Poisoning

When a living organism is introduced to a poison, the symptoms that follow successful contact develop in close relation to the degree of exposure.{{Citation |last=Calabrese |first=E.J. |title=Dose–Response Relationship |date=2014 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Toxicology |pages=224–226 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00991-X |access-date=2024-04-09 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-386454-3.00991-x|isbn=978-0-12-386455-0 }}

Acute toxicity/poisoning consists of a living organism being harmfully exposed to poison once or more times during a brief period, with symptoms manifesting within 14 days since administration.{{Cite book |url=https://goldbook.iupac.org/ |title=The IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology: The Gold Book |date=2019 |publisher=International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) |editor-last=Gold |editor-first=Victor |edition=4 |location=Research Triangle Park, NC |language=en |doi=10.1351/goldbook.at06800}}

Chronic toxicity/poisoning involves a living organism being exposed to a toxin on multiple instances over an extended period of time, whereas the symptoms either develop gradually or after a protracted latent period.{{Citation |last=Elhag |first=Ibtihag Yahya |title=Role of AI in ADME/Tox toward formulation optimization and delivery |date=2023 |work=A Handbook of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Delivery |pages=301–345 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-89925-3.00011-3 |access-date=2024-04-15 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-89925-3.00011-3 |isbn=978-0-323-89925-3}} Chronic poisoning most commonly occurs following exposure to poisons that bioaccumulate, or are biomagnified, such as mercury, gadolinium, and lead.{{Citation |last1=Chojnacka |first1=K. |title=Bioaccumulation |date=2014 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Toxicology |pages=456–460 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.01039-3 |access-date=2024-04-15 |publisher=Elsevier |doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-386454-3.01039-3 |last2=Mikulewicz |first2=M.|isbn=978-0-12-386455-0 }}

File:Death rate from unintentional poisoning, OWID.svgIn 2020, America's Poison Centers' NPDS (National Poison Data System) report determined that 76.9% of recorded toxin exposures were accidental, with the rest of the statistics either being deliberate or unexpected.{{Cite journal |last1=Gummin |first1=David D. |last2=Mowry |first2=James B. |last3=Beuhler |first3=Michael C. |last4=Spyker |first4=Daniel A. |last5=Bronstein |first5=Alvin C. |last6=Rivers |first6=Laura J. |last7=Pham |first7=Nathaniel P. T. |last8=Weber |first8=Julie |date=2021-12-02 |title=2020 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 38th Annual Report |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2021.1989785 |journal=Clinical Toxicology |language=en |volume=59 |issue=12 |pages=1282–1501 |doi=10.1080/15563650.2021.1989785 |pmid=34890263 |issn=1556-3650}} A large portion of these accidental incidents occurred due to mistakenly taking the incorrect medicine, or doubling one's dose by mistake.

File:Arsenic trioxide.jpg is a white, crystalline powder that closely resembles sugar. The 1858 Bradford sweets poisoning incident happened because it was mistaken for a sugar substitute ("daff").]]Nerve gases are synthetic substances used in industry or warfare that are specifically engineered to bring harm to living organisms.{{Cite web |last=Patton |first=James |title=Gas in The Great War |url=https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-medicine/archives/wwi/essays/medicine/gas-in-the-great-war.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.kumc.edu |publisher=History and Philosophy of Medicine |language=en-us |publication-place=Mail Stop 1025 3901 Rainbow Blvd. Kansas City, KS 66160}} They may paralyze a person in a matter of seconds or cease organ function, quickly resulting in death.They're considered to be biologically derived neurotoxins, which are a genre of toxic agents that act specifically against the nervous system. Inhaled or ingested cyanide (or Zyklon B) was used as a method of execution in gas chambers.{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Ken |title=Zyklon-B {{!}} Description, Manufacturer, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/Zyklon-B |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} This method of poisoning instantly starved the body of energy by inhibiting the enzymes in mitochondria that produce ATP.{{Cite journal |last1=Jethava |first1=Durga |last2=Gupta |first2=Priyamvada |last3=Kothari |first3=Sandeep |last4=Rijhwani |first4=Puneet |last5=Kumar |first5=Ankit |date=2014 |title=Acute cyanide Intoxication: A rare case of survival |journal=Indian Journal of Anaesthesia |language=en |volume=58 |issue=3 |pages=312–314 |doi=10.4103/0019-5049.135045 |doi-access=free |issn=0019-5049 |pmc=4090999 |pmid=25024476}} Intravenous injection of an unnaturally high concentration of potassium chloride, such as in the execution of prisoners in parts of the United States, quickly stops the heart by eliminating the cell potential necessary for muscle contraction.{{Cite journal |last=Simon |first=Gábor |date=2023-04-04 |title=Detection of Fatal Potassium Overdose: A Case Report and Review of the Literature |journal=Diagnostics |language=en |volume=13 |issue=7 |pages=1339 |doi=10.3390/diagnostics13071339 |doi-access=free |issn=2075-4418 |pmc=10093193 |pmid=37046560}}

Most biocides, including pesticides, are created to act as poisons to target organisms. Although acute or less observable chronic poisoning can also occur in non-target organisms (secondary poisoning), including the humans who apply the biocides and other beneficial organisms.{{Cite journal |last1=Kapeleka |first1=Jones A. |last2=Sauli |first2=Elingarami |last3=Ndakidemi |first3=Patrick A. |date=2021-10-03 |title=Pesticide exposure and genotoxic effects as measured by DNA damage and human monitoring biomarkers |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09603123.2019.1690132 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research |language=en |volume=31 |issue=7 |pages=805–822 |doi=10.1080/09603123.2019.1690132 |pmid=31736325 |bibcode=2021IJEHR..31..805K |issn=0960-3123}} For example, the herbicide 2,4-D imitates the action of a plant hormone, which makes its lethal toxicity specific to plants. Indeed, 2,4-D is not a poison, but is classified as harmful.{{Cite journal |last1=Carvalho |first1=Laíse M. |last2=Soares-Filho |first2=Antônio F. |last3=Lima |first3=Maciel S. |last4=Cruz-Filho |first4=João F. |last5=Dantas |first5=Taisa C. M. |last6=Luz |first6=Geraldo E. |date=February 2021 |title=2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) photodegradation on WO3-TiO2-SBA-15 nanostructured composite |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11356-020-11085-4 |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |language=en |volume=28 |issue=7 |pages=7774–7785 |doi=10.1007/s11356-020-11085-4 |pmid=33037546 |bibcode=2021ESPR...28.7774C |issn=0944-1344}}

Many substances regarded as poisons are toxic only indirectly through toxication. An example is "wood alcohol" or methanol, which is not poisonous itself but is chemically converted to toxic formaldehyde and formic acid once it reaches the liver.{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=A W |title=Clinical and forensic toxicology of methanol |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34247144/ |journal=Forensic Sci Rev |date=2021 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=117–143 |publisher=Central Police University |pmid=34247144}} Many drug molecules are made toxic in the liver, and the genetic variability of certain liver enzymes makes the toxicity of many compounds differ between people.

{{Infobox medical condition (new)

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| alt = A hazard symbol depicting a human skull in front of two bones crossing between one another.

| caption = Hazard Symbol (Pictogram) for Poisonning

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| field = Toxicology

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File:Lock Away Danger in Your Home (21247619354).jpg

As mandated in GHS, various safety-orientated government agencies from around the globe have put into place the usage of pictograms when labelling toxic substances.{{Cite journal |last1=Boelhouwer |first1=Eric |last2=Davis |first2=Jerry |last3=Franco-Watkins |first3=Ana |last4=Dorris |first4=Nathan |last5=Lungu |first5=Claudiu |date=September 2013 |title=Comprehension of hazard communication: Effects of pictograms on safety data sheets and labels |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2013.06.001 |journal=Journal of Safety Research |volume=46 |pages=145–155 |doi=10.1016/j.jsr.2013.06.001 |pmid=23932696 |issn=0022-4375}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system/globally-harmonized-classification-labelling-chemicals.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.canada.ca}} The hazard symbol which labels a substance as capable of poisoning depicts the imagery of a human skull in front of two bones crossing one another.{{Cite web |title=Know Your Hazard Symbols (Pictograms) |url=https://ehs.princeton.edu/news/know-your-hazard-symbols-pictograms |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Office of Environmental Health and Safety |language=en}}

GHS precautionary statements, which advise users to exercise caution or be aware of the substance's potentially dangerous features, are added to a legal toxins' labelling.{{Cite book |title=Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals: GHS |date=2007 |publisher=United Nations |isbn=978-92-1-116957-7 |editor-last=Vereinte Nationen |edition=2nd revised |location=New York}} Toxic substances can also come with instructions on how to handle the product, what compounds to avoid mixing the product with, and how to treat a victim at risk of poisoning who has come in contact with the product.{{Cite book |title=Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals: GHS |date=2011 |publisher=United Nations |isbn=978-92-1-117042-9 |editor-last=Vereinte Nationen |edition=4th revised |series=United Nations |location=New York}}

Various poison control centers are also available to assist in diagnosing, managing, and preventing possible incidents of poisoning.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-14 |title=Poison control center - PAHO/WHO {{!}} Pan American Health Organization |url=https://www.paho.org/en/topics/poison-control-center |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.paho.org |language=en}} Many are accessible through phone calls or official websites.

Seeking medical attention is strongly advised if someone is thought to have been exposed to or consumed a poison, mainly from a nearby poison control centre.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=Poisoning Prevention {{!}} Child Safety and Injury Prevention{{!}} CDC Injury Center |url=https://www.cdc.gov/safechild/poisoning/index.html |access-date=2020-11-28 |website=www.cdc.gov |language=en-us}}{{Cite journal |last1=Yadav |first1=Sharad |last2=Shah |first2=Gautam Kumar |last3=Verma |first3=Dharmesh |last4=Yadav |first4=Prakash Chand |date=2022-07-22 |title=Study of profile, pattern and outcomes of oral poisoning cases admitted in emergency department of Janakpur provincial hospital, Nepal |url=https://zenodo.org/record/6879818 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.6879818}} It is advised to provide medical personnel with information regarding the poisoning, the patient's age, weight, and any other drugs they may be taking in addition to the symptoms of the illness. Try to determine what was ingested, the amount and how long since the person was exposed to it. If possible, have on hand the pill bottle, medication package or other suspect container.{{Cite web|title=Poisoning: First aid - Mayo Clinic|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-poisoning/basics/ART-20056657?p=1|access-date=2021-10-26|website=www.mayoclinic.org}}

The treatment will depend on the substance to which the patient is exposed. Depending on the type of poisoning, some first aid measures may help. Treatments include activated charcoal, induction of vomiting and dilution or neutralizing of the poison.{{Cite journal|last1=Avau|first1=Bert|last2=Borra|first2=Vere|last3=Vanhove|first3=Anne-Catherine|last4=Vandekerckhove|first4=Philippe|last5=De Paepe|first5=Peter|last6=De Buck|first6=Emmy|date=December 2018|title=First aid interventions by laypeople for acute oral poisoning|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=12|issue=12 |pages=CD013230|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD013230|issn=1469-493X|pmc=6438817|pmid=30565220}}

• EPA list of extremely hazardous substances
• Lists of poisonings
• List of poisonous plants
• List of types of poison
• Toxicity
• Opioid epidemic in the United States

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{{Poisoning and toxicity}}

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Category:Toxicology

Category:Poisons

Category:Killings by type