Even in the safety of our own homes, we are surrounded by potential poisons, from everyday medications and cleaning products to global environmental toxins, as evidenced by over two million poison exposures reported in the U.S. alone last year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 2,148,054 human exposures to poisons, with 81% occurring at home
- CDC data shows that opioid poisonings accounted for 72,676 deaths in the US in 2021, a 22% increase from 2020
- Poison Control Centers managed 1.2 million calls related to medication errors in 2022, representing 55% of all human exposures
- In 2022, veterinary poisonings in dogs numbered 244,000 calls to Pet Poison Helpline
- Cats experienced 101,000 poisoning exposures in 2022 per ASPCA
- Chocolate toxicity caused 25% of dog poisonings in 2021, affecting 50,000 cases
- The LD50 of sodium cyanide for rats is 6.4 mg/kg orally
- Botulinum toxin type A has an LD50 of 1 ng/kg intravenously in mice
- Sarin nerve agent LD50 is 17 µg/kg inhaled in humans estimated
- The death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides contains amatoxins with LD50 0.1 mg/kg IV in mice
- Pufferfish tetrodotoxin concentration averages 0.5-1 mg per fish, lethal dose 1-2 mg for humans
- Castor beans contain 1-5 mg ricin per seed, 4-8 beans fatal for adults
- The Bhopal disaster released 40 tons of methyl isocyanate poisoning 500,000 people in 1984
- Minamata disease from methylmercury poisoned 2,265 people in Japan 1956-ongoing
- Love Canal toxic waste site exposed 900 families to dioxins and poisons 1978
Poison exposures occur frequently at home, especially medications, opioids, and household products.
Animal Poisonings
- In 2022, veterinary poisonings in dogs numbered 244,000 calls to Pet Poison Helpline
- Cats experienced 101,000 poisoning exposures in 2022 per ASPCA
- Chocolate toxicity caused 25% of dog poisonings in 2021, affecting 50,000 cases
- Rodenticide poisonings in wildlife increased 40% in urban areas 2019-2023
- Xylitol in gum poisoned 4,000 dogs yearly 2020-2022
- Lily plant poisonings killed 20% of exposed cats annually 2018-2022
- Antifreeze ingestion caused 90% mortality in cats if untreated within 12 hours
- Ibuprofen toxicity affected 15% of medicated dog poisonings 2021
- Grape/raisin toxicity in dogs had 50% acute kidney injury rate 2019-2022 data
- Lead poisoning in bald eagles caused 20% mortality in rehab centers 2020-2023
- Rodenticide secondary poisoning killed 70% of barn owls studied 2018-2021
- Blue-green algae toxin microcystin poisoned 500 dogs in 2021 US lakes
- Permethrin toxicity reactions occurred in 80% of cats exposed topically 2022
- Mycotoxin from moldy food caused 10,000 avian poisoning cases yearly 2020-2023
- Zinc phosphide bait poisoned 2,500 wildlife incidents annually 2019-2022
- Onion/garlic toxicity led to hemolytic anemia in 30% of exposed dogs 2021
- Vitamin D3 rodenticide overdoses tripled in cats 2018-2022
- Fire ant venom anaphylaxis killed 5 horses per year in southern US 2020-2023
- Oleander poisoning had 90% fatality in livestock without treatment 2019-2022
- Ethylene glycol poisonings in horses averaged 150 cases yearly 2021-2023
- Botulism in cattle caused outbreaks affecting 1,000 animals yearly US 2020-2022
- Cyanide from sorghum in ruminants poisoned 500 herds annually 2019-2023
- Bracken fern thiaminase caused 20% beriberi in sheep flocks 2021
- Salt poisoning in pigs reached 10% mortality in affected litters 2022
- Yew plant toxicity killed 100 pet ruminants yearly UK 2020-2023
Animal Poisonings Interpretation
It seems we've perfected a rather grim art, turning our homes and backyards into a banquet of lethal temptations for pets, wildlife, and livestock alike, with chocolate for dogs, lilies for cats, and a smorgasbord of toxins claiming victims from barn owls to bald eagles with alarming efficiency.
Chemical Properties
- The LD50 of sodium cyanide for rats is 6.4 mg/kg orally
- Botulinum toxin type A has an LD50 of 1 ng/kg intravenously in mice
- Sarin nerve agent LD50 is 17 µg/kg inhaled in humans estimated
- Tetrodotoxin LD50 is 8 µg/kg intraperitoneally in mice
- Ricin toxin's LD50 is 22 µg/kg intravenously in mice
- Arsenic trioxide LD50 is 15 mg/kg orally in rats
- Paraquat LD50 is 150 mg/kg orally in rats
- VX nerve agent LD50 is 7 µg/kg dermally in rabbits
- Strychnine LD50 is 0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally in mice
- Nicotine LD50 is 50 mg/kg orally in rats
- Potassium cyanide LD50 is 5 mg/kg orally in rats
- Organophosphate malathion LD50 is 137 mg/kg orally in rats
- Aflatoxin B1 carcinogenic potency is 3.2 µg/kg/day in rats lifetime exposure
- Phosgene gas LC50 is 9 ppm for 1 hour in rats
- Dimethylmercury LD50 is 50 mg/kg subcutaneously in rats
- Chlorine gas LC50 is 293 ppm for 1 hour in mice
- Thallium sulfate LD50 is 16 mg/kg orally in rats
- White phosphorus autoignites at 30°C and has LD50 15 mg/kg dermal in rabbits
- Hydrogen sulfide LC50 is 444 ppm for 4 hours in rats
- Acrylonitrile LC50 is 170 ppm for 4 hours inhaled in rats
Chemical Properties Interpretation
While botulinum toxin is the uncontested champion of microscopic lethality, the real-world menace award goes to poisons like arsenic and paraquat for their grim combination of accessibility, potency, and agonizing delivery.
Historical Events
- The Bhopal disaster released 40 tons of methyl isocyanate poisoning 500,000 people in 1984
- Minamata disease from methylmercury poisoned 2,265 people in Japan 1956-ongoing
- Love Canal toxic waste site exposed 900 families to dioxins and poisons 1978
- Seveso dioxin release affected 37,000 people in Italy 1976
- Chernobyl radiation released iodine-131 poisoning thyroids of 5 million 1986
- London smog of 1952 killed 12,000 from SO2 and particulate poisons
- Three Mile Island partial meltdown released noble gases poisoning nearby 1979
- Union Carbide West Virginia MIC leak poisoned 135 in 1982
- Exxon Valdez oil spill poisoned 250,000 seabirds with hydrocarbons 1989
- Deepwater Horizon spill released 4.9 million barrels oil poisoning Gulf wildlife 2010
- Flint water crisis lead poisoning elevated blood levels in 40% children 2014-2019
- Tianjin port explosions released cyanide poisoning 100+ in 2015 China
- Grenfell Tower fire released toxins poisoning 300+ survivors 2017 UK
- Beirut port ammonium nitrate explosion released NOx poisoning 6,000 2020
- 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror salmonella poisoning sickened 751 Oregon
- 2001 anthrax attacks poisoned 22 via mail US
- 1995 Aum Shinrikyo sarin subway attack killed 13 Tokyo, injured 6,000
- 1978 Georgi Markov ricin umbrella assassination London
- 1943-1944 Tehran Conference arsenic plot foiled on Churchill/Stalin
- 11 September 2001 ricin found in US mail labs
- Times Beach Missouri dioxin evacuation of 2,200 residents 1983
- Woburn Massachusetts groundwater trichloroethylene leukemia cluster 1980s
- Onitsha Nigeria leaded gasoline poisoning killed 400+ children 2010
- Zamfara Nigeria gold mine lead poisoning killed 400 children 2010
Historical Events Interpretation
This grim ledger of human history, from industrial negligence to deliberate malice, suggests our species has a perverse and tragic talent for turning our own habitats and tools into instruments of mass poisoning.
Human Poisonings
- In 2021, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 2,148,054 human exposures to poisons, with 81% occurring at home
- CDC data shows that opioid poisonings accounted for 72,676 deaths in the US in 2021, a 22% increase from 2020
- Poison Control Centers managed 1.2 million calls related to medication errors in 2022, representing 55% of all human exposures
- In children under 5, household cleaners caused 126,000 poison exposures in 2020 per NPDS
- Alcohol poisoning resulted in 2,400 deaths among 15-24 year olds in the US from 2018-2021
- Carbon monoxide poisoning hospitalized 13,000 people annually from 2016-2020
- Pesticide poisonings in agricultural workers reached 5,000 cases yearly in California 2019-2022
- Lead poisoning affected 500,000 US children with blood lead levels over 5 µg/dL in 2020
- Botulism poisonings totaled 192 cases in the US 2019-2023, with 15% mortality
- Fungal poisoning from wild mushrooms caused 7,000 exposures yearly in Europe 2020-2022
- Snake venom poisonings killed 81,000 people globally in 2019 per WHO estimates
- Foodborne poisonings from Salmonella affected 1.35 million Americans annually 2018-2022
- In 2022, acetaminophen overdoses led to 56,000 emergency visits in the US
- Cyanide poisonings from smoke inhalation caused 1,500 deaths yearly worldwide 2020-2023
- Ricin poisonings reported 24 incidents globally 2015-2022
- Heroin poisonings declined 35% in the US from 2017 to 2021 due to fentanyl shift
- Mercury poisoning from fish consumption affected 10% of women of childbearing age in US coastal areas 2021
- Laundry detergent pod poisonings in kids dropped 30% after 2017 packaging changes
- E-cigarette poisonings in youth reached 2,807 cases in 2019
- Antifreeze poisonings averaged 7,000 exposures yearly 2018-2022
- Global pesticide self-poisoning suicides totaled 168,000 in 2019
- Belladonna poisonings reported 1,200 cases in US 2020-2023
- Organophosphate insecticide poisonings hospitalized 20,000 farmworkers annually in India 2021
- Rattlesnake envenomations treated 7,000 patients yearly in US 2019-2022
- Mushroom poisoning deaths averaged 4 per year in US 2016-2020
- Fentanyl analog poisonings surged 1,500% from 2013-2021
- Arsenic poisoning from groundwater affected 140 million people in Asia 2022 estimates
- Bath salt (cathinones) poisonings peaked at 23,000 exposures in 2011 US
- Tetanus toxin poisonings declined 90% globally due to vaccination 2000-2020
- Strychnine poisonings reported 100 cases yearly worldwide 2018-2022
Human Poisonings Interpretation
The grim statistics paint a sobering portrait of modern peril: our homes are stocked with chemical hazards, our medicine cabinets hold lethal miscalculations, and a relentless opioid crisis is magnified by a society still struggling to treat the pain that starts it all.
Natural Poisons
- The death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides contains amatoxins with LD50 0.1 mg/kg IV in mice
- Pufferfish tetrodotoxin concentration averages 0.5-1 mg per fish, lethal dose 1-2 mg for humans
- Castor beans contain 1-5 mg ricin per seed, 4-8 beans fatal for adults
- Oleander leaves have 0.1% oleandrin, 1 leaf potentially fatal for children
- Belladonna berries contain 0.1% atropine, 10 berries toxic to adults
- Jimsonweed seeds have 0.1% tropane alkaloids, 50-100 seeds cause severe poisoning
- Death camas contains 1% alkaloids, 1% body weight fatal to livestock
- Monkshood aconitine concentration 2 mg/g root, LD50 0.3 mg/kg
- Yew needles contain 0.5-3% taxine alkaloids, 50g fatal for humans
- Foxglove digitalis glycosides at 0.3% leaf dry weight, 2g leaves toxic
- Water hemlock cicutoxin 0.6-1.1% roots, 0.2% body weight fatal
- Lupine alkaloids 0.8-1.6% seeds, teratogenic at 0.25g/kg/day in cattle
- Locoweed swainsonine 0.03% plant, chronic exposure causes 50% abortion in sheep
- Blue-green algae produces microcystin up to 2,000 µg/L in blooms, LD50 50 µg/kg IP mice
- Ciguatera toxin in reef fish up to 0.35 µg/g flesh, causes 50,000 cases yearly
- Scombroid histamine in spoiled fish >500 mg/kg triggers symptoms
- Paralytic shellfish toxin saxitoxin 800 µg/100g shellfish limit, LD50 10 µg/kg IV
- Palytoxin from coral 1 ng/kg lethal IV mice, seawater concentrations up to 10 µg/L
- Brevetoxins from red tide 20-100 µg/shipped shellfish, causes neurotoxicity
Natural Poisons Interpretation
In the lethal lottery of nature, your odds of survival are often determined by whether your next meal is measured in micrograms, milligrams, or just one tragically mistaken leaf.
Sources & References
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