Toxins and poisons are two words that automatically make everyone alert. Many of day to day objects or consumptions contains a very small amount of toxins or poisons in them. While, it may be very easy to confuse both the terms with one another, Toxins and Poisons are very different from each other in terms of their origin or usage.
Toxin vs Poison
The main difference between toxins and poison is that toxins are of natural origin. They are produced within the living bodies but poison may be natural or even chemically synthesized. Toxins are produced in living bodies as a defence mechanism like in a bee, the bee sting is the toxin which is their defence mechanism but poisons are used for cleaning purposes or for killing pests.
Toxins are harmful proteins that are naturally induced in living bodies. They are alternatively known as secondary metabolites, as they do not help in any growth or reproductive processes in living organisms. The world’s most dangerous toxin is the toxin-induced by pufferfish. The toxin found in pufferfish is known as Tetrodotoxin.
Poison is a chemically synthesized harmful solution. Poison can also be natural in origin. The effects of poison can vary from short to long term and cause immediate death or slow poisoning which can cause damage over a long period and then result in death. Botulinum is one very powerful poison and results in failure of the nervous system in causing death with extreme pain.
Comparison Table Between Toxin and Poison
| Parameters of Comparison | Toxin | Poison |
| Origin | Toxins are naturally induced. | Poisons can be naturally or chemically induced. |
| Production | Toxins are found in all living organisms, plants. | Poison is not necessarily found in all living organisms, some are found on some. |
| Usage | The work of toxins is being a defense mechanism of living beings. | Poison is used in some medicines and cleaning supplies. |
| Terminology | “Toxin” is derived from the word “toxic” which originated from the Greek language “toxikon pharmakon’ which means “Arrows of poison”. | The word originated from the Middle English language. It meant a harmful medicine that was derived from the French language. In french the term denoted “magic portion” from the word “Potio” in Latin which means drink to drink. |
| Effects on Mankind. | Toxins are not at all beneficial to man | Sometimes poison is beneficial to man. |
What is Toxin?
A toxin is a naturally produced harmful substance. Toxins are produced within living cells of organisms. The term toxin was first used by the chemist of Ornagics Ludwig Brieger in the year 1885. The word “Toxin” is derived from the word “toxic” which originated from the Greek language “toxikon pharmakon’ which means “Arrows of poison”.
Generally, toxins are small molecules of protein or peptide which the ability to cause diseases when comes in contact with a living cell. The power of toxins may vary depending on the kind of toxins. Some toxins have very minor effects, to much more severe effects to immediately causing death.
Toxins are naturally induced protein, hence, chemically synthesized toxins aren’t considered as toxins. Although toxins are produced in living bodies, but they play no role in the growth of other activities of the living body except being a mechanism for defense. That is why toxins are secondary metabolites.
Toxins are produced by plants, animals, and other organisms like viruses, fungi, bacteria, or protozoa. More or less, all living organisms produce toxins. Even the human body secrets toxins which although are not a defense mechanism for humans, the toxins need to be eliminated from the body and they can cause discomfort in one’s body.
What is Poison?
Poisons are chemical compounds that are even get absorbed through the skin or gut of organisms can cause chemical reactions. If injected in a large quantity in a living organism, they can hinder the DNA composition by causing a chemical reaction. Poisons can even invade into a living being through the contact of the skin, and even lungs.
The most interesting part of the poison is that some medications when taken in excessive doses can cause poisonous reactions. There are also certain poisons that only act on certain groups. For example, pesticides are there for killing pests and other organisms in agriculture, but however, they do not necessarily kill humans.
The word originated from the Middle English language. It meant a harmful medicine that was derived from the French language. In french the term denoted “magic portion” from the word “Potio” in Latin which means drink to drink.
Although poisons have a nefarious reputation of being a weapon of assassination, besides that also poisons help in weed control, preservation of building materials, and also used in cleaning. Poison can be corrosive, carcinogens, and harmful pollutants in nature. Poison can have a slow effect or can have an immediate reaction depending on the type of poison and the dose.
Main Differences Between Toxin and Poison
- Toxins are naturally induced protein compounds in the body of living beings, while poison can be natural or chemically synthesized.
- The work of toxins in the body of living beings is to be used as a defense mechanism, but poison is used for various purposes like cleaning.
- Toxins are not at all beneficial to man, but there are some types of poison which is beneficial for man.
- Toxins are naturally present in all living beings, whereas for the poison it is acquired.
- The toxin is a subset of poison, but poison is not at all a subset of toxin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the toxin is a poisonous substance generally protein or peptide, They are many types of toxins like bacterial toxins, algal toxins, plant alkaloids, and venom of insects or reptiles.
All toxins are poisons but toxins comprise only a subset of poisons. There are certain Harmful elements like lead or mercury and their inorganic salts are poisons but not toxin. Synthetic chemicals such as many pesticides and industrial chemicals are there that do not occur in nature and are not synthesized by living organisms, are poisons but not toxins. But Poison are not subset of Toxins. Both have them are produced by nature for serving different purposes.
References
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10354-017-0553-7
- https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4886