Photo: Artem Podrez

What is the deadliest man made chemical?

Novichok is a sophisticated nerve agent (nerve agents are a type of chemical weapon first developed by Nazi Germany) which comes from organic phosphates and pesticides. Exposure is most likely through inhalation or ingestion, although the agent can also be absorbed through the skin.

forces.net - Novichok: 'Possibly The Most Toxic Man-Made Chemical Ever Produced'

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Novichok was again in the headlines in recent weeks, following news Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned by the nerve agent in August. Forces News asked chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon to tell us more about the nerve agent and its effects on humans. What is it? Novichok is a sophisticated nerve agent (nerve agents are a type of chemical weapon first developed by Nazi Germany) which comes from organic phosphates and pesticides. Exposure is most likely through inhalation or ingestion, although the agent can also be absorbed through the skin. "Novichok is the very latest nerve agent, only developed and produced by the Russians,” said Mr de Bretton-Gordon. "It was designed to counter NATO's capabilities, particularly NATO’s ability to detect it. "It's very, very persistent and a tiny amount is enough to kill. "We think the Russian modus operandi was to use it in small amounts for assassinations - and we've seen several of those - but possibly in larger amounts on the battlefield. "It is possibly the most toxic man-made chemical ever produced."

British soldiers decontaminating in Salisbury after the attack there two years ago.

What are its effects on humans? Novichok is a nerve agent and, as the name suggests, it attacks the nerves in the human body. "It is a common esterase inhibitor, and what that means is it prevents a chemical enzyme called acetylcholine from breaking down and when that happens your nerves get blocked," Mr de Bretton-Gordon continues. This quickly leads to a number of problems that can ultimately prove to be deadly. "Your nerves control all your muscles and all the major parts [and] organs in your body like the heart and the lungs and they make them flex uncontrollably and ultimately they destroy them. "Without your nerves, you can't live - you stop breathing very quickly, your heart stops very quickly and generally death is pretty soon." Is there a cure? With Novichok designed to be fast-acting and more toxic than other chemical weapons, you might think the chances of effective treatment were very low, but treatment does exist. "There is an antidote for Novichok and all nerve agents," says Mr de Bretton-Gordon. "Every soldier, certainly in the British military, carries atropine when on operations and this reverses the effect of nerve agents and reverses the damage done to nerves." However, Mr de Bretton-Gordon stressed that time remains an important factor in the effectiveness of the treatment. "It's important that [treatment is] done in a timely fashion and generally you only inject yourself or a compatriot who is injured with up to three of these autojets. "It is very, very effective and in a timely fashion it can save someone's life who has been poisoned by a nerve agent." Cover image: The clean-up taking place in Salisbury following a nerve agent attack in the city.

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What herb can poison you?

Herbal Medicines Herb Potential Toxic Effect Calamus (Acorus calamus) Skin irritation, stomach upset, may cause cancer Chaparral (Larrea indentata) Liver damage Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) Liver damage Ephedra; Ma-huang (Ephedra sinica) Agitation, high blood pressure, rapid heart beat, convulsions 5 more rows

ucanr.edu - Herbal Medicines - Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants - UC ANR

Herbal medicine is the use of drugs found in plants for prevention and cure of disease. Some are safe but others may produce harmful side effects. When herbs are taken with a prescribed or over-the-counter drug, health problems may occur. Always check with your doctor before using herbal medicines. Unlike approved drugs, herbs are almost entirely unregulated for safety, uniformity of contents, and contamination. The correct dose of herbal products is often hard to determine. Herbal remedies may have other unlabeled medicines or materials mixed in with them. Many herbal medicines are taken by drinking a tea. Avoid concentrating or over-steeping a tea remedy. Herbal extracts, tablets, and powders are also used. Because scientific studies have not been done on many herbs, pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and infants and young children should probably not use herbs. Older people with serious health conditions should also be careful about the use of herbs. An herbal treatment that does not work, even if it won't hurt you, could delay getting necessary medical treatment. A "natural" product from a plant is not necessarily better than the same chemical produced in a laboratory.

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