Paracelsus, sometimes called The Father of Toxicology once said, "All substances are poisons. There is none which is not a poison. The right dosage differentiates a poison & a remedy". As we all know toxicology is the study of adverse effects on humans of prophylactic and therapeutic drugs, food and beverage additives, and industrial chemicals incorporated into consumer product. Harmful
or adverse effect is the damaging to the normal functioning of the body. As
what Paracelsus stated, it is in the right dosage where we can develop a poison
or antidote. Poison, which is any substance that when engrossed in the body
destroys the health. The chemical reaction that caused by poison can lead to
disability or death in worst case scenario. Poisoning can be by accident,
suicidal or criminal. Most common causes of poisoning:
Death
|
Disability
|
Barbiturates
|
Ethanol
|
Carbon monoxide
|
Barbiturates
|
Phenols; Cresols
|
Lead
|
Methanol
|
Arsenic
|
Ethanol
|
Salicylates
|
Cyanide
|
Carbon monoxide
|
Arsenic fluoride
|
Methanol
|
Mercury
|
Antihistamines
|
Salicylates
|
Non-barbiturate hypnotics
|
Antidote or remedy is a substance which can counteract the noxious effect of a poison. It combines with the poison and activates it. Antidote was derived from a Greek word which means “given against”. A physiologic antidote opposes the actions of the poison.
Here are some toxins with their corresponding antidotes:
Toxin
|
Antidote
|
Iron (hemochromatosis)
|
Desferrioxamine
|
Cholinergics
(mushroom poisoning) |
Atropine sulfate
|
Paracetamol/ Acetaminophen
|
N-acetylcysteine
|
Narcotics
|
Naloxone
|
Methotrexate
|
Calcium folinate
|
Benzodiazepines
|
Flumazenil
|
Toxicology is the study of how man-made poisons can cause undesirable effects on us. Toxic agents are detrimental to us that are why we should avoid them. There are classifications of toxic agents. According to http://www.lnt.ch/Toxicology.pdf
A.Heavy Metals
B. Solvents and Vapors
C. Radiation and Radioactive Materials
D. Dioxin/Furans
E. Pesticides
F. Microbial toxins
G. Mushroom toxins
H. Plant Toxins
I. Animal Toxins
J. Subcategories of Toxic Substances
K. General Classifications of Interest to Communities
These are the fields of toxicology or sub-disciplines.
- Environmental Toxicology
 |
| http://cameroon.setac.eu/?contentid=385 |
The study of chemicals that can contaminate the soil, water, food or atmosphere.
- Occupational or Industrial Toxicology
 |
| http://www.safesci.unsw.edu.au/research/occtox.html |
It is the adverse effects of agents to workers during the course of their employment.
- Regulatory Toxicology
 |
| http://www.spectroniq3d.com/what-are-the-dietary-risks.htm |
It is the gathering and evaluating of toxicoligical information in order to make a establish concentration-based standards.
- Food Toxicology
 |
| http://www.spectroniq3d.com/what-are-the-dietary-risks.htm |
It involves the different way of edible and safe supply of food.
- Clinical Toxicology
 |
| http://www.ncl.ac.uk/mtc/research/toxicology/ |
It is concerned with the different diseases or illnesses that is caused by a short or long exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Descriptive Toxicology
 |
| http://www.saawinternational.org/animalexperimentation.htm |
It involves the toxicological information gathering with the help of animal experiments.
- Forensic Toxicology
 |
| http://forensicfact.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/forensic-toxicology/ |
It helps to determine the cause and effect of toxic chemicals between the exposure to the toxin and the lethal effects.
- Analytical Toxicology
 |
| http://www.conseilcoopipe.org/forensic-toxicologist-jobs/ |
It identifies the toxicant by the analysis of different body fluids like urine, blood and oral fluid.
- Mechanistic Toxicology
 |
| http://toxicology.umaryland.edu/Pages/MolecularandMechanisticTrack.aspx |
It involves the observation on how the toxic chemicals cause effect.
Thereby, i have learned so many things about toxicology and it's different sub types.
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