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Questions and Answers
What does the term 'xenobiotics' refer to?
What does the term 'xenobiotics' refer to?
Toxicology only focuses on the adverse effects of chemical agents.
Toxicology only focuses on the adverse effects of chemical agents.
False (B)
Name one of the non-biomedical branches of toxicology.
Name one of the non-biomedical branches of toxicology.
Public Health, Regulatory, Environmental, or Clinical
In toxicology, the utilization of data to predict outcomes in humans based on in vitro and in vivo studies is considered an ______.
In toxicology, the utilization of data to predict outcomes in humans based on in vitro and in vivo studies is considered an ______.
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Which of the following is NOT a main focus of public health toxicology?
Which of the following is NOT a main focus of public health toxicology?
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Match the following branches of toxicology with their primary focus:
Match the following branches of toxicology with their primary focus:
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According to the principles of toxicology, predictions are scientifically equal to proven facts.
According to the principles of toxicology, predictions are scientifically equal to proven facts.
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What is the data-gathering phase of toxicology called?
What is the data-gathering phase of toxicology called?
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What is often a primary cause of poisoning incidents?
What is often a primary cause of poisoning incidents?
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The Romans never had any laws related to poisoning.
The Romans never had any laws related to poisoning.
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Who was the Greek physician that classified poisons for Nero?
Who was the Greek physician that classified poisons for Nero?
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Paracelsus stated ‘All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right _____ differentiates a poison from a remedy.’
Paracelsus stated ‘All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right _____ differentiates a poison from a remedy.’
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Match the following individuals with their contributions to toxicology history:
Match the following individuals with their contributions to toxicology history:
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Which substance did King Mithridates VI of Pontus use in an attempt to become immune to poisoning?
Which substance did King Mithridates VI of Pontus use in an attempt to become immune to poisoning?
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Emetics are used to prevent vomiting after poisoning.
Emetics are used to prevent vomiting after poisoning.
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Which substances can delay intestinal absorption of toxins according to Maimonides?
Which substances can delay intestinal absorption of toxins according to Maimonides?
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Catherine de Medici systematically studied poisons to ensure what?
Catherine de Medici systematically studied poisons to ensure what?
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Toffana was a woman who sold arsenic-laced ________.
Toffana was a woman who sold arsenic-laced ________.
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Hieronyma Spara provided 'services' to which group of people?
Hieronyma Spara provided 'services' to which group of people?
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According to Paracelsus, all substances are inherently poisonous.
According to Paracelsus, all substances are inherently poisonous.
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What is the primary factor that differentiates a poison from a remedy, according to Paracelsus?
What is the primary factor that differentiates a poison from a remedy, according to Paracelsus?
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Paracelsus focused on the importance of the ‘_______’ a primary toxic agent and a single chemical entity.
Paracelsus focused on the importance of the ‘_______’ a primary toxic agent and a single chemical entity.
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Match the texts with their authors.
Match the texts with their authors.
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According to the provided information, what is the approximate lethal dose of salt for a 160 lb human?
According to the provided information, what is the approximate lethal dose of salt for a 160 lb human?
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Which of the following did Catherine de Medici NOT observe in her study of poisons?
Which of the following did Catherine de Medici NOT observe in her study of poisons?
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A chemical that is nontoxic at low doses can never be toxic at high doses.
A chemical that is nontoxic at low doses can never be toxic at high doses.
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Paracelsus supported the idea that toxic effects were due to a mixture of compounds.
Paracelsus supported the idea that toxic effects were due to a mixture of compounds.
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Who is credited with establishing toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline?
Who is credited with establishing toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline?
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What is the title of the text considered seminal in the field of occupational medicine?
What is the title of the text considered seminal in the field of occupational medicine?
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______ developed staining procedures to observe cells and tissues and pioneered the understanding of how toxicants influence living organisms.
______ developed staining procedures to observe cells and tissues and pioneered the understanding of how toxicants influence living organisms.
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Bernardino Ramazzini’s text included information about miners, midwives, printers, weavers and ________.
Bernardino Ramazzini’s text included information about miners, midwives, printers, weavers and ________.
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Match the scientist with their contribution:
Match the scientist with their contribution:
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Match the observation with its associated historical figure:
Match the observation with its associated historical figure:
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What was a major development in toxicology in 1775?
What was a major development in toxicology in 1775?
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Avicenna was a Spanish/Jewish rabbi who wrote a first-aid book for poisonings.
Avicenna was a Spanish/Jewish rabbi who wrote a first-aid book for poisonings.
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What is the term for a man-made substance not normally found in the body?
What is the term for a man-made substance not normally found in the body?
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The philosopher, ___________, was executed using hemlock.
The philosopher, ___________, was executed using hemlock.
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Match the following scientists with their contributions to toxicology
Match the following scientists with their contributions to toxicology
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What is a 'toxicant'?
What is a 'toxicant'?
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Most human exposure to chemicals comes from manufactured products rather than naturally occurring compounds in food plants.
Most human exposure to chemicals comes from manufactured products rather than naturally occurring compounds in food plants.
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Name one of the two specific compounds synthesized in 1825 that were used in chemical warfare.
Name one of the two specific compounds synthesized in 1825 that were used in chemical warfare.
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The study of the effects of poisons is known as _________.
The study of the effects of poisons is known as _________.
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Which of the following is NOT a type of poisonous substance listed?
Which of the following is NOT a type of poisonous substance listed?
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Study Notes
Definition of Toxicology
- Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and ecosystems, including the prevention and amelioration of these adverse effects.
Scope of Toxicology: Different Branches
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Biomedical:
- Mechanisms of action
- Effects of exposure
- Understanding biological responses through model toxic compounds
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Public Health:
- Recognition and identification of hazards
- Occupational exposure
- Development and use of pesticides
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Regulatory:
- Development of exposure standards
- Detection methods
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Environmental:
- Chemical effects on plants, animals, and ecosystems
- Development of antidotes and treatments
- Recognition of exposure
Scope of Toxicology: How We Got Here
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Science: Observational and data-gathering
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Art: Utilization of data to predict outcomes in humans based on in vitro and in vivo studies
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Creative Thinking: Determining the next hypothesis and designing experiments to answer posed questions
Facts vs. Predictions
- Facts are proven observations
- Predictions are based on probabilities, and do not hold the same scientific weight as facts.
- Toxicologists should be careful not to confuse these two concepts when speaking publicly.
Historical Background of Toxicology
- Toxicology dates back to the earliest humans
- Poisons played a significant role in human history, often due to negative human factors such as:
- Lack of information/ignorance
- Carelessness/untidiness
- Anger leading to deliberate poisoning
History of Toxicology - Antiquity
- Humans have a long history of using poisons:
- Hemlock (Greek capital punishment)
- Aconite (Chinese poison arrows)
- Milestones:
- Dioscorides, a Greek physician, classified poisons for Nero, including descriptions and drawings. This was a standard text for 1600 years.
- Toxicology during this time primarily focused on poisoning (suicide, state-sanctioned and personal use); this also led to antidotes development, like emetics (e.g., to induce vomiting after poisoning)
Most Known Historical Figures in Toxicology
- Dioscorides: First classification of poisons, use of emetics in treatment.
- Paracelsus: "All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy." This established the basic principles of pharmacology, toxicology, and therapeutics; and investigation of dose-response relationships
- King Mithridates VI of Pontus: Experimented on criminals and himself, drinking a poison cocktail (36 ingredients) to prevent political enemies from poisoning him.
Further Toxicology History (Roman Times, Medieval Era)
- Significant poisonings in Rome led to a law in 82 BC making poisoning illegal, and later extending to negligent drug dispensers.
- Maimonides: Developed the concept of bioavailability, noting that the form of a toxicant (e.g., what one consumed before) influences its availability in the body. Factors like milk, butter, and cream delay intestinal absorption.
- Renaissance Italy: Poisoning was commonplace, with figures like Toffana and Hieronymus Spara. The use and effects of toxicants were investigated by figures like Catherine de Medici.
- 1775: Role of soot in scrotal cancer.
- 1825-1880: Synthesis of chemical warfare agents (phosgene, mustard gas), and a dramatic increase in new organic compounds without the necessary safety testing.
History of Toxicology - Age of Enlightenment
- Paracelsus: Focused on the single toxic agent.
- Fundamental Contributions: Experimentation is essential to understand responses, therapeutic vs. toxic properties. A degree of chemical specificity exists, which can be partially ascertained through dose investigation.
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Seminal texts:
- On the Miners' Sickness: Paracelsus
- Discourse on the Diseases of Workers: Bernardino Ramazzini, established norms for occupational medicine, focusing on miners, midwives, printers, weavers, and potters.
- Orfila (1787-1853): Introduced autopsy material for legal poisoning proof
- Magendie (1783-1855): Detailed absorption and distribution of compounds in the body.
20th Century
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Paul Ehrlich: Developed staining techniques to study cells and tissues, understanding of how toxicants influence living organisms.
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Rachel Carson: Alerted the public to the dangers of pesticides in the environment.
The Dose Makes the Poison
- An apparently nontoxic chemical can be toxic at high doses
- Highly toxic chemicals can be life-saving in appropriate doses.
Lethal Doses of Common Chemicals (Rats)
- Approximate lethal doses for common chemicals like sugar, alcohol, salt etc were calculated from rat data, scaled for a human of 160 lbs.
Toxicology: What Toxins Are Made From
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Toxicants: Specific poisonous chemicals produced by plants, animals, or bacteria.
- Phytotoxins: Plant-derived
- Zootoxins: Animal-derived
- Bacteriotoxins: Bacteria-derived
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Xenobiotics: Man-made substances and/or produced by another organism, but not naturally occurring in the human body
Other Historical Mentions
- 2700 B.C.: Chinese journals on plant and fish poisons.
- 1900-1200 B.C.: Egyptian documents describing medicinal and poisonous recipes.
- 800 B.C.: Indian Hindu medicine with notes on poisons and antidotes.
- 50-100 A.D.: Greek physicians classifying plant, animal, and mineral poisons.
- 50-400 A.D.: Romans used poisons for executions and assassinations, including incidents like the death of Socrates by hemlock.
- 1200 A.D.: Maimonides wrote a medical aid book on poisons and antidotes
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts and historical figures in toxicology. This quiz covers various aspects such as xenobiotics, public health toxicology, and the contributions of notable individuals in the field. Dive into the fascinating world of toxicology and assess your understanding.
