toxic substance
Deadly ingested material
A toxic substance is any material harmful to living organisms through chemical action—poisons, venoms, pollutants, or hazardous chemicals.
The term appears frequently in environmental and occupational safety contexts: The EPA regulates toxic substances in drinking water.
Toxicity depends on dose, exposure route, and the organism affected; even common substances become toxic in sufficient quantities.
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
- rat poisonToxic substance targeting rodents
- asbestosFibrous fireproofing mineral
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
- smogSunlight-activated urban pollution
neurotoxins · dioxins · Agent Orange · benzene · solvents · venom · mercury · carcinogen · ricin · mutagens · mycotoxins · lead · cyanide · cadmium · carbon monoxide · nerve agent · teratogens · microplastics
- MSG myths
- toxicologypoison, venom, poisons, dose-response, LD50
toxic substancemedicine
Curative substance or practice
remedy · cure · antidote · medication · pharmaceutical
toxic substancenutrient
Life-sustaining substance
nourishment · food · sustenance · superfood · dietary supplement