Exploring Deadly Poisons including Defense Mechanisms that are Human Threats

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Poison in plants can be regarded as a part of their defense mechanism, and so is it when it is in certain animals, provided they aren't ingested by the animals but when it comes to humans, it is a different story. We do not have any poison to defend us, and when we take poisons we can suffer fatal outcomes.

Poisons can exist in different forms and today, I will like to look at different poisons that can be very disastrous to humans. We use some on a daily and even consume some organisms that have these poisons but if we get cut up with them, then the story is going to be a different one.


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First on our roster is Brodifacoum, a potent anticoagulant poison commonly employed in rat poisons, colloquially known as "Sole" in Nigeria. Operating as a 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist, Brodifacoum interferes with blood clotting, residing within the human bloodstream for up to nine months. The stories of unwitting ingestion leading to tragic outcomes underscore the gravity of this poison. Timely detection and swift intervention with vitamin K supplementation and blood transfusion offer a glimmer of hope for survival, as this antidote seeks to purge the system of the deadly intruder.

As I mentioned at the beginning, some organisms also have poisons in their body, which can serve as defense mechanisms even when they are not responsible for the creation of the poisons. A very good example of this toxin is Tetrodotoxin which is found in pufferfishes, Blue-ringed octopuses, and moon snails. It is a neurotoxin and is produced by endosymbiotic bacteria. The poison shuts down the nervous system, preventing muscles from contracting and causing other neurological issues. Poisoned people will experience symptoms like spasms, paralysis, trouble breathing, vomiting, seizures, and total respiratory failure. There is no known antidote to this poison that keeps its victim completely paralyzed for hours before death but then people have survived with quick medical response and respiratory aids.


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Strychnine, from the Strychnos nux-vomica tree found in India and other southeast Asian countries, is a white, odorless, bitter crystalline powder that can be taken by mouth, inhaled, or mixed in a solution and given intravenously. The nuts from the tree are poisonous and it is a neurotoxin that shuts down the neurons in the nerve fiber of the spinal cord making it completely impossible for the muscles to contract thereby seizing muscle movement and muscle spasms. it can lead to kidney failures and seizures. Just like tetrodotoxin, there is no antidote for this poison, but it can be neutralized if found early and pumped out of the stomach.

One toxin you might have not heard about is VX which is a synthetic compound that looks like engine oil. It was developed as an insecticide but was stopped as a result of its high potency and its ability to cause harm to humans and cause nerve damage, but in 2017, it was used as a substance for the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of Kim Jong-Un, the leader of north korea. Treatment includes early detoxification and the use of sedatives to treat.

One other poison I would like to talk about in this post is polonium, which is a radioactive material that can be a radioactive poison and a very little amount can lead to radiation poisoning and fatality. As little as 7 trillion of a gram is enough to cause fatality.

Between nature's defense mechanisms and human vulnerability, poisons emerge as a potent reminder of our delicate coexistence. As we traverse the world, our understanding of these poisons serves as a beacon of caution. It is important to watch out for unknown compounds as they might be poisonous without knowing.

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