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This article is from the Chemistry
FAQ, by Bruce Hamilton B.Hamilton@irl.cri.nz with numerous
contributions by others.
10.5 What is the most poisonous compound? (Chemical Safety)
" All substances are poisons. There is not one that is not a poison. The
correct dose differentiates a poison and a remedy". (Paracelsus 1493-1541)
The McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology [11] lists the
following table:
"Approximate Median Lethal Doses of Some Toxins per kg of Bodyweight"
Toxin Dose Test Animal
tetanus 1 nanogram mouse, probably human
botulinal neurotoxin 1 nanogram mouse, human
shigella 1 nanogram monkey, human
shigella 1 microgram mouse
ricin 1 microgram human
diphtheria 100 nanograms human
diphtheria 1.6 milligrams mouse
Ricin is a toxin lectin and hemagglutinin isolated from the castor bean.
Merck reports the lethal dose in mice as 1 microgram of ricin D nitrogen
(ip) per kg, and that ricin molecular weight is about 65,000. Ricin has
been shown to contain four lectins, of which the RCL III (aka Ricin D )
and RCL IV are the toxins. Merck also reports the following LD50 per kg
of bodyweight:-
Toxin Dose Test Animal
palytoxin 60 nanograms dog (iv)
( from coral ) 450 " mouse (iv)
( C129H223N3054 ) 50-100 " " (ip)
saxitoxin 3-5 micrograms mouse (iv)
( from shellfish ) 10 " " (ip)
( [C10H17N7O4]2+ ) 263 " " (oral).
tetrodotoxin 10 " mouse (ip)
( from globefish )
aflatoxin M1 332 micrograms duckling (oral)
aflatoxin M2 1.2 milligrams " "
aflatoxin B1 364 micrograms duckling (oral)
aflatoxin B2 1.6 milligrams " "
aflatoxin G1 784 micrograms " "
aflatoxin G2 3.4 milligrams " "
The complex structure of palytoxin is shown in Merck, and it is listed as
the most toxic non-proteinaceous substance known.
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