Poisons Info

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What is a poison?

Chemicals, medicines, animals and plants can be dangerous to people, even in small quantities, or can become poisonous if you are exposed to enough of them.

Common poisons that can be dangerous include:

Medicines
  • Prescription medicines
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
  • Herbal medicines
  • Some supplements, e.g. iron & potassium tablets

Recreational substances and substances of abuse
  • Illicit and designer drugs (including 'ecstasy', 'ice' and 'speed')
  • Alcohol
  • Sedatives and sleeping pills
  • Opioids and narcotics
  • Stimulants: caffeine, guarana

Poisons at home
  • Cleaning, dishwasher and laundry products 
  • Insect and weed killers   
  • Button batteries
  • Essential oils, e.g. eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil 
  • Pool and car products, petrol 

Poisons at the workplace
  • Solvents
  • Pesticides
  • Paints
  • Glues
  • Acids
  • Petroleum products

  • Snakes
  • Spiders
  • Insects
  • Cane toads
  • Marine animals: stinging fish, blue-bottles, jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus, cone shells

  • Trees
  • Flowers
  • Seeds and berries
  • Mushrooms and fungi
  • Sap of some plants