This list covers 25 poisons, running alphabetically from “Tetrodotoxin” to “Tetryl”. They come from many different sources, including venomous animals, toxic plants, industrial chemicals, and man-made weapons. Some show up in nature as a defense mechanism, while others were built for warfare, farming, or manufacturing, and a few even turn up in everyday household items.
Poisons are substances that harm the body when they enter it, whether through swallowing, breathing, or skin contact. Even small amounts can disrupt how your organs and nervous system work, sometimes within minutes. One striking example is theobromine, the compound in chocolate that’s perfectly fine for people but genuinely dangerous for dogs and cats.
Below you’ll find the table with Poison, Source, Effects, Antidote, and Description.
Poison: the common or scientific name of the substance, so you can quickly identify which one you’re looking at.
Source: where the poison comes from, such as a plant, animal, or industrial process, giving you context on how exposure happens.
Effects: the main symptoms or health problems the poison causes, helping you understand the danger it poses.
Antidote: the treatment or countermeasure used against the poison, showing you whether a specific cure exists.
Description: a short explanation of what the poison is and why it matters, giving you the full picture in plain language.
Poisons
| Poison | Source | Effects | Antidote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetrodotoxin | Pufferfish, blue-ringed octopus | Paralysis, respiratory failure | No specific antidote (supportive ventilation) |
| Thallium | Thallium sulfate (rodenticide, industrial) | Hair loss, nerve damage, organ failure | Prussian blue |
| Taxine | Yew tree (Taxus baccata) | Cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Tabun | Synthetic nerve agent (organophosphate) | Seizures, respiratory paralysis | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Tetraethyl Lead | Leaded gasoline additive | Neurological damage, encephalopathy | Chelation therapy |
| Dioxin (TCDD) | Industrial byproduct, Agent Orange contaminant | Chloracne, cancer, immune suppression | No specific antidote |
| T-2 Toxin | Fusarium mold on grain | Vomiting, skin necrosis, immune suppression | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Tetramine (TETS) | Banned rodenticide | Seizures, convulsions | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Toxaphene | Agricultural insecticide (banned) | Tremors, seizures, respiratory failure | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Terbufos | Organophosphate pesticide | Cholinergic crisis, respiratory failure | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Theobromine | Cacao and chocolate | Vomiting, seizures, irregular heartbeat | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Turpentine | Distilled pine resin (solvent) | Airway irritation, kidney damage, drowsiness | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Tobacco (Nicotine) | Tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) | Nausea, seizures, respiratory failure | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Tansy Ragwort | Senecio jacobaea plant | Cumulative liver failure | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Trichloroethylene | Industrial degreasing solvent | Liver and kidney damage, irregular heartbeat | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| TNT (Trinitrotoluene) | Explosive compound | Liver damage, anemia, skin discoloration | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Taipoxin | Taipan snake venom | Paralysis, respiratory failure | Antivenom |
| Textilotoxin | Inland taipan venom | Paralysis, respiratory failure | Antivenom |
| Tityustoxin | Brazilian scorpion (Tityus) venom | Intense pain, muscle spasms, cardiac distress | Scorpion antivenom |
| Tarichatoxin | Rough-skinned newt | Paralysis, respiratory failure | No specific antidote (supportive ventilation) |
| Thevetin | Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) seeds | Irregular heartbeat, vomiting | Digoxin immune Fab, activated charcoal |
| Tremetol | White snakeroot plant | Vomiting, tremors, “milk sickness” | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Thiram | Agricultural fungicide | Skin and eye irritation, alcohol intolerance reaction | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
| Triazophos | Organophosphate insecticide | Cholinergic crisis, respiratory failure | Atropine, pralidoxime |
| Tetryl | Explosive detonator compound | Skin sensitization, anemia, liver damage | No specific antidote (supportive care) |
Descriptions
Tetrodotoxin
A potent neurotoxin found in pufferfish and other marine animals that blocks nerve signals, causing numbness and paralysis; can be fatal without breathing support.
Thallium
A tasteless heavy metal once used in rat poison, thallium causes hair loss and nerve damage, earning it a reputation as a favorite tool of poisoners.
Taxine
A group of toxic alkaloids found in nearly all parts of the yew tree that disrupt heart rhythm and can cause sudden cardiac arrest if ingested.
Tabun
One of the first nerve agents ever developed, tabun overstimulates the nervous system, leading to seizures and rapid death without treatment.
Tetraethyl Lead
A once-common gasoline additive that is absorbed through skin and lungs and causes severe, often permanent damage to the brain and nervous system.
Dioxin (TCDD)
Often shortened to TCDD, dioxin is one of the most toxic man-made chemicals, linked to skin lesions and long-term organ damage even at tiny doses.
T-2 Toxin
A mold toxin that grows on contaminated grain, damaging skin and the immune system; it has been linked to alleged “yellow rain” bioweapon incidents.
Tetramine (TETS)
An extremely potent, now-banned rat poison that overexcites the brain, triggering violent seizures from even a tiny accidental dose.
Toxaphene
A now-banned insecticide that lingers in the environment and disrupts the nervous system, causing tremors and seizures at high exposure.
Terbufos
A highly toxic farm insecticide that overwhelms the nervous system, causing sweating, drooling, and potentially fatal breathing failure.
Theobromine
A stimulant found in chocolate that is harmless to people in normal amounts but toxic to dogs and cats, causing vomiting and heart trouble.
Turpentine
A common paint solvent from pine trees; swallowing it or breathing heavy fumes can burn the airway and damage the kidneys.
Tobacco (Nicotine)
Nicotine in tobacco first excites then paralyzes nerve signaling; swallowing concentrated nicotine or e-liquid can be lethal, especially for children.
Tansy Ragwort
A weedy plant containing alkaloids that slowly destroy the liver, most often poisoning livestock that graze on it in open pastures.
Trichloroethylene
A widely used industrial solvent whose vapors can cause dizziness and heart problems, with long-term exposure linked to organ damage.
TNT (Trinitrotoluene)
Best known as an explosive, TNT is also toxic to handle, staining skin and causing anemia and liver damage with prolonged exposure.
Taipoxin
One of the most lethal venom toxins known, taipoxin comes from the Australian taipan and rapidly shuts down nerve-to-muscle signaling.
Textilotoxin
An extremely potent neurotoxin from the inland taipan, considered among the deadliest snake venom components by weight.
Tityustoxin
A nerve-overstimulating toxin from Brazilian scorpion venom that causes severe pain and, in bad cases, heart and lung failure.
Tarichatoxin
Chemically identical to tetrodotoxin, this toxin coats the skin of rough-skinned newts and can be dangerous if the newt is handled carelessly.
Thevetin
A heart-disrupting compound in yellow oleander seeds that mimics digitalis poisoning and has been used in cases of intentional self-harm.
Tremetol
A toxin in white snakeroot that historically poisoned people through contaminated milk and meat from grazing cattle, once called milk sickness.
Thiram
A widely used seed and crop fungicide that irritates skin and eyes and can trigger a severe reaction if combined with alcohol.
Triazophos
A broad-spectrum farm insecticide that overwhelms the nervous system, leading to breathing difficulty and collapse in severe cases.
Tetryl
An explosive once used in detonators, tetryl exposure stains the skin yellow and can damage the liver and blood with repeated contact.