Toxicology

Toxicology is a scientific discipline, overlapping with biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine, that involves the study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms and the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins and toxicants. The relationship between dose and its effects on the exposed organism is of high significance in toxicology. Factors that influence chemical toxicity include the dosage; the route of exposure; the species, age, sex, and environment.

History

The term "toxicology" comes from the ancient Greek words toxikon (poison for use on arrows) and logos (study). Toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline is relatively modern. However, the use of poisons and antidotes dates back to ancient times.

Branches

Toxicology can be split into various disciplines such as:

• Forensic toxicology
• Clinical toxicology
• Environmental toxicology
• Industrial toxicology
• Pharmaceutical toxicology

Toxicity

Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell (cytotoxicity) or an organ such as the liver (hepatotoxicity).

Dose-Response Relationships

The classic "dose makes the poison" concept is a fundamental hypothesis in toxicology. It means that a substance can produce harm only if it reaches a susceptible biological system in a sufficient concentration (dose).

Toxicants

Toxicants are substances that produce adverse biological effects. It may be a chemical substance produced artificially or a natural toxin.

See Also

• Poison
• Toxicity
• Toxicant
• Toxicology testing

References

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