What determines the toxicity of a chemical?
The toxicity of a substance depends on three factors: its chemical structure, the extent to which the substance is absorbed by the body, and the body’s ability to detoxify the substance (change it into less toxic substances) and eliminate it from the body.
What is the basic concept of toxicology?
Definition Toxicology The traditional definition of toxicology is “the science of poisons.” As our understanding of how various agents can cause harm to humans and other organisms, a more descriptive definition of toxicology is “the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms”.
What are the three types of toxicology?
There are various types of toxicology as outlined below:
- Analytical toxicology.
- Applied toxicology.
- Clinical toxicology.
- Veterinary toxicology.
- Forensic toxicology.
- Environment toxicology.
- Industrial toxicology.
What are the factors that determine if a substance is toxic and unfit for consumption?
The toxicity of a substance usually depends on the following factors:
- Form and innate chemical activity.
- Dosage , especially dose -time relationship.
- Exposure route.
- Species.
- Life stage, such as infant, young adult, or elderly adult.
- Gender.
- Ability to be absorbed.
- Metabolism.
When do we consider if a product is hazardous or harmful?
A product is hazardous if it can produce personal injury or illness to humans when inhaled, swallowed (ingested), or absorbed through the skin.
What is biomagnification Why is it essential in toxicology?
Biomagnification is the transfer of pollutants and toxins through the organisms in a food chain. Biomagnification is important in toxicology because it provides data regarding the amount of pollutants in an area and can give clues to disruptions to populations and ecological communities.
What is toxicology in pharmacy?
Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals (including drugs) on living systems and the means to prevent or ameliorate such effects. In addition to therapeutic agents, toxicologists examine many environmental agents and chemical compounds that are synthesized by humans or that originate in nature.
Why is Occupational toxicology important?
The objective of the occupational toxicologist is to prevent adverse health effects in workers that result from their work environment. Because the work environment often presents exposures to complex mixtures, the occupational toxicologist must also recognize exposure combinations that are particularly hazardous.
What toxin mean?
Definition of toxin : a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation.
What are the 4 disciplines of forensic toxicology?
The field of forensic toxicology involves three main sub-disciplines: postmortem forensic toxicology, human performance toxicology, and forensic drug testing. All of these sub-disciplines measure substances in biological matrices for a given purpose.
Why is bisphenol A BPA causing such concern among many scientists?
They are all toxic to some degree. They are known animal carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. They are persistent in the environment. Which of the following statements regarding risk is true?
When can a material be considered potentially harmful?
Toxic materials are substances that may cause harm to an individual if it enters the body. Toxic materials may enter the body in different ways. These ways are called the route of exposure. The most common route of exposure is through inhalation (breathing it into the lungs).