toxicology
Study of poisons
Toxicology is the scientific study of poisons—their effects on living organisms, their detection, and their treatment.
The field spans medicine, forensics, and environmental science: The toxicology report revealed lethal levels of arsenic.
A toxicologist examines how substances become harmful at certain doses, since virtually anything can be toxic in sufficient quantity.
Injected animal poison
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
- hemlockPoisonous umbellifer or conifer
ricin · belladonna · lethal dose · neurotoxin · mycotoxins · snake venom · spider venom · botulinum
Substance neutralizing harmful agents
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
- chelationChemical metal-ion capture
- adverse effectsHarmful unintended consequences
drug interactions · contraindications · dose-response · poison control · activated charcoal · naloxone · supportive care · side effects
Environmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- biomagnificationToxins accumulating through food chains
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
heavy metals · industrial waste · carcinogens · chemical spills · soil contamination · water safety · air quality · bioremediation
Compositional evaluation procedure
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- spectrometryMeasuring radiation to identify substances
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
- detectionAct of finding something
quantification · metabolites · sample · reagents · nanograms · pharmacokinetics · standards · laboratory
Medical examination after death
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- coronerPublic death investigator
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- poisoningHarmful substance exposure
overdose · homicide · death · pathology · crime scene · medical examiner · postmortem · cause of death
Evaluating likelihood of harm
- safety testingEvaluating potential hazards
- OSHAFederal workplace safety regulator
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- FDAU.S. health regulator
threshold · clinical trials · animal testing · guidelines · compliance
venom
Injected animal poison
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
- cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
hemlock · ricin · belladonna · lethal dose · neurotoxin · mycotoxins · snake venom · spider venom · botulinum · curare
antidote
Substance neutralizing harmful agents
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
- antivenomSerum countering toxic bites
- chelationChemical metal-ion capture
adverse effects · drug interactions · contraindications · dose-response · poison control · activated charcoal · naloxone · supportive care · side effects · organ damage
pollution
Environmental harm from waste
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- biomagnificationToxins accumulating through food chains
pesticides · heavy metals · industrial waste · carcinogens · chemical spills · soil contamination · water safety · air quality · bioremediation · hazardous waste
assay
Compositional evaluation procedure
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- spectrometryMeasuring radiation to identify substances
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
detection · quantification · metabolites · sample · reagents · nanograms · pharmacokinetics · standards · laboratory · enzymes
autopsy
Medical examination after death
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- coronerPublic death investigator
- investigationFormal examination of facts
poisoning · overdose · homicide · death · pathology · crime scene · medical examiner · postmortem · cause of death · chain of custody
risk assessment
Evaluating likelihood of harm
- safety testingEvaluating potential hazards
- OSHAFederal workplace safety regulator
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
FDA · threshold · clinical trials · animal testing · guidelines · compliance
- death investigationautopsy report, cause of death, death certificate, coroner's office, forensic pathologist
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- Biomedicineanatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, immunology
- environmental scienceecology, air quality, ecosystem, water quality, ecosystems
- life sciencesbiology, medicine, botany, genetics, ecology
toxicologypharmacology
Study of drug actions
therapeutics · pharmacotherapy · drug development · healing arts · remedy
toxicologynutrition science
Study of food's bodily effects
dietetics · food science · health sciences · wellness · preventive medicine
- toxicology reportAnalysis of bodily chemicals
- toxicology labFacility studying poisons
- toxicology screenTest detecting harmful substances