Lethal Dose Table

Lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance that kills 50 percent of a test sample. It is expressed
in mg/kg, or milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight.

Common name Toxin Lethal doses Description Toxic response

Aspirin Acetyl- salicylic LD50 200 mg/kg Odorless white Gastric distress, confusion, psychosis,
acid C9H8O4 (rat, oral) crystal stupor, ringing in ears, drowsiness,
hyperventilation

Table salt Sodium chloride LD50 3 g/kg White cubic crystal Eye irritant, elevated blood pressure
NaCl (rat, oral)
12357 mg/kg
(human, oral)
Bleach Chlorine LD50 850 mg/kg Greenish colored Corrosive to eyes, skin, respiratory
(fumes) CI2 (rat, inhaled) gas, amber liquid, tract, nausea, vomiting, pulmonary
pungent odor edema

Helium Helium Not established Odorless colorless Dizziness, nausea, simple asphyxiant
He gas

Lorchel mushroom Gyromitrin LD50 200 mg/kg Nausea, vomiting, severe liver
C4H8N2O (rat, oral) damage, coma, convulsions

Arsenic Arsenic, arsenic LD50 15mg/kg Grey, metallic Acute- irritates the yes, skin,
trioxide (rat, oral) crystals respiratory tract, and nausea. Chronic
As, As4 O6 convulsions, tissue legions,
hemorrhage, kidney impairment

Sugar Glucose LD50 30 g/kg Sweet white powder Depressed activity, gastrointestinal
C6H12O6 (rat, oral) disturbances. If diabetic- heart
disease, blindness, nerve damage,
kidney damage

Iron tablets Iron sulfate ~5 adult tablets toxic Grayish white Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, black
FeSO4 for a 3 year old powder stool, liver damage, coma

Lead Lead Lowest published Bluish or silvery Acute headache, insomnia, joint
Pb dose 450 solid pain. Chronic-anemia, kidney
(human, oral) disease, reproductive and
developmental toxin.

Snake venom -bungarotoxin Not available Large protein Paralysis, suffocation, loss of
C338H529N97O105S11 molecule consciousness, seizures,
hemorrhaging into tissues

Cola Caffeine LD50 140 mg/kg White odorless Acute renal failure, nausea, psychosis,
C8H10N4O2 (dog, oral) powder or crystals hemorrhage, increased pulse,
convulsions

Alcohol Ethanol LD50 7060 mg/kg Colorless liquid, Nausea, headache, vomiting,
C2H6O (rat, oral) pleasant odor dizziness, nervous system depression,
confusion, loss of consciousness

Vitamin A Retinol LD50 2000 mg/kg Yellow crystals, Convulsions, unconsciousness,

C20H30O (rat, oral) orange solid reproductive toxin

Toxins UC Regents, LHS Living by Chemistry, 2004.