List of poisonings

List of Poisonings refers to documented instances where individuals or groups have been exposed to toxic substances, leading to adverse health effects or death. Poisonings can occur through various means, including ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, and can be accidental, intentional, or occupational. This article provides an overview of notable poisoning cases, highlighting the substances involved, the circumstances, and the outcomes.

Historical Poisonings

Historical poisonings often involve the use of toxins for assassination or suicide.

• The death of Socrates in 399 BC, who was executed by consuming a potion containing hemlock.
• The Borgia family in the 15th and 16th centuries, reputed for their alleged use of poison to eliminate rivals.
• The Arsenic poisoning of Napoleon Bonaparte, debated among historians as a cause of his death in 1821.

Accidental Poisonings

Accidental poisonings typically occur due to the mishandling or misidentification of toxic substances.

• The 1937 Elixir Sulfanilamide disaster, where over 100 people died from consuming a toxic solvent in a misformulated medicine.
• The Minamata disease outbreaks in Japan, caused by the consumption of fish contaminated with methylmercury, released by industrial wastewater.

Intentional Poisonings

Intentional poisonings are deliberate acts to harm or kill, often involving the use of potent toxins.

• The 1978 assassination of Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident, via a ricin-laced pellet.
• The 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders, where seven people died after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules.

Occupational Poisonings

Occupational poisonings occur in the workplace due to exposure to toxic substances.

• The Radium Girls in the early 20th century, who suffered radium poisoning from painting watch dials with radioactive paint.
• Pesticide poisonings among agricultural workers, a common issue in many parts of the world.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of poisonings involves proper labeling, handling, and storage of toxic substances, education on the dangers of poisons, and the use of protective equipment. Treatment varies depending on the poison involved but may include the administration of antidotes, supportive care, and detoxification procedures.