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From Biology to ricin hemlock, natural substances are used as poisons for millennia ricin addition, a number of other plants, bacteria and animals serve as a source for the production of potent poisons
On Wednesday, a letter containing a substance suspected was sent to the U.S. President, Barack Obama. Intercepted before reaching the receiver, the initial tests say it contained ricin, a potent poison derived from castor beans. The substance is easily produced and only 500 micrograms of poison - the portion size of the head of a pin - can kill a person.
The castor is part of a large list of plants that produce toxic substances such as hemlock and we-nux vomica, and are used by humans for centuries as weapons that can lead to death of opponents. "The term poison is very old, and is related to the use of toxins, substances produced by plants and animals, by men," says Eduardo Mello of Capitiani, researcher at the Poison Control Center of Campinas, Faculty of Medical Sciences .
Poisons can be produced by humans and used to attack both animals during a hunt, as other men during wars. Its use is ancient, and currently are scattered around the world, as in the case of pesticides. A major concern of security officials is its use as a bioterrorism agent, for its potential to reach and quickly kill large numbers of people. "In international terrorism, usually mass killings are linked to toxic gases, both for ease of production of these substances, as the serious damage they cause," says Capitiani.
Source: Clostridium botulinum toxin is the most toxic protein known to man. Typically, it is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum when it is in low oxygen environments, such as canned foods, and is responsible for botulism, a disease that paralyzes the muscles and can lead to death.
The toxin affects how neurons transmit their information, and its symptoms include vision problems, speech figs difficulties, dry mouth and muscle weakness. The paralysis of the respiratory muscles can lead to death by asphyxiation.
Usually, the disease is acquired by feeding contaminated food, but the toxin may also be administered as aerosol bioterrorism attacks. According to the U.S. government, a number of countries around the world studying its use as a weapon of war. Furthermore, figs the toxin has also
Source: Clostridium botulinum toxin is the most toxic protein known to man. Typically, it is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum when it is in low oxygen environments, such as canned foods, and is responsible for botulism, a disease that paralyzes the muscles and can lead to death.
The toxin affects how neurons transmit their information, figs and its symptoms include vision problems, speech difficulties, dry mouth and muscle weakness. The paralysis of the respiratory muscles can lead to death by asphyxiation.
Usually, the disease is acquired by feeding contaminated food, but the toxin may also be administered as aerosol bioterrorism attacks. According to the U.S. government, a number of countries around the world studying its use as a weapon of war. Furthermore, the toxin has also
Produced from the bush European Conium maculatum Hemlock is used for millennia as a poison. In ancient Greece, was applied in the execution of political prisoners. In his book Phaedo, Plato describes the death of the philosopher Socrates, who was sentenced to ingest the substance. The hemlock figs attacks the central nervous system, causing a large stimulation, followed by depression, causing figs seizures, breathing difficulties, paralysis and death. It is consumed in oral form
