Acute toxicity
Acute toxicity is a term used in toxicology to describe the adverse effects of a substance that result either from a single exposure or from multiple exposures in a short period of time.
Pronunciation
a·cute tox·ic·i·ty
Etymology
The term "acute toxicity" is derived from the Latin word "acutus" meaning sharp or severe, and the Greek word "toxicum" meaning poison.
Definition
Acute toxicity refers to the harmful effects that occur in a short period of time due to exposure to a toxic substance. It is usually characterized by rapid onset of symptoms and can lead to death or severe illness. The severity of the effects depends on the dose, the duration of exposure, and the individual's susceptibility.
Measurement
Acute toxicity is usually measured using the LD50 value, which is the dose of the substance that kills 50% of the test population. This value is used to classify substances into different toxicity categories.
Related Terms
- Chronic toxicity: This refers to the harmful effects of repeated or long-term exposure to a toxic substance.
- Subacute toxicity: This refers to the harmful effects that occur from repeated exposure to a toxic substance over a period of one month or less.
- Subchronic toxicity: This refers to the harmful effects that occur from repeated exposure to a toxic substance over a period of one to three months.
- Toxicity: This is a general term that refers to the degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acute toxicity
- Wikipedia's article - Acute toxicity
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