This list covers 32 poisons starting with the letter “D,” ranging from “DDT” to “Dimethylnitrosamine (NDMA).” These substances come from plants, animals, industrial chemicals, and household products, and many show up in pest control, manufacturing, medicine, and even everyday cleaning supplies.
Poisons are substances that harm the body when they enter it in high enough amounts, whether through swallowing, breathing, or skin contact. Some occur naturally in plants and venomous animals, while others are man-made chemicals created for farming or industry. Deadly nightshade, for example, was once used by women in ancient times as a cosmetic to dilate their pupils, despite its dangerous toxic effects.
Below you’ll find the table with each poison’s source, effects, antidote, and description.
Poison: the common or scientific name of each substance, so you can quickly identify it and search for more detail if needed.
Source: where the poison comes from, such as a plant, animal, industrial process, or household product, giving you context on its origin.
Effects: the main symptoms a person may experience from exposure, helping you understand how serious and fast-acting each poison can be.
Antidote: the treatment or medical response used to counter the poison’s effects, showing you whether a specific remedy exists.
Description: a short explanation of what the poison is and why it’s notable, giving you a fuller picture beyond the basic facts.
Poisons
| Poison | Source | Effects | Antidote |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDT | Synthetic pesticide | Tremors, seizures, nausea | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Datura | Datura (Jimsonweed) plant | Hallucinations, delirium, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth | Physostigmine |
| Digoxin | Foxglove (Digitalis) plant | Nausea, vision changes, irregular heartbeat | Digoxin immune Fab (DigiFab) |
| Digitoxin | Foxglove (Digitalis) plant | Nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia | Digoxin immune Fab |
| Death Cap Mushroom | Amanita phalloides fungus | Liver failure, vomiting, jaundice | Silibinin, N-acetylcysteine |
| Death Camas | Zigadenus (death camas) plant | Vomiting, low blood pressure, weakness | Atropine (supportive) |
| Delphinium (Larkspur) | Delphinium plant | Muscle weakness, paralysis, vomiting | Physostigmine (supportive) |
| Dumb Cane | Dieffenbachia plant | Mouth burning, swelling, difficulty speaking | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Dieldrin | Synthetic pesticide | Seizures, tremors, headache | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Diazinon | Organophosphate pesticide | Sweating, muscle twitching, breathing difficulty | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Dichlorvos | Organophosphate pesticide | Salivation, cramps, respiratory failure | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Disulfoton | Organophosphate pesticide | Vomiting, convulsions, respiratory failure | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Dimethoate | Organophosphate pesticide | Weakness, blurred vision, breathing trouble | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Diquat | Herbicide | Vomiting, kidney failure, lung scarring | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Dioxin | Industrial byproduct | Chloracne, liver damage, immune suppression | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Dimethylmercury | Synthetic organomercury compound | Numbness, tremors, loss of coordination | No effective antidote (chelation largely ineffective) |
| Dinitrophenol (DNP) | Industrial chemical, illicit weight-loss supplement | Overheating, rapid heart rate, sweating | No specific antidote (supportive cooling) |
| Diethylene Glycol | Industrial solvent, contaminated syrups | Kidney failure, vomiting, confusion | Fomepizole, ethanol |
| Dimethyl Sulfate | Industrial chemical | Lung damage, blindness, skin burns | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Diphosgene | Chemical warfare agent | Coughing, lung damage, breathing failure | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Diphenhydramine (overdose) | Antihistamine medication | Drowsiness, hallucinations, irregular heartbeat | Physostigmine, sodium bicarbonate |
| Domoic Acid | Marine algae (diatoms) | Vomiting, confusion, memory loss, seizures | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Deathstalker Scorpion Venom | Deathstalker scorpion | Intense pain, fever, seizures | Scorpion antivenom |
| Death Adder Venom | Death adder snake | Paralysis, drooping eyelids, breathing failure | Death adder antivenom |
| Diamphotoxin | Diamphidia beetle larvae | Muscle paralysis, respiratory failure | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Dendrotoxin | Mamba snake venom | Muscle spasms, hyperexcitability, paralysis | Antivenom |
| Drano (Sodium Hydroxide) | Household drain cleaner | Chemical burns, throat swelling, vomiting | No specific antidote (dilution, supportive care) |
| Dichromate Compounds | Industrial chromium chemicals | Ulcers, kidney damage, lung cancer risk | Ascorbic acid (supportive) |
| Deadly Nightshade | Atropa belladonna plant | Dilated pupils, dry mouth, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat | Physostigmine |
| Diamondback Rattlesnake Venom | Diamondback rattlesnake | Swelling, bleeding disorders, tissue damage | Antivenom (CroFab) |
| Dhurrin | Sorghum and related grasses | Rapid breathing, weakness, cyanide poisoning | Hydroxocobalamin, sodium thiosulfate |
| Dimethylnitrosamine (NDMA) | Industrial chemical, contaminated food or water | Liver damage, jaundice, nausea | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
Descriptions
DDT
An organochlorine insecticide once widely used in agriculture, now banned in most countries for causing nervous system damage and long-term environmental harm.
Datura
A hallucinogenic plant containing tropane alkaloids that causes severe delirium and has been used historically as both medicine and poison.
Digoxin
A cardiac glycoside derived from foxglove that treats heart conditions in small doses but can cause fatal arrhythmias in overdose.
Digitoxin
A potent cardiac glycoside closely related to digoxin, extracted from foxglove leaves and toxic to the heart in excess.
Death Cap Mushroom
One of the most lethal mushrooms in the world, responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings due to amatoxins that destroy the liver.
Death Camas
A grass-like plant containing toxic alkaloids that can be mistaken for edible wild onions, causing severe poisoning in livestock and humans.
Delphinium (Larkspur)
A tall flowering garden plant whose young leaves and seeds contain alkaloids toxic to livestock and, in large amounts, to humans.
Dumb Cane
A common houseplant whose sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense burning and swelling if chewed.
Dieldrin
A now-banned organochlorine insecticide that persists in the environment and accumulates in fatty tissue, damaging the nervous system.
Diazinon
A widely used insecticide that inhibits a key nervous-system enzyme, causing symptoms similar to nerve agent exposure in high doses.
Dichlorvos
A fast-acting insecticide and pest-strip ingredient that overstimulates the nervous system and can be fatal if ingested or heavily inhaled.
Disulfoton
One of the most acutely toxic agricultural insecticides, capable of causing severe poisoning through skin contact alone.
Dimethoate
A systemic insecticide absorbed by plants that, like other organophosphates, disrupts nerve signaling in anyone exposed to high concentrations.
Diquat
A fast-acting weed killer that can cause severe organ damage if swallowed, with effects that may appear days after exposure.
Dioxin
A highly persistent environmental contaminant formed during combustion and industrial processes, linked to cancer and developmental harm even at low exposure.
Dimethylmercury
An extremely toxic laboratory chemical that can be absorbed through a single drop on the skin, causing fatal neurological damage weeks later.
Dinitrophenol (DNP)
A once-popular diet aid that dangerously speeds up metabolism, causing fatal overheating even at doses close to what is sold as “effective.”
Diethylene Glycol
A toxic industrial solvent sometimes illegally substituted into cough syrups and other liquids, causing deadly kidney failure outbreaks worldwide.
Dimethyl Sulfate
A highly reactive industrial chemical used in manufacturing that severely damages the eyes, lungs, and skin on contact or inhalation.
Diphosgene
A choking agent developed as a chemical weapon in World War I that severely damages lung tissue when inhaled.
Diphenhydramine (overdose)
A common over-the-counter allergy medicine that becomes dangerously toxic to the heart and brain when taken in large overdoses.
Domoic Acid
A natural toxin produced by marine algae that accumulates in shellfish, causing amnesic shellfish poisoning in people who eat contaminated seafood.
Deathstalker Scorpion Venom
The sting of one of the world’s most dangerous scorpions delivers a potent neurotoxic venom that can be especially deadly to children and the elderly.
Death Adder Venom
An Australian snake whose venom rapidly causes paralysis and can be fatal within hours without prompt antivenom treatment.
Diamphotoxin
A potent poison extracted from beetle larvae and traditionally used by southern African hunter-gatherers to coat arrows for large-game hunting.
Dendrotoxin
A neurotoxic component of mamba snake venom that overstimulates nerve signaling, contributing to the venom’s rapid and severe effects.
Drano (Sodium Hydroxide)
A caustic drain-cleaning chemical that causes severe burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach if swallowed accidentally or intentionally.
Dichromate Compounds
Hexavalent chromium salts used in industry, known to cause organ damage and cancer risk after prolonged exposure or contaminated water supplies.
Deadly Nightshade
A notorious poisonous plant containing atropine-like alkaloids, historically used as both a cosmetic pupil-dilator and a lethal poison.
Diamondback Rattlesnake Venom
The venom of one of North America’s largest venomous snakes destroys tissue and disrupts blood clotting, requiring prompt antivenom treatment after a bite.
Dhurrin
A cyanide-producing compound found in young sorghum and grass plants that can poison grazing livestock, especially after drought or frost damage.
Dimethylnitrosamine (NDMA)
A potent liver-damaging chemical once used industrially, now known as a contaminant in some medications and cured foods linked to cancer risk.