12 World's Most Deadliest Poisons

Black Widow Spider
The Black Widow is easily identifiable by the distinctive red markings on its stomach. It is a large widow spider found throughout the world and commonly associated with urban habitats or agricultural areas. The Black Widow's venom is 15 times more potent than a rattlesnakes.


Brazilian Wandering Spider
This spider kills around five people a year. Symptoms include immediate pain, heavy perspiration and drooling. Often hides in bunches of bananas.


Arsenic
Anyone swallowing large amounts of arsenic will usually die within a few hours following seizures and shock. If death does not occur at this earlier stage your kidneys will pack in and you will be dead within days.


Capsaicin
This is the chemical that makes chillis hot, but in its purest form it is strong enough to kill you if you eat it. Will cause burns and blistering in contact with human skin.


Inland Taipan Snake
This lethal Aussie crawler is 50 times more deadly than the Indian cobra. A salt-grain-sized amount of its venom can kill a human.



Death Cap Mushroom
One of the most toxic fungi, 30g is enough to kill a human. Symptoms include jaundice, lethargy, sweats and dizziness, Usually the only treatment is a liver transplant.


Deathstalker Scorpion
Found in the hot climates of North Africa and the Middle East, the Deathstalker can kill a human with a single stab of its barbed tail.



Dioxin
Reputed to be the most dangerous man-made poison, it is 60,000 times more toxic than cyanide. A dose of only 50 micrograms is lethal for a human - that's a 1,000th of a small pill.



Death Lily
Leaves can be confused with wild onions. Found in America and Siberia. It's fatal to humans and animals. Symptoms start with burning lips and grow to slow heart beat, low temperature, coma and finally death.


Golden Poison Frog
Found in Colombia, this tiny 1.5ins frog is the world's most poisonous creature. The lethal venom is on its skin and it kills anything that eats it. An average frog carries about one milligram of poison, which is enough to kill 10,000 mice or 10 to 20 humans.


Anthrax
Contamination often comes from exposure to infected animals. Symptoms include vomiting blood and respiratory collapse. It killed five people in the US in 2001 who were received it in the post.


Stonefish
Found on the sea bed off Australia, the stonefish's sharp dorsal spines contain enough poison to kill a human if trodden on. Death can occur within hours of being stung.