Poisons and Antidotes

Hundreds of poisons, both organic and inorganic, surround us in our daily lives. There are poisonous plants, animals, foods, medications, chemicals and so on. But which of these substances are always harmful and which are safe only under certain conditions? What precautions should parents take to protect their children and pets from these potential dangers? What are the currently accepted treatments in case of accidental ingestion or exposure to these poisons? And which poisons can prove fatal if not treated promptly?Poisons and Antidotes, a complete A-to-Z encyclopedia, supplies concise and understandable descriptions of more than 600 toxic substances, as well as the symptoms of and treatments for poisoning caused by ingestion or absorption of these substances. Entries span the entire scope of the plant and animal kingdoms and the array of household chemicals, including exhaustive coverage of crawling dangers, such as spiders (the brown recluse) and snakes (cobras, vipers and rattlesnakes); harmful bacteria on foods, such as salmonella and hepatitis A; common household poisons, such as alkaline corrosives (lye and oven cleaners) and petroleum distillates (kerosene); addictive drugs, such as nicotine, LSD and cocaine; insecticides and fertilizers.The beginning of the book offers tips on how to handle an emergency and how to contact a poison control center. The eight handy appendixes list: poisons by symptom, regional poison control centers, poison hotlines, relevant publications, toxicity ratings and more.Completely up to date and extensively cross-referenced for easy access to information, Poisons and Antidotes is an important first step in poison prevention and public safety.