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Poisons and Toxins

Poisons are chemicals that adversely affect living organisms at the molecular level. Regardless of whether they're inhaled, absorbed, or digested; targeted toward a specific organism or broad in scope; or whether they're acute or chronic, a large enough dose of poison will result in severe illness or death. Please direct all questions regarding poisons, including their chemistry, uses, control, effects, and antidotes, into this category. If you are having an immediate issue with a possible poisoning, you should contact your local poison control or emergency medical center right away.

2,055 Questions

How does botulinum toxin help spasticity?

Botulinum toxin injections can help with spasticity by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, reducing muscle activity and spasm. This can help improve range of motion and muscle function in individuals with spasticity.

What will most likely happen if a toxin causes the hydrogen ion pump to stop moving h plus ions outside the mitochondrial?

No ATP production. Remember, the hydrogen ions pumped into the intermembrane space need to come down their concentration gradient through the ATP synthase to power ATP synthesis. No hydrogen ion buildup, no ATP synthesis.

The type of biological agent that acts to destroy an organism by overwhleming the organism's ability to rid itself of the poison it produces is known as?

That type of biological agent is known as a toxin. Toxins can disrupt an organism's normal physiological functions, leading to illness or death by overwhelming the body's ability to eliminate the poison produced by the agent.

A gas giant often has?

A gas giant often has a thick atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. These planets typically have no solid surface and may have many moons and planetary rings. They are much larger than terrestrial planets like Earth and are located farther from their host star.

What happens if you eat or touch arsenic?

Eating or touching arsenic can lead to severe poisoning, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and ultimately damage to the organs like the liver and kidneys. Ingesting or being exposed to high levels of arsenic can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Do incandescent light bulbs have more mercury in them than fluorescent?

I would say no. My reasoning is that if incandescent bulbs have as much or more mercury than fluorescent bulbs, the fluorescent industry would be debunking all the reports of a mercury problem.

Incandescent lights do not need or use mercury to operate, so there is none in them.

Fluorescent lights cannot be made at all without mercury, as it is the glow of mercury ions that produces the UV light inside the fluorescent bulb to excite the phosphor coating to make visible light.

What are the symptoms of Staphylococcal enterotoxin b?

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a poison affecting the intestines and produced by the bactrium Staphylococcus aureus (Staph A). Infection can come from food or water intake or inhaling an aerosol.

Symptoms may include:

  • severe diarrhea
  • nausea and/or vomiting
  • intestinal cramping & muscle aches
  • fever/chills
  • headache
  • incubation time: ingestion = 4-10hrs; inhalation = 3-12hrs

What will mostly happen if a toxin causes the hydrogen ion pump to stop moving H plus ions outside the mitochondrial membranes of the birds cells?

If a toxin stops the movement of hydrogen ions outside the mitochondrial membranes of a bird's cells, it would likely disrupt the process of oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production in the mitochondria. This could lead to a decrease in energy production, impacting various cellular functions and potentially causing cell damage or death.

How does Danube Cyanide Spill poison animals?

Cyanide acts at the level of the cell mitochondria (the cell's energy factory) to stop the utilization of oxygen in the formation of energy (adenotriphosphates - ATP). Without this energy (ATP), cells cannot function and ultimately die.

Cyanide has the same effect in humans... you can die of cyanide poisoning.

How does an organism get rid of toxins?

Organisms can get rid of toxins through various mechanisms such as detoxification enzymes, biochemical reactions, and excretion through organs like the liver, kidneys, and skin. Some organisms also have specialized structures or behaviors to eliminate toxins, such as shedding skin or sequestering toxins in specific compartments. Additionally, some microbes in the gut can metabolize or bind toxins before they are absorbed by the organism.

Is cyanide a poison in cigarettes that can kill you?

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) was identified in cigarettes smoke but very probably the concentration is not important for health.

Far more significant is the nicotine content of cigarettes. Nicotine is a deadlier posion (by ld50) and is also addictive.

Where can the chemical POISON be found?

Poison can be found in various products such as household cleaners, pesticides, and some plants. It is important to handle these substances with caution and follow safety guidelines to avoid harm.

What can kill you faster a pathogen or poison?

answ2. Some poisons such as cyanide are near instantaneous. And some snake venom, but not quite instantaneous.

Pathogens need time to multiply in the host, produce infection products, and then kill. Several hours at the least, several days more commonly.

You know, I'm not entirely sure...

Why don't you test it out and then come back and tell us the answer.

What year did radiation poisoning start?

The first documented cases that became known by the public were in 1917 involving the Radium Girls: low paid women that painted a luminescent radium/zinc based paint on clock and instrument dials so they could be read at night.

However cases among scientists go back to as early as 1897 when Marie Curie began her work separating radioactive elements from uranium ore.

Note: early life about 3 billion years ago was sometimes exposed to high levels of radiation when naturally occurring uranium fission reactors spontaneously formed in some locations that could have also caused radiation poisoning. However the concentration of uranium-235 in natural uranium soon dropped too low for such reactors to form after that.

How would a chart showing the concentration of toxins differ from a biological pyramid of biomass for the same food chain?

i believe the concentration becomes greater as you move up the food chain, or up the biomass pyramid, meaning that the highest level of consumer has the highest amount of toxicity. I always thought it was the other way around but I've done some research and that's what I found.

Does the manioc plant contain poison?

Yes, some varieties of manioc plants contain cyanide compounds in their roots. Proper processing methods such as peeling, soaking, and cooking can help to reduce the levels of these toxins, making the plant safe for consumption.

Poison that is an enzyme inhibitor but not a heavy metal?

One example of a poison that is an enzyme inhibitor but not a heavy metal is cyanide. Cyanide binds to cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme involved in cellular respiration, disrupting the production of ATP and leading to cellular death. It is a potent poison that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen.

Why bacteria produce toxins?

Bacteria produce toxins as a byproduct. They are formed when the bacteria produce energy for themselves by changing one substance into another, and in some cases, there are byproducts, some of which can be toxins.

What are the toxins in antimony?

Antimony can produce toxic effects in the body primarily through its compounds, such as antimony trioxide and antimony pentoxide. These compounds can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested. Chronic exposure to antimony compounds can lead to more serious health effects, including lung damage and cardiovascular issues.

What are virulence factors?

Virulence is the degree of pathogenicity within a types of parasites. The factors of virulence are the colonization of a niche in the host, immunoevasion, immunosuppression, entry and exit of cells and obtaining nutrition from the host.

Is quartz poisonous?

No, quartz itself is not poisonous. It is a common mineral found in rocks and soils and is generally safe to handle. However, inhalation of fine quartz dust during activities like cutting or grinding quartz can be harmful to the lungs over time, so appropriate precautions should be taken when working with quartz.

What biological toxin is cytotoxic to rapidly dividing cells such as those in bone marrow gastrointestinal tract and skin that rapidly leads to development of oral and skin ulcerations and GI bleed?

The biological toxin you are referring to is likely a chemotherapeutic agent such as methotrexate. This drug targets rapidly dividing cells, including those in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and skin, leading to side effects such as oral and skin ulcerations, as well as gastrointestinal bleeding. By inhibiting cell proliferation, these toxins can effectively target cancer cells but also affect normal rapidly dividing cells.

What element is poisonous if ingested but is now replaced?

Lead is an element that is poisonous if ingested, causing a variety of health issues. It has been replaced in many applications, such as in paint and gasoline, with less harmful substances to reduce the risk of lead exposure and poisoning.