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Poison

Definition

A poison is a substance that adversely affects one's health by causing injury, illness, or death. These are often marked with a skull and crossbones as shown on the right, below.

A substance that counteracts the effects of a poison is called an antidote.

Additional Info

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) defines a gas poisonous by inhalation in 49 CFR 173.115(c):

For the purpose of this subchapter, a gas poisonous by inhalation (Division 2.3) means a material which is a gas at 20 °C (68 °F) or less and a pressure of 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia) (a material which has a boiling point of 20 °C (68 °F) or less at 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia)) and which—

  1. Is known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a hazard to health during transportation, or
  2. In the absence of adequate data on human toxicity, is presumed to be toxic to humans because when tested on laboratory animals it has an LC50 value of not more than 5000 mL/m3 (see § 173.116(a) of this subpart for assignment of Hazard Zones A, B, C or D). LC50 values for mixtures may be determined using the formula in § 173.133(b)(1)(i) or CGA P-20 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

A poisonous material other than a gas is defined in 49 CFR 173.132(a):

For the purpose of this subchapter, poisonous material (Division 6.1) means a material, other than a gas, which is known to be so toxic to humans as to afford a hazard to health during transportation, or which, in the absence of adequate data on human toxicity:

  1. Is presumed to be toxic to humans because it falls within any one of the following categories when tested on laboratory animals (whenever possible, animal test data that has been reported in the chemical literature should be used):
    1. Oral Toxicity. A liquid or solid with an LD50 for acute oral toxicity of not more than 300 mg/kg.
    2. Dermal Toxicity. A material with an LD50 for acute dermal toxicity of not more than 1000 mg/kg.
    3. Inhalation Toxicity.
      1. A dust or mist with an LC50 for acute toxicity on inhalation of not more than 4 mg/L; or
      2. A material with a saturated vapor concentration in air at 20 °C (68 °F) greater than or equal to one-fifth of the LC50 for acute toxicity on inhalation of vapors and with an LC50 for acute toxicity on inhalation of vapors of not more than 5000 mL/m3; or
  2. Is an irritating material, with properties similar to tear gas, which causes extreme irritation, especially in confined spaces.

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SDS Relevance

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Treat poisonous materials with respect! Read the Safety Data Sheet to find out what ways a poison can kill you -- is it by inhalation, ingestion and/or skin contact? What precautions should you take with the material? What kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) are recommended?

Remember to read the material label and SDS if a poison is ingested. For example, it is often bad to induce vomiting because some materials can cause additional chemical burns to the throat and esophagus upon regurgitation. If in doubt, contact the nearest emergency room or call the American Association of Poison Control Centers poisoning emergency number (800) 222-1222.

Don't fool around with poisons. Treat them with great respect at all times.

Further Reading

See also: activated charcoal, antidote, catharsis, cytotoxin, emetic, mus (mouse), Swiss Poison Class, toxic

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.