Toxic substance
Toxic substance
A Toxic substance (pronunciation: /ˈtɒksɪk ˈsʌbstəns/) is a material that can cause damage to living organisms. The term is often used in the context of chemistry, biology, and medicine to describe substances that are harmful or lethal to humans and other organisms.
Etymology
The term "toxic" comes from the Latin toxicum, meaning "poison," which in turn is derived from the Greek τοξικόν (toxikon), referring to poison for arrows. The term "substance" comes from the Latin substantia, meaning "essence, material."
Related Terms
- Toxin: A toxic substance produced within living cells or organisms.
- Poison: A substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed.
- Venom: A type of toxin secreted by certain animals, typically for the purpose of causing harm to another organism.
- Carcinogen: A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
- Mutagen: An agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, that causes genetic mutation.
See Also
- Toxicology: The study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.
- Hazardous substance: A substance that has the potential to cause harm to humans or the environment.
- Chemical substance: A form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Toxic substance
- Wikipedia's article - Toxic substance
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