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1. Classification of poisons

The number of chemical compounds currently used is so large, and the nature of the biological action is so diverse, that several types of classifications are used. The existing classifications of harmful chemicals are based on various principles that take into account the state of aggregation of substances, the nature of the effect on the body, the degree of toxicity, danger and other characteristics.

Based on their state of aggregation in the air, harmful substances can be classified as gases, vapors and aerosols (liquid or solid).

Based on their chemical structure, harmful chemicals are divided into organic, inorganic and organoelement. Based on the accepted chemical nomenclature, the class and group of these substances are determined.

Along the route of penetration into the body, substances are released that act through the respiratory tract, digestive system and skin Toxicology. / Ed. Savitsky A.A. - M.: Medicine, 2002. - p.-12. .

Based on the purpose of use, the following substances are distinguished.

Xenobiotics of food, these include non-nutritive (having no nutritional value) food components and anti-nutritive substances, including, in particular, various essences (esters), nitrites and nitrates, caffeine, alcohols, tannins (tannids), catechins and a number of other substances .

Industrial substances are the most diverse group. Among the emissions into the atmosphere, soil, and water there is a group of inorganic substances containing almost all elements of the periodic system, as well as all classes of organic compounds, from the simplest aliphatic hydrocarbons to synthetic high-molecular compounds, as well as substances comparable in toxicity to chemical warfare agents .

Agrochemicals (pesticides and chemical plant protection products), which include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, repellents, seed protectants. Without the use of these substances, today it seems unthinkable to obtain high yields of agricultural crops.

Medicines that have their own pharmacological classification.

Cosmetics, which also include some biologically active compounds that are foreign to the body and can, in certain concentrations, cause a toxic effect, such as allergic reactions.

Toxic substances (CS), which are used as toxic weapons for the mass destruction of people.

By type of toxic effect, chemical substances are divided according to the nature of their toxic effect on the body (Table 1).

Table 1

Toxicological classification of poisons

This classification is general in nature and is usually detailed using additional information about the “selective toxicity” of substances (Table 2).

table 2

Classification of harmful substances by “selective toxicity”

It should be borne in mind that the “selective” toxic effect of poison does not exhaust the entire variety of manifestations of intoxication, but only indicates the immediate danger that threatens a specific organ or system of the body as the main site of toxic damage.

According to the degree of toxicity - a hygienic classification, which is based on a quantitative assessment of the toxic hazard of chemicals, according to experimental data on determining their maximum permissible concentrations, toxicometric parameters (Table 3) Harmful chemicals. / Ed. Filova V.A. and others - M.: Medicine, 1999. - p. - 351. .

Table 3

Toximetry parameters

According to the specific biological consequences of poisoning the body, the following groups of substances are distinguished:

III irritating action, which have the indicated effect, getting on the integument, mucous membranes and, above all, on the organ of vision, the upper respiratory tract;

Ш sensitizing (allergic) effects that cause the occurrence of allergic diseases - bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis; mutagenic effects that damage the genetic hereditary function of the body;

It has a teratogenic effect, which leads to deviations in (the development of the embryo located in the mother’s womb;

Ш carcinogenic effects, which ultimately lead to the occurrence of cancer;

III reproductive effects that reduce reproductive function in men and women Zanko N.G., Retnev V.M. Medical and biological foundations of life safety. - M.: Academy, 2004. - p.-223. .

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The number of chemical compounds currently used in the national economy and everyday life is so large, and the nature of their biological action is so diverse, that it is necessary to use several types of classifications of poisons. They are divided into two groups: general, based on some general assessment principle, suitable for all chemical substances without exception, and special, reflecting the relationship between individual physicochemical or other characteristics of substances and the manifestations of their toxicity.

Principles of classification of poisons

According to chemical properties (chemical)

By purpose of application (practical)

By degree of toxicity (hygienic)

By type of toxic effect (toxicological)

According to “selective toxicity”

P. Special

According to the type of developing hypoxia (pathophysiological)

According to the mechanism of interaction with enzyme systems (pathochemical)

By the nature of the biological consequences of poisoning (biological)

According to the degree of carcinogenic activity, etc.

The most widely used chemical classification involves the division of all chemical substances into organic, inorganic and organoelement. Based on the accepted chemical nomenclature, the class and group of these substances are determined.

The practical classification of toxic substances is of great importance for the prevention of poisoning. According to the purpose of use, they are distinguished:

industrial poisons used in industrial environments; among them are organic solvents (dichloroethane), fuel (methane, propane, butane), dyes (aniline), refrigerants (freon), chemical reagents (methyl alcohol), plasticizers and many others;

pesticides used to control weeds and crop pests: organochlorine pesticides - hexachlorane, polychlorpinene, etc.; organophosphorus insecticides - karbofos, chlorophos, phosphamide, trichlorometaphos-3, methyl mercaptophos, etc.; organomercury substances - granosan; derivatives of carbamic acid - sevin, etc.

Depending on the purpose of pesticides, insecticides are distinguished - those that destroy insects; acaricides - killing ticks; zoocides - destroying rodents; fungicides - destroying fungal microorganisms; bactericides - destroy bacteria; herbicides - harmful to plants, which also include defoliants (for removing plant leaves) and desiccants (for drying them); repellents - repelling insects, etc.;

3) medicines that have their own pharmacological classification;

household chemicals used in everyday life: food additives (acetic acid); sanitary, personal hygiene and cosmetics products; care products for clothing, furniture, cars, etc.;

biological plant and animal poisons, which are contained in various plants and mushrooms (monkshood, hemlock, etc.), animals and insects (snakes, bees, scorpions, etc.) and cause poisoning when they enter the human body;

chemical warfare agents (CWA), which are used as toxic weapons for mass extermination of people (sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, etc.).

The hygienic classification of poisons proposed by S.D. has received general recognition. Zaugolnikov and with the author. (1970). It is based on a quantitative assessment of the toxic hazard of chemicals according to experimental data on determining their CL50 and DL50 and maximum permissible concentrations. Using this classification, a given toxic substance can be assigned to a certain toxicity category, which characterizes its greater or lesser danger.

The toxicological classification is of greatest importance for clinical toxicology, i.e. separation of chemicals according to the nature of their toxic effect on the body. It allows you to make a primary clinical diagnosis of poisoning, develop principles for the prevention and treatment of toxic damage, and determine the mechanism of its development (Table 1).

However, the toxicological classification of poisons is very general and is usually detailed by additional information about their “selective toxicity” (Table 2).

It should be borne in mind that the “selective” toxic effect of the poison does not exhaust the variety of clinical manifestations of this intoxication, but only indicates the immediate danger that threatens a specific organ or system of the body as the main site of toxic damage

Severe forms of acute poisoning are accompanied by the manifestation of pronounced signs of oxygen starvation of the body - hypoxia, therefore it was proposed to divide poisons according to the type of developing hypoxia (Table 3.).

Pathophysiological mechanisms of oxygen deprivation are usually caused by the effects of poisons on certain intracellular enzyme systems. Clarification of the essence of these pathochemical reactions will make it possible to elucidate the molecular basis of the action of poisons on the body. An approximate pathochemical classification is presented in Table 4.

Table 1. Toxicological classification of poisons

Table 2. Classification of poisons by “selective toxicity”

Table 3. Pathophysiological classification of poisons (according to the type of developing hypoxia)

Table 4. Pathochemical classification of poisons [according to A.A. Pokrovsky, 1962]

There are a large number of different classifications of harmful substances, reflecting, on the one hand, the variety of properties of substances and their biological effects, and, on the other hand, a variety of approaches to this problem. Classifications of poisons differ: according to the purpose of their use, the degree of impact on living organisms, selective toxicity, origin and belonging to a certain class of organic compounds, the nature of the effect of chemicals on living organisms.

Poisons differ according to their purpose of use:

— industrial poisons, which are divided into organic solvents, fuels, dyes, refrigerants, chemical reagents, plasticizers;

— pesticides, which are differentiated into insecticides (against insects), fungicides (used against bacteria), herbicides (used against weeds) and zoocides (used against rodents);

— medicines;

— household chemicals (acetic acid, as a food additive, sanitary products, personal care products, cosmetics);

— poisons of animal and plant origin (poisons in mushrooms–monkshood, snakes, bees, scorpions);

— chemical warfare agents (sarin, mustard gas, phosgene).

According to the degree of impact on living organisms, all harmful substances are divided into four classes: 1 – extremely toxic; P – highly toxic; Ш – moderately toxic;

1V – low toxic.

Poisons are classified according to selective toxicity:

— cardiac (metal salts of barium, cobalt, cadmium);

— nervous (carbon monoxide, drugs);

— pulmonary (nitrogen oxides, ozone, phosgene);

— blood (aniline and its derivatives, nitrites);

— hepatic (chlorinated hydrocarbons, poisonous mushrooms, phenols, aldehydes);

— renal (heavy metal compounds, ethylene glycol, oxalic acid).

Based on their origin to a certain class of organic compounds, harmful substances are divided into poisons:

— non-biological nature (organic and inorganic substances);

— biological nature (bacteria, plants, animals).

According to the nature of the impact of chemicals on living organisms, they differ in the mechanism of action:

— embryotropic and teratogenic (fetal development disorder);

— mutagenic (damage to the hereditary apparatus of the cell);

— carcinogenic (malignant degeneration of cells).

The hygienic classification of poisons proposed by S.D. Zaugolnikov (1970), which is based on a quantitative assessment of the toxic hazard of chemicals according to experimental data on determining their CL50, DL50 and MPC, has received general recognition. Using this classification, a given toxic substance can be classified into a certain toxicity category, which characterizes its greater or lesser danger.

Classification of substances by toxicity categories

Hygienic classification of poisons.

Among chemical substances, there are compounds that have a certain combination of toxic and physicochemical properties that can lead to group and mass poisoning in the event of an accident. For such substances in civil defense they use the term

potent toxic substances (STS). The main criterion for classifying chemicals into the category of inhalation poisoning is the inhalation poisoning coefficient (IPO), which relates the toxicity of a substance to volatility and allows for comparison of the hazards of individual substances. SDYAVs include substances with a KVIO equal to or greater than 30. The higher the KVIO, the more dangerous the SDYAV. To assess the real danger of these substances, in addition to the CVIO, it is used

an additional indicator of emergency hazard is the depth of the affected zone, which characterizes the scale of distribution of chemicals in concentrations that affect them when released (spilled) into the environment. At the same time, a contamination zone of 100 m or more is accepted as dangerous from the source of the accident, which corresponds to the distance allowed by the current SNiP 207-01-89 for mass development from the railway track.

Based on the calculations performed using the above criteria, the All-Russian Research Institute of Railway Hygiene has developed a list of non-toxic substances transported by rail, which includes 39 names of substances: acrylonitrile, inhibited acrolein, sulfur dioxide, anhydrous ammonia, acetonitrile, acetone cyanohydrin, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, anhydrous hydrogen chloride, dimethylamine anhydrous, diethylamine, hydrocyanic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, inhibited methyl acrylate, methylamine, methyl bromide and chloride, methyl vinylchlorosilane, methyldichlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane,, methylchlorosilane, ethylene oxide, liquefied hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, anhydrous trimethylamine, triethylamine, formaldehyde concentrated solution, phosgene, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus oxychloride, chlorine, chloroform, chloropicrin, stabilized cyanogen chloride, ethylenediamine, ethyl mercaptan.

The list does not include 5 names of generally accepted ADAS (arsenic hydrogen, nitrogen oxides, fluorine, ethylene imine, ethylene sulfide) which cannot be transported by rail.

Safety rules and the procedure for eliminating an emergency situation with dangerous goods and their transportation by rail are set out in the collection “Safety rules and the procedure for eliminating an emergency situation with dangerous goods and their transportation by rail.” M. - Transport, 1996

To assess the special hazard of some chemical cargoes, another criterion is used, which characterizes a small group of highly toxic substances with moderate volatility. Substances in this group have a high risk of poisoning with serious consequences and persistent contamination of the natural environment. These include, for example, heptyl, hydrazine, tricresyl phosphate, mercury and its compounds, nickel tetracarbonyl and others. Even with short-term exposure to large doses of these substances in the body of those affected, one can expect the development of systemic changes of a predominantly irreversible nature that are difficult to treat. Substances of this group are highly stable at the source of the accident (evaporation rate is more than 24 hours), which significantly increases the risk of injury. Therefore, these substances are classified as particularly dangerous, despite the fact that they do not meet some of the above criteria for inhalation hazard.

Poisons are chemicals that can cause poisoning or death if they enter the body. Poisonous substances surround a person in everyday life, occurring in medicines, the environment, household products and many other aspects of life. Often a person does not even realize the danger that such components threaten him with every day.

Currently, so many such substances have appeared, including due to the development and use of inorganic poisons for military purposes, that this branch of science required an extensive classification according to a variety of criteria: from separation according to the chemical composition of poisons to classification according to their effects on the body.

Basic classifications

There are a huge number of poisons. Currently, a large number of chemical compounds are used to create different types of toxic substances, and the nature of their biological effects is so diverse and extensive that several types of classifications are used. They are based on various aspects that take into account the state of aggregation of the components, the degree of toxicity and danger, as well as the nature of the effect on the body and many other characteristics.

The classification of poisons according to their state of aggregation in the air implies the following groups:

• gases;
• couples;
• aerosols (solid and liquid).

Classification by composition includes:

• organic;
• inorganic;
• organoelement.

In accordance with this chemical nomenclature, the group and class of active substances are also determined.

Poisons are an extremely large group of compounds that can enter the body in a variety of ways, affecting one or another system of the human body. Based on this fact, a classification of poisons was created, based on the aspect of penetration of the poison into the body:

• through the skin;
• through the digestive system;
• through the respiratory tract.

The most basic routes of penetration of toxic substances are indicated here. Once inside the body, different types of poisons can behave according to their own characteristics. The effect of toxic substances can be general or local, resorptive (manifested through absorption into the blood and damage to internal organs and tissues) and selective (selective action: for example, the effect of narcotic substances on the nervous system). Also, some compounds have a cumulative property: over time they accumulate in the body until they exceed the maximum permissible concentration, and only then does intoxication begin. There is also a more extensive classification.

Classification by origin

Poisons are toxic substances that, if they enter the body, can cause poisoning or lead to death. Among other things, all such compounds are also classified according to their origin: they can be of natural origin (biological and non-biological) or synthetic, that is, artificially created.

Naturally occurring toxicants

A huge group of poisons is found in the environment; it includes not only plants and animals, but also many other poisonous representatives of the environment. Moreover, toxicants can be of both biological and non-biological origin and, in one way or another, relate to the natural environment. It is worth considering each section of toxicants in more detail.

Biological origin

Many representatives of flora and fauna, as well as some bacteria, have the ability to produce their own poisons. Typically, toxins are released by their bodies for the purpose of protection and survival in an aggressive environment.

Plant poisons

Many plants on Earth contain dangerous poisons. The following types are distinguished:

• Plant alkaloids are organic compounds containing nitrogen. Found in varying concentrations in many plants. A distinctive feature of any alkaloid is a bitter taste. Alkaloids include substances that contain muscarine (in fly agaric), indole and phenylethylamine (in hallucinogenic mushrooms), pyrrolidine (in tobacco and carrots), solanine (in tomato and potato leaves), atropine (in dope and belladonna).
• Myotoxins are poisons contained in moldy mushrooms.
• Ricin is a poison of protein origin, found in castor beans. The lethal dosage for humans is 0.3 mg/kg.

Animal poisons

A very large number of animals on earth produce their own poisons. are divided into several groups:

• Animal alkaloids - secreted by some animal species.
• Bacteriotoxins are poisons that enter the body through bacteria, viruses and infections: palytoxin, botulism toxin.
• Conotoxin is a compound that is found in some types of gastropods. The lethal dose for humans is 0.01 mg/kg.
• Typotoxin is a poison secreted by Australian snakes. Lethal dose - 2 mg/kg.
• Titutoxin is a deadly poison secreted by Australian scorpions. Lethal dosage - 0.009 mg/kg.
• Snake venom, including cobra venom, is a large complex of poisonous polypeptides with special enzymes, proteins and inorganic components. There are three main groups of such compounds: the venom of asps and sea snakes, viper and pit snakes.
• Spider venoms, which contain neurotoxins. Most tropical spider species are dangerous. The degree of influence of their toxins is quite wide - from mild poisoning to death. Most often, such insects affect people and livestock in tropical areas.
• Bee venom is a compound containing toxic polypeptides. In small dosages, bee venom is considered beneficial, but with too many stings, organ toxicity can occur in a person or animal.
• The venom of jellyfish and coelenterates is contained in the stinging cells of such organisms. It has a wide variety of lethal dosages. The composition of this compound is based on neurotoxins.

Bacterial toxins

Currently, more than 50 types of bacterial toxins have been described. All of them are divided into:

• endogenous - compounds that are released by bacteria when destroyed;
• exogenous - poisons that microorganisms release into the environment during their life processes.

Non-biological origin

There are not only natural poisons released by representatives of the living environment, but also toxins of non-biological origin. As a rule, they are divided into two large sections:

• inorganic compounds;
• organic compounds.

There are a huge number of types of poisons of organic origin. Scientists have systematized them according to their action:

• hematic;
• myotoxic;
• neurotoxic;
• hemolytic;
• protoplasmic;
• hemotoxins;
• nephrotoxins;
• necrotoxins;
• cardiotoxins;
• xenobiotics;
• ethoxicants;
• pollutants;
• supertoxicants.

Synthetic

This group includes a huge number of toxicants with different structures and compositions:

• Synthetic alkaloids are pharmacological painkillers. Their use in medicine is strictly limited to safe dosages, since these medicinal poisons are active substances that can lead to severe intoxication of the body, even death. Some of the synthetic alkaloids are classified as psychedelics, representing a group of passive toxic substances: they have such a strong effect on a person’s consciousness that they can provoke him to attempt suicide.
• Ecotoxins are the result of negative human impacts on the environment. Pollution of soil, water and air has led to a “boomerang effect”, and now compounds floating around everywhere are returning back to people, harming their health. Unlike other poisons, ecotoxins act much deeper, creating disturbances at the level of genetic modification, causing the genes of the human body to mutate.
• Radioisotopes are radioactive substances that can lead to severe intoxication of the body, as well as to radiation sickness and exacerbation of cancer, which leads to death.
• Xenobiotics are synthetic substances that contain substances harmful to the normal functioning of the body. Such industrial poison is found in abundance in household chemicals, insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, freons, fumigants, antifreeze, plastics, repellents, etc. All these household chemicals slowly and imperceptibly destroy the human body. There is also a group of particularly potent poisons from the group of xenobiotics, the effect of which is immediately detectable: for example, dioxins.
• Lachrymator is a component that has a tear effect on the human body. Widely used in the fight against law enforcement violators and to disperse various demonstrations.
• Chemical warfare agents are special poisons that are used during military operations to defeat the enemy. The use of poisons from this group is quite popular due to their speed of action and severity of damage. Man has invented a huge number of different toxic substances for physiological effects on the enemy. Among the most widespread compounds in this group are mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, sarin, and Novichok poison.
• Carbon monoxide is another toxic substance created by human hands during the incorrect use of gas appliances.

Classification by human use

Poisons have become a dangerous, but in many ways a useful tool in human hands. Nowadays, toxic substances surround people everywhere: in the environment, in medicines, household items and even in food. Poisons are used in the creation of:

• solvents and glue;
• food additives;
• medicines;
• cosmetics;
• pesticides;
• chemical synthesis ingredients;
• oils and fuel.

Hazardous compounds are also found in waste products, various impurities and by-products of chemical synthesis.

Classification by exposure conditions

Each poison has a number of its own characteristic properties. Therefore, each toxin has its own specific effects on the body or the environment. Classification on this basis identifies the following types of poisons:

• industrial toxicants;
• environmental pollutants;
• chemical warfare agents;
• household toxicants;
• harmful addictions (tobacco, alcohol, medications, etc.);
• accident-catastrophic origin.

Every person needs to have a basic understanding of the classification of poisons. After all, they are found literally at every step. Both Novichok venom and snake venom can cause significant harm. Therefore, it is better to be aware of the main groups of toxic substances and their effects on the body. Frequent and close contact with substances containing toxic elements in a dose exceeding the maximum permissible is fraught with intoxication, severe poisoning and even death. The venom of cobras and other snakes is especially dangerous for humans. Therefore, you should be careful when visiting countries where they live.

Such an extensive system of classification of poisons implies a colossal number of different types of toxic substances that surround a person throughout his life - this is especially true for people living in large cities or living in the Australian jungle. Toxins can enter the human body through virtually any means. Therefore, in this case, forewarned means forearmed.

Poison is a substance that enters the body from the outside, which has the property of having a chemical and physico-chemical effect and can, under certain conditions, even in small doses, cause poisoning.

Poison is a relative concept. The same substance, depending on the dose, can lead to fatal poisoning, cause a therapeutic effect, or be indifferent.

The number of chemicals that can be toxic is infinitely large. There is no single classification of poisons; there are general and special principles of classification (Diagram 7.4).

By origin, poisons are:

1) natural (bacteriological),

2) vegetable,

3) mineral,

4) artificially synthesized.

Scheme 7.4 - Classification of poisons.

Poisons are classified depending on the tasks being solved. There are local and general poisons.

Local poisons include predominantly caustic poisons that have a pronounced local effect, which is accompanied by necrosis or even complete destruction of tissue due to the removal of water from cells, coagulation, dissolution or decomposition of protein.

General poisons include all other poisons that have their main effect after being absorbed into the blood, i.e. the resorptive effect of the poison comes to the fore.

Depending on the nature of the effect on the body as a whole and on individual organs and tissues in particular, poisons are classified into the following (Diagram 7.5):

1. Caustic poisons - substances with a pronounced local effect with necrosis or even complete destruction of tissue due to the removal of water from cells, coagulation, dissolution or decomposition of protein, predominantly causing tissue necrosis at the site of contact with them. These include acids, alkalis, salts of heavy metals, caustic organic compounds, caustic gases, and the juice of some plants.

The causes of death from poisoning with caustic poisons are:

■ painful shock as a result of ingestion of poison;

■ asphyxia resulting from swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx or larynx;

■ intoxication due to the destructive effect of absorbed poison on the organs and tissues of the body;

■ complications resulting from target organ damage: bronchopneumonia, renal or liver failure, sepsis.

Scheme 7.5 - Classification of poisons.

2. Resorptive poisons - substances that cause dystrophic, necrobiotic and necrotic changes in organs and tissues. Their toxic effect occurs after absorption.

2.1. Destructive poisons are substances that cause destructive and necrotic changes in a number of organs and tissues (mercury and its compounds: sublimate and granosan, arsenic).

2.2. Hemotropic poisons (blood poisons) are substances that change the composition and properties of blood. These disorders are associated either with the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), or with a change in the structure of hemoglobin, or with the formation of persistent compounds of hemoglobin with poisons. These are carbon monoxide, as well as methemoglobin-forming poisons: Berthollet salt, aniline, hydroquinone, nitrobenzene, etc.

2.3. Functional poisons are substances that disrupt organ function without significant morphological changes, such as:

a) paralyzing the central nervous system: organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) - chlorophos, thiophos, karbofos, etc., as well as hydrocyanic acid;

b) depressing the central nervous system, these include such common narcotic substances as ethyl alcohol, ether, chloroform, technical liquids (ethylene glycol, methanol, dichloroethane); in addition, narcotic and sleeping pills, alkaloids (morphine, etc.);

c) stimulant and convulsive effects: drugs that stimulate the central nervous system (phenamine, phenatine, etc.), alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, strychnine);

d) with a predominant effect on the peripheral nervous system: muscle relaxants used in surgery to relax muscles during anesthesia.

Classification of poisons depending on their practical use:

1. Industrial poisons: oxidizers, fuels, dyes, solvents, various chemical reagents, etc. (Diagram 7.6).

Scheme 7.6 - Classification of industrial poisons.

2. Pesticides used in agriculture: insecticides (destruction of insects), acaricides (destruction of ticks), zoocides (control of rodents), fungicides (antifungal drugs), bactericides (antibacterial drugs), herbicides (destruction of plants).

3. Medicines: overdose, misuse, individual intolerance, abuse of narcotic and psychotropic drugs.

4. Food components: food additives, alcoholic beverages, food preservatives.

5. Household chemicals: care products for furniture, clothing, household appliances, cosmetics, perfumes, personal hygiene and sanitation products.

6. Plant poisons: found in plants and mushrooms.

7. Poisons of animals and insects.

8. Chemical warfare agents (Diagram 7.7).

Scheme 7.7 - Classification of chemical warfare agents.

Toxicological classification of poisons:

1. Nerve poisons - manifestations: suffocation, spasm, convulsions, bronchospasm, paralysis, etc.; toxic substances: chlorophos, dichlorvos.

2. Poisons of skin-resorptive action - manifestations: local inflammatory and necrotic changes in combination with general toxic resorptive phenomena; toxic substances: dichloroethane, arsenic and its compounds.

3. Poisons of general toxic action - manifestations: convulsions, coma, paralysis, cerebral edema; toxic substances: hydrocyanic acid, alcohol and its surrogates.

4. Asphyxiating poisons - manifestations: toxic pulmonary edema; toxic substances: nitrogen oxides, phosgene, diphosgene.

5. Tear and irritant poisons - manifestations: irritation of the external mucous membranes; toxic substances: vapors of strong acids and alkalis.

6. Poisons of psychotic action - manifestations: disturbance of consciousness; toxic substances: drugs, LSD-25.

Classification of poisons by selective toxicity:

1. Cardiac poisons - manifestations: rhythm disturbances, toxic myocardial dystrophy; toxic substances: cardiac glycosides, antidepressants, plant and animal poisons.

2. Nerve poisons - manifestations: disturbance of mental activity; toxic substances: drugs, sleeping pills, alcohol and its substitutes.

3. Liver poisons - manifestations: toxic hepatopathy; toxic substances: dichloroethane, phenols, aldehydes, toadstool.

4. Blood poisons - manifestations: hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells); toxic substances: aniline, nitrites.

5. Kidney poisons - manifestations: toxic nephropathy; toxic substances: salts of heavy metals, ethylene glycol.

6. Gastrointestinal poisons - manifestations: toxic gastroenteritis; toxic substances: strong acids and alkalis, salts of heavy metals.

7. Pulmonary poisons - manifestations: toxic edema; toxic substances: nitrogen oxides, phosgene.

In suicides, available poisons (acetic essence, mineral acids, caustic soda, etc.) are more often used. Medicines (sleeping pills, narcotics, etc.) are used less frequently.

For murders by poisoning, in most cases, potent substances that have no particular smell or taste are used. Such poisons, for example, include arsenic compounds, which are available to the population because they are included in preparations for controlling rodents and insects. Unlike suicide, poisoning with the intent to kill involves mixing the poison into a person's food or drink. Death often occurs immediately or shortly after eating or drinking. In such cases, others associate death with these processes. The death of a person can be unexpected for others, and its onset is sometimes preceded by a number of symptoms suspicious for poisoning, such as convulsions, vomiting, unconsciousness, etc. Only with a forensic medical examination of the corpse is the true cause of death established, confirming poisoning or death from another cause.

In various diseases, symptoms suspicious for poisoning may be observed, and vice versa: a number of poisonings do not produce characteristic symptoms. If, when autopsying a corpse, a forensic expert must think about poisoning until another cause of death is firmly established, then during an external examination of the corpse at the place of its discovery and in circumstances where poisoning is suspected, the question of poisoning should always be taken into account by those examining it.

Poisonings from plant poisons are rare, mostly as accidents. Since ancient times, some plants have been used for fatal poisoning, as well as for any health disorder: decoctions of the roots of male fern, aconite, roots and bark of white acacia, crow's eye, etc. Alcohol tinctures of poisonous plants in strong alcoholic drinks or in diluted alcohol are extremely dangerous. up to 70%. When consuming a large amount of tincture, poisoning with plant poison is masked by ethanol poisoning (high degree of alcohol intoxication). These poisonings are difficult to diagnose, since few people are wary of the use of plant poisons for the purpose of deliberate poisoning. Proving such poisonings is difficult.

The poisonous properties of some mushrooms, for example, toadstool, are well known. All mushrooms contain a large number of organic bases, some of which are physiologically active. Sometimes people eat poisonous mushrooms by mistake, but there may also be cases of deliberately mixing poisonous mushrooms into food.

In some cases, establishing poisoning is not difficult, since both the situation and the data from the examination of the corpse indicate this, and one can even presumably judge the poison. Most often you have to deal with poisoning with carbon monoxide, alcohol and its surrogates, less often with poisoning with acids - sulfuric, hydrochloric and carbolic, acetic acid or essence, or even less often - mercury and arsenic, potassium cyanide, morphine, strychnine, cocaine, atropine, etc. .

More on the topic The concept and characteristics of poisons, features of their use in murder:

1. Forensic characteristics of ritual murders
2. Concept and characteristics of poisons, features of their use in murder
3. Features of tactics for inspecting the scene of an incident when a corpse with signs of poisoning is discovered
4. § 2.1. The object of the crime, according to Art. 151.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation
5. Criminal legal assessment of euthanasia as a socially dangerous act and differentiation from the main elements of murder
6. Distinguishing euthanasia from the murder of a person in a helpless state, committed with particular cruelty and for the purpose of using the victim’s organs or tissues
7. § 3. Characteristics of religious associations classified as especially harmful and fanatical sects

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