Commons:Category:Toxicology

Toxicology is the scientific study of adverse effects that occur in living organisms due to chemicals. It involves observing and reporting symptoms, mechanisms, detection and treatments of toxic substances, in particular relation to the poisoning of humans. It can be divided into several sub-disciplines such as forensic, environmental, and clinical toxicology.

History

The history of toxicology dates back to ancient times. The earliest human civilizations recognized the concept of poison, and ancient Egyptian writings made reference to poisoning dating back to around 3000 BC. The Greek philosopher Socrates was known to have died from drinking hemlock, a plant-based poison.

Principles

The fundamental principle of toxicology is "the dose makes the poison", a concept first proposed by Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelsus. This principle implies that all substances are potentially harmful under certain conditions.

Toxic Substances

Toxic substances can be classified into environmental toxins, biological toxins, and chemical toxins. Environmental toxins include pollutants and radiation, biological toxins include bacteria, viruses, and venom, and chemical toxins include inorganic substances such as lead, mercury, hydrofluoric acid, and chlorine gas.

Toxicity Testing

Toxicity testing is used to examine finished products such as pesticides, medications, cosmetics, food additives such as artificial sweeteners, packing materials, and air freshener, or specific chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls, cadmium, and mercury.

Toxicology in Medicine

In medicine, toxicology has many applications such as diagnosis, management of poisoning, and, in a broader sense, the treatment of diseases caused by toxins.

See Also

• Pharmacology
• Poison
• Toxicity
• Toxicology (disciplines)