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study of poisons and their effects, particularly on living systems, is a broad field, overlapping with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology,
pathology, and many other disciplines
study of poisons and their effects, particularly on living systems, is a broad field, overlapping with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology, pathology, and many other disciplines
Toxicology
those that are damaging to either the survival or normal function of the individual.
those that are damaging to either the survival or normal function of the individual.
Harmful or adverse effects
the degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury.
the degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury.
Toxicity
relates to poisonous or deadly effects on the body by inhalation (breathing),
ingestion (eating), or absorption, or by direct contact with a chemical
relates to poisonous or deadly effects on the body by inhalation (breathing), ingestion (eating), or absorption, or by direct contact with a chemical
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any chemical that can injure or kill humans, animals, or plants; a poison
any chemical that can injure or kill humans, animals, or plants; a poison
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usually is used when talking about toxic substances produced naturally.
usually is used when talking about toxic substances produced naturally.
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includes any feeling or sign indicating the presence of a poison in the system.
includes any feeling or sign indicating the presence of a poison in the system.
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refers to the health effects that occur due to exposure to a toxic substance; also known as a
poisonous effect on the body
refers to the health effects that occur due to exposure to a toxic substance; also known as a poisonous effect on the body
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means that a chemical will produce injury to one kind of living matter without harming another form
of life, even though the two may exist close together.
means that a chemical will produce injury to one kind of living matter without harming another form of life, even though the two may exist close together.
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a relationship between exposure and health effect, that can be established by measuring the
response relative to an increasing dose
a relationship between exposure and health effect, that can be established by measuring the response relative to an increasing dose
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a dose or exposure level below which the harmful or adverse effects of a substance are not
seen in a population.
a dose or exposure level below which the harmful or adverse effects of a substance are not seen in a population.
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describes the differences in types of responses to hazardous substances, between people.
describes the differences in types of responses to hazardous substances, between people.
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describes those persons who are more at risk from illness due to exposure to hazardous
substances than the average, healthy person.
describes those persons who are more at risk from illness due to exposure to hazardous substances than the average, healthy person.
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deals with the way chemicals and waste products affect the
health of an individual.
deals with the way chemicals and waste products affect the health of an individual.
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concerned with the study of chemicals that contaminate food, water, soil, or
the atmosphere.
concerned with the study of chemicals that contaminate food, water, soil, or the atmosphere.
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which results from breathing in chemical gases, mists, or dusts that are in the air.
which results from breathing in chemical gases, mists, or dusts that are in the air.
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swallowing that occurs chemicals have spilled or settled onto food, beverages,
cigarettes, beards, or hands.
swallowing that occurs chemicals have spilled or settled onto food, beverages, cigarettes, beards, or hands.
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When chemicals directly touch the skin or get in the eyes, they can cause localized
damage or be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
When chemicals directly touch the skin or get in the eyes, they can cause localized damage or be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
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refers to the amount of a chemical needed to cause harm. The more potent a toxin,
the lower the concentration needed to cause harm.
refers to the amount of a chemical needed to cause harm. The more potent a toxin, the lower the concentration needed to cause harm.
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refers to how long a substance takes to break down. Persistent chemicals are of
greater concern because they remain in the environment (or even in organisms) for
long time periods. .
refers to how long a substance takes to break down. Persistent chemicals are of greater concern because they remain in the environment (or even in organisms) for long time periods. .
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refers to whether the chemical dissolves in certain solvents, such as water or fat.
refers to whether the chemical dissolves in certain solvents, such as water or fat.
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buildup of chemicals in an organism’s tissues over its lifetime
buildup of chemicals in an organism’s tissues over its lifetime
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increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at each successive trophic
increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at each successive trophic
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concerned with health effects from exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
concerned with health effects from exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
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gathers and evaluates existing toxicological information to establish
concentration-based standards of “safe” exposure.
gathers and evaluates existing toxicological information to establish concentration-based standards of “safe” exposure.
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involved in delivering a safe and edible supply of food to the consumer.
involved in delivering a safe and edible supply of food to the consumer.
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concerned with diseases and illnesses associated with short term or long term
exposure to toxic chemicals
concerned with diseases and illnesses associated with short term or long term exposure to toxic chemicals
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concerned with gathering toxicological information from animal
experimentation.
concerned with gathering toxicological information from animal experimentation.
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used to help establish cause and effect relationships between exposure to a
drug or chemical and the toxic or lethal effects that result from that exposure
used to help establish cause and effect relationships between exposure to a drug or chemical and the toxic or lethal effects that result from that exposure
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identifies the toxicant through analysis of body fluids, stomach content,
excrement, or skin.
identifies the toxicant through analysis of body fluids, stomach content, excrement, or skin.
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makes observations on how toxic substances cause their effects
makes observations on how toxic substances cause their effects
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occupational exposures can range from the use of “white-out” by administrative
personnel, to the use of chemicals by technicians in a nail salon
occupational exposures can range from the use of “white-out” by administrative personnel, to the use of chemicals by technicians in a nail salon
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s the release and propagation of energy in space or through a
material medium in the form of waves, the transfer of heat or light by waves of
energy, or the stream of particles from a nuclear reactor
s the release and propagation of energy in space or through a material medium in the form of waves, the transfer of heat or light by waves of energy, or the stream of particles from a nuclear reactor
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any substance or mixture of substances intended
to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pest.
any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pest.
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Different portions of a plant may contain different concentrations of chemicals.
Some chemicals made by plants can be lethal
Different portions of a plant may contain different concentrations of chemicals. Some chemicals made by plants can be lethal
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can result from venomous or poisonous animal releases.
can result from venomous or poisonous animal releases.
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an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, its mission is to
promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury,
and disability.
an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, its mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.
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established in 1974, regulates the use of nuclear materials for commercial,
industrial, academic, and medical purposes.
established in 1974, regulates the use of nuclear materials for commercial, industrial, academic, and medical purposes.
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promotes and protects the public health by helping safe and effective products
reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety
after they are in use
promotes and protects the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use
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a professional organization that produces a listing of Threshold Limit Values
(TLV) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) for several hundred chemicals,
updating them every year.
a professional organization that produces a listing of Threshold Limit Values (TLV) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) for several hundred chemicals, updating them every year.
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provides information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and
hazardous materials
provides information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials
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has toxicological information on more than 4,000 chemicals, as well as information on
emergency handling procedures, environmental data, regulatory status, and human
exposure
has toxicological information on more than 4,000 chemicals, as well as information on emergency handling procedures, environmental data, regulatory status, and human exposure
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provide information such as physical and chemical properties of a substance, first aid
information, emergency response, and disposal information.
provide information such as physical and chemical properties of a substance, first aid information, emergency response, and disposal information.
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contains information on hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL)
and non-NPL waste sites and emergency events, and on the levels at which health
effects from exposure to hazardous substances have been reported in humans and
animals
contains information on hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) and non-NPL waste sites and emergency events, and on the levels at which health effects from exposure to hazardous substances have been reported in humans and animals
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dynamic interactions between a compound and its biological
target, leading ultimately to an (adverse) effect.
dynamic interactions between a compound and its biological target, leading ultimately to an (adverse) effect.
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: refers to parent xenobiotic, its metabolite, or even a generated
reactive oxygen species that actually causes cellular damage
: refers to parent xenobiotic, its metabolite, or even a generated reactive oxygen species that actually causes cellular damage
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molecule that interacts with the ultimate toxicant
molecule that interacts with the ultimate toxicant
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the consequence of the physicochemical interaction with the
toxicant and target
the consequence of the physicochemical interaction with the toxicant and target
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: Occur at the area of the body which has been in contact with the
chemical.
: Occur at the area of the body which has been in contact with the chemical.
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prevents the proper operation of the chemical that controls nerve signals to
the muscles
prevents the proper operation of the chemical that controls nerve signals to the muscles
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the major active principle of powdered opium, is responsible for the action of opium,
although other alkaloids contribute to it.
the major active principle of powdered opium, is responsible for the action of opium, although other alkaloids contribute to it.
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an alkaloid originally synthesized from Atropa belladonna.
an alkaloid originally synthesized from Atropa belladonna.
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Interact directly with specific enzymes which catalyze some important physiologic processes
to produce their toxic effects.
Interact directly with specific enzymes which catalyze some important physiologic processes to produce their toxic effects.
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Certain toxicants act by their physical deposition in body tissues, and organs like lungs,
e.g. industrial and heavy metals dust, silicon, and asbestos.
Certain toxicants act by their physical deposition in body tissues, and organs like lungs, e.g. industrial and heavy metals dust, silicon, and asbestos.
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Direct chemical injury to tissues either causes protoplasmic precipitation or alters the
membrane dependent homeostatic control of cell functions
Direct chemical injury to tissues either causes protoplasmic precipitation or alters the membrane dependent homeostatic control of cell functions
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Toxicants can affect both humoral and cell mediated
immunities.
Toxicants can affect both humoral and cell mediated immunities.
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caused by chemicals that
produce tissue irritation or damage to macromolecules resulting in
expression of the cancer process.
caused by chemicals that produce tissue irritation or damage to macromolecules resulting in expression of the cancer process.
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Certain toxicants produce deficiency of essential
nutrients in the body.
Certain toxicants produce deficiency of essential nutrients in the body.
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Certain toxicants inhibit certain
nonspecific enzymes to produce their toxic effects.
Certain toxicants inhibit certain nonspecific enzymes to produce their toxic effects.
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the study of "how a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the
body.
the study of "how a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the body.
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the substance enters the body
the substance enters the body
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— the substance moves from the
site of entry to other areas of the bodY
— the substance moves from the site of entry to other areas of the bodY
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the body changes
(transforms) the substance into new chemicals
(metabolites).
the body changes (transforms) the substance into new chemicals (metabolites).
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the substance or its metabolites
leave the body.
the substance or its metabolites leave the body.
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is the process by which a xenobiotic is converted to a less toxic form.
This is a natural defense mechanism of the organism.
is the process by which a xenobiotic is converted to a less toxic form. This is a natural defense mechanism of the organism.
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the process by which a xenobiotic may be converted to more
reactive or toxic forms
the process by which a xenobiotic may be converted to more reactive or toxic forms
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how a toxic agent is removed from the body.
how a toxic agent is removed from the body.
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the time it takes for half the amount of a toxic agent to no longer be
detected in a biological specimen
the time it takes for half the amount of a toxic agent to no longer be detected in a biological specimen
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play an important role in the processes of
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME)
play an important role in the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME)
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that the chemical has induced the observed effects
that the chemical has induced the observed effects
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the lowest dose where an induced effect occurs
the lowest dose where an induced effect occurs
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the rate at which the injury build-up
the rate at which the injury build-up
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"how a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the
body."
"how a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the body."
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the substance enters the body.
the substance enters the body.
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— the substance moves from the
site of entry to other areas of the body
— the substance moves from the site of entry to other areas of the body
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— the body changes
(transforms) the substance into new chemicals
(metabolites)
— the body changes (transforms) the substance into new chemicals (metabolites)
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the substance or its metabolites
leave the body.
the substance or its metabolites leave the body.
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A highly toxic substance that is poorly absorbed may be no more
hazardous than a substance of low toxicity that is highly absorbed.
A highly toxic substance that is poorly absorbed may be no more hazardous than a substance of low toxicity that is highly absorbed.
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Two substances with equal toxicity and absorption may differ
in how hazardous they are depending on the nature of their biotransformation.
Two substances with equal toxicity and absorption may differ in how hazardous they are depending on the nature of their biotransformation.
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Similar to route of exposure, absorption is how the toxic agent enters the body
Similar to route of exposure, absorption is how the toxic agent enters the body
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how the toxic agent is spread out in the body
how the toxic agent is spread out in the body
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how a toxic agent is transformed into other chemicals in the body.
how a toxic agent is transformed into other chemicals in the body.
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the process by which a xenobiotic is converted to a less toxic form.
the process by which a xenobiotic is converted to a less toxic form.
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s the process by which a xenobiotic may be converted to more
reactive or toxic forms.
s the process by which a xenobiotic may be converted to more reactive or toxic forms.
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how a toxic agent is removed from the body
how a toxic agent is removed from the body
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the time it takes for half the amount of a toxic agent to no longer be
detected in a biological specimen.
the time it takes for half the amount of a toxic agent to no longer be detected in a biological specimen.
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play an important role in the processes of
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME
play an important role in the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME
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transmembrane transporters, together with drug metabolizing enzymes, are
important in drug metabolism and drug clearance
transmembrane transporters, together with drug metabolizing enzymes, are important in drug metabolism and drug clearance
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renal proximal tubules are targets for toxicity partly because of the
expression of transporters that mediate the secretion and reabsorption of xenobiotics.
renal proximal tubules are targets for toxicity partly because of the expression of transporters that mediate the secretion and reabsorption of xenobiotics.
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that the chemical has induced the observed effects
that the chemical has induced the observed effects
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the lowest dose where an induced effect occurs
the lowest dose where an induced effect occurs
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the rate at which the injury build-up
the rate at which the injury build-up
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Study Notes
Toxicology
- Study of poisons and their effects on living systems, overlapping with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology, pathology, and other disciplines.
Definition of Toxicology
- Examines the effects of toxic substances on the body by inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or direct contact.
- Any chemical that can injure or kill humans, animals, or plants is considered a poison.
Toxicity
- Refers to the health effects that occur due to exposure to a toxic substance.
- Selective toxicity means that a chemical will produce injury to one kind of living matter without harming another form of life, even though they may exist close together.
Exposure and Health Effects
- Dose-response relationship: a relationship between exposure and health effect, established by measuring the response relative to an increasing dose.
- Threshold dose: a dose or exposure level below which the harmful or adverse effects of a substance are not seen in a population.
Individual Susceptibility
- Describes the differences in types of responses to hazardous substances between people.
- Vulnerable populations: those persons who are more at risk from illness due to exposure to hazardous substances than the average, healthy person.
Routes of Exposure
- Inhalation: exposure to chemical gases, mists, or dusts that are in the air.
- Ingestion: exposure to chemicals through contaminated food, water, or other substances.
- Absorption: exposure to chemicals through direct contact with the skin or eyes.
Chemical Properties
- Potency: the amount of a chemical needed to cause harm.
- Persistence: the length of time a substance takes to break down.
- Solubility: the ability of a chemical to dissolve in certain solvents, such as water or fat.
Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
- Bioaccumulation: the buildup of chemicals in an organism's tissues over its lifetime.
- Biomagnification: the increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at each successive trophic level.
Occupational and Environmental Toxicology
- Concerned with health effects from exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
- Deals with the way chemicals and waste products affect the health of an individual and the environment.
Regulatory Agencies
- National Toxicology Program (NTP): a program that gathers and evaluates existing toxicological information to establish concentration-based standards of "safe" exposure.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): responsible for promoting and protecting the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): promotes and protects the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way.
Toxicological Information
- Toxicological databases: contain information on hazardous substances, including their chemical properties, health effects, and emergency response procedures.
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): provide information on hazardous substances, including physical and chemical properties, first aid information, emergency response, and disposal information.
Mechanisms of Toxicity
- Dynamic interactions between a compound and its biological target, leading ultimately to an (adverse) effect.
- Direct chemical injury to tissues, causing protoplasmic precipitation or altering the membrane-dependent homeostatic control of cell functions.
Toxicological Effects
- Irritation and corrosion: occur at the area of the body which has been in contact with the chemical.
- Neurotoxicity: prevents the proper operation of the chemical that controls nerve signals to the muscles.
- Cancer: caused by chemicals that produce tissue irritation or damage to macromolecules resulting in the expression of the cancer process.
- Immune system effects: toxicants can affect both humoral and cell-mediated immunities.
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination (ADME)
- The process by which a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the body.
- Absorption: the substance enters the body.
- Distribution: the substance moves from the site of entry to other areas of the body.
- Metabolism: the body changes the substance into new chemicals (metabolites).
- Elimination: the substance or its metabolites leave the body.
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Description
Explore the study of poisons and their effects on living systems, delving into its overlaps with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology, pathology, and various other disciplines.