Botulinum toxin, produced by Clostridium botulinum, is deadly in small doses but has therapeutic uses for migraines and neuromuscular disorders. It is also used for cosmetic purposes. The toxin can be found in soil and degrades rapidly in contact with air, making it an inferior chemical warfare agent. However, if delivered by insect-sized drones, it could be a superior chemical weapon. Mild side effects are possible with therapeutic use, and exposure to the toxin is a risk in some types of canned food.
Botulinum toxin is one of the deadliest toxic substances on Earth, but ironically it has a dual use as a drug for migraines and neuromuscular disorders. Its LD50 (the dose at which half of exposed people are predicted to die) is about one nanogram per kilogram of body mass, making the typical lethal dose for adults in the range of 50-100 nanograms. For comparison, the mass of an average human cell is one nanogram. The therapeutic doses of botulinum toxin are significantly less than even this small mass. When used commercially, botulinum toxin is referred to by the brand names Botox® and Dysport®.
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is found in soil all over the planet and is easily cultivated. The main reason why millions of people do not have daily exposure to it is because it degrades rapidly in contact with air. This is also why it is seen as an inferior chemical warfare agent. However, if robotically delivered by insect-sized drones, it could be a superior chemical weapon.
Botulinum toxin is used therapeutically for cosmetic purposes for its relaxing properties. In extremely small quantities, it blocks the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, counteracting the effects of aging, which cause facial muscles to tense and produce wrinkles. The cosmetic administrations of botox are relatively short-term activities, lasting 3-6 months but sometimes even lasting a few weeks. Mild side effects such as drooping eyelids or an uneven smile are possible risks of the therapy. Despite this, some think John Kerry used botulinum therapy during the 2004 presidential election in an effort to look younger.
It is often said that just a few hundred grams of botulinum toxin would be enough to kill every human being on Earth. Exposure is a risk in some types of canned food with holes that let in spores. Although the toxin rapidly degenerates on exposure to air, the spores do not and can even withstand prolonged boiling. Fortunately, few cases of such poisoning have been reported. The toxin gets its name from the Latin word for sausage, botulus, because one of the first places it was discovered was on rotting sausage.
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