Toxicology is the field of study of the harmful effects of chemicals on organisms in general through the study of symptoms and how these substances affect the way they work within the body «Mechanism of action of toxins»,
namely the mechanism of action of the toxic substance within the body and the extent of exposure and detection methods And how to treat it, specifically with regard to man. This science is basically a branch of the sciences of chemistry, biology and medicine, but more accurately and clearly it falls under the pharmacology «Pharmacology»
The beginning of toxicology
The origin of this science dates back to the world of Matthew Orvila in 1813, which is considered the modern father of toxicology in addition to the contribution of the Arab world, a brutal son who wrote a book on poison in the ninth or tenth century AD.
The relationship between the dose of toxic substance consumed by the organism and its effect has a clear sign in toxicology, the dose is the main factor in the identification of this issue and therefore emerged a term known as the deadly medium dose «Median Lethal Dose» and known in scientific circles this code «LD 50 "It is the dose to kill half of the test animals" often mice ", knowing that all the substances without exception are poisonous if they have favorable conditions!
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Toxic substances
There are many of them that indirectly affect the organism. For example, alcohol or methanol can be chemically transformed into formaldehyde, the substance that causes the harmful effect of alcohol that causes cirrhosis of the liver and blindness in some cases so that methanol In the scientific laboratories and research laboratories; and exposure to it incorrectly will result in serious side effects of the patient, note: «The type of alcohol in the liquor is Ethanol (Ethanol) and not methanol and the degree of toxicity less», and also there are many toxic effects within the liver Of the drugs being taken Without consulting your doctor through the interaction of these drugs with liver enzymes, which may cause the person's exposure to toxicity.
Effect of toxicity
A complex process in fact because it depends on several factors: the amount of toxic substance is a very important factor «The larger the quantity; the greater the risk of toxicity to various organs of the body»; some chemicals for example toxic by nature, and others are not poisonous even Is absorbed into the body because of exposure to chemical reactions within the body in general and in the liver in particular, resulting in toxic compounds and the products of the interactions that have occurred »; and many of the toxic substances directly affect certain organs within the body of the organism; Others damage any member or living tissue passing by Through it in general.
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What forms of toxic substances are present?
Vital «Biological»: Snake venom
Chemical: Cyanide and its salts, which are highly toxic, may cause death in minutes
Physical: Poisoning by exposure to radioactive materials.
What are the subspecialties of Toxicology?
Environmental toxicology »Environmental toxicology»
Forensic toxicology »Forensic Toxicology»
Clinical Toxicology »Clinical Toxicology»
Chemical Toxicology »Chemical Toxicology»
Medical Toxicology »
Occupational Toxicology »Occupational Toxicology»
Environmental toxicology «Ecotoxicology»
Toxicology »Aquatic Toxicology»
Toxicogenomics »
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