What is a poison?
Q: What is a poison?
A: A poison is a substance that causes death or injury when taken in by a living thing. It may be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
Q: How does the effect of a poison vary?
A: The effect of the poison varies with the amount which is absorbed (taken in or inhaled).
Q: What are toxins and venoms different from poisons?
A: In medicine and zoology, toxins and venoms are different from poisons. Toxins are the result of a biological process while venoms are substances which an organism uses to harm other species.
Q: Is alcohol poisonous?
A: Drinking alcoholic drinks can lead to aggressive behaviour, problems with speech, and different forms of amnesia - this effect is called intoxication. People who drink even more may go into shock. However, alcohol can also be used as a disinfectant so it depends on the quantity consumed whether it's considered poisonous or not.
Q: Are there antidotes for some poisons?
A: Yes, sometimes there are antidotes for certain poisons which will slow down or reverse its effects - though sometimes these antidotes themselves may be poisonous too. An example would be atropine which can be used as an antidote against certain nerve gases like tabun or sarin but in high doses it itself is toxic too.
Q: What other types of dangerous materials exist besides poisons?
A: Besides poisons there are also carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), mutagens (mutation-causing substances) and teratogens (birth defect-causing substances). Pollution can also sometimes be poisonous such as toxic waste.
