treating it has come from an unexpected source - Â
tetrodotoxin, which is found in puffer fish and can reverse the effect on the nerve membranes.
To find the source of this next toxin, look towards the sea.
#3. Maitotoxin
Algae blooms in the sea can provide a pop of color in the water, but they can also Â
create some of the most deadly toxins on the planet. The tiny dinoflagellate, a plankton, Â
creates a compound that has one of the most complicated structures of any toxin. Â
This makes it a massive challenge for scientists to understand and develop treatments for - which Â
is a big problem for anyone who encounters this deadly cardiotoxin. It activates extra calcium Â
channels in the cells, leading to heart failure that is almost invariably fatal.
And it packs a lot of power in a small package.
Testing on this toxin is limited, because itâs so rarely encountered. Â
But results indicate that less than one nanogram is a fatal dose of Maitotoxin for a mouse. Â
No one knows the exact dose that will kill a human - but the odds are that any amount encountered in Â
nature would be enough. So be careful around any colorful patches in the ocean, although Â
not everything swimming around is vulnerable. Oddly, scientists have observed that certain Â
fish native to coral reefs are immune to the toxin - and can eat all the plankton they want.
But what is the deadliest toxin around?
#2. Botulinum Toxin
This toxin hides where you least expect it - in your food. In 18th century Germany, Â
a case of food poisoning linked to sausage led to the discovery of Botulinum toxin Â
for the first time. Six people died, and it became known as âsausage poisoningâ. Â
Future incidents revealed that it was likely to happen with improperly canned or preserved foods. Â
A tiny bacteria that can kill an adult human with only a few nanograms, Â
itâs a neurotoxin that affects muscles and nerves and causes paralysis. While it exists in nature, Â
it only grows and activates when itâs starved of oxygen - making it deadly in enclosed atmospheres.
But itâs turned out to have some unexpected uses.
During World War II, studies were conducted on weaponizing it, Â
but it was never released in combat. It would find a second life, though - in medical science! The Â
toxin is highly effective at causing paralysis, and when processed and neutralized partially, Â
it can be used to control disorders causing involuntary eye disorders. But this deadly toxin Â
would have its breakout moment when it became one of the most popular cosmetic treatments - Botox! Â
Regular injections create localized paralysis in the facial muscles and reduce wrinkles.
But one deadly substance outclasses it all. Â
In fact, a single drop packs enough deadly power to kill everyone on the planet.
#1. Polonium
Bacteria. Neurotoxins. Plant extracts. All of them pack some deadly toxins, but none Â
can approach the poison level of one chemical element. Polonium, a heavily radioactive metal, Â
is one of the rarest elements in the world. It was first identified by the Curies in 1898 Â
and it has one key characteristic - it is extremely radioactive. And with radioactivity Â
comes toxicity to humans. While it has some scientific applications, it is so potent that Â
any use of it is extremely risky, because it takes very little to cause fatal radiation poisoning.
How little, exactly?
Estimates are that as little as seven trillionths of a gram of polonium can kill any adult - and Â
a whole gram might be able to kill an entire country. Because itâs both toxic and radioactive, Â
there is no effective treatment or antidote and exposure is invariably fatal - as former FSB Â
agent Alexander Livinenko found out the hard way when he was poisoned in London by Russian Â
agents. The good news is, youâre not likely to come across it in your everyday life - it can Â
be produced from uranium, but it would take tons of uranium to produce a single dose of polonium. Â
A procedure to irradiate bismuth with neutrons has also been shown to produce polonium, Â
but it remains one of the trickiest elements to produce. And the only people with access Â
are nuclear-powered nations. Letâs hope they use that power responsibly.
For more on one of the most notorious poisons, watch âHow Does Cyanide Poisoning Actually Workâ, Â
or watch this video instead.
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