Overview of clinical toxicology by Elphas Shikokoti BSC. MLS
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Toxic-This term relates to poisonous or deadly effects on the body by inhalation (breathing),
ingestion (eating), or absorption, or by direct contact with a chemical substance.
Toxicity-describes the degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury. The toxicity
depends on a variety of factors: dose, duration and route of exposure.
Toxicant: any poisonous substance, natural or synthetic that reacts with specific cellular
components to kill cells, alter growth or development, or kill the organism.
Poison: any substance that causes a harmful effect when administered, either by accident or
design, to a living organism.
Toxic effects-refers to the health effects that occur due to exposure to a toxic substance; also
known as a poisonous effect on the body.
Common toxic substances
a) Heavy metals-mercury, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead
b) Microbial toxins
c) Plant Toxins-include sulfur compounds, lipids, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides
d) Solvents-hexane, benzene, toluene, methyl cellosolve
e) Therapeutic drugs-essentially all therapeutic drugs can be toxic, producing deleterious
effects at some dose.
f) Drugs of abuse-ethanol,methaqualone (Quaalude), and secobarbital; central nervous
system stimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamine (speed), caffeine, and nicotine;
opioids, such as heroin and mependine (demerol); and hallucinogens such as lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD),phencyclidine (PCP), and tetrahydrocannabinol.
g) Combustion products-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons e.g
Benzo(a)pyrene,
Benzo(e)pyrene
h) Cosmetics- some ingredients e.g Bromates; organometallics, azo or aromatic amine dyes
Thioglycolates and thioglycerol
i) Pesticides: mainly used in agriculture
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Toxic-This term relates to poisonous or deadly effects on the body by inhalation (breathing),
ingestion (eating), or absorption, or by direct contact with a chemical substance.
Toxicity-describes the degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury. The toxicity
depends on a variety of factors: dose, duration and route of exposure.
Toxicant: any poisonous substance, natural or synthetic that reacts with specific cellular
components to kill cells, alter growth or development, or kill the organism.
Poison: any substance that causes a harmful effect when administered, either by accident or
design, to a living organism.
Toxic effects-refers to the health effects that occur due to exposure to a toxic substance; also
known as a poisonous effect on the body.
Common toxic substances
a) Heavy metals-mercury, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead
b) Microbial toxins
c) Plant Toxins-include sulfur compounds, lipids, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides
d) Solvents-hexane, benzene, toluene, methyl cellosolve
e) Therapeutic drugs-essentially all therapeutic drugs can be toxic, producing deleterious
effects at some dose.
f) Drugs of abuse-ethanol,methaqualone (Quaalude), and secobarbital; central nervous
system stimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamine (speed), caffeine, and nicotine;
opioids, such as heroin and mependine (demerol); and hallucinogens such as lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD),phencyclidine (PCP), and tetrahydrocannabinol.
g) Combustion products-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons e.g
Benzo(a)pyrene,
Benzo(e)pyrene
h) Cosmetics- some ingredients e.g Bromates; organometallics, azo or aromatic amine dyes
Thioglycolates and thioglycerol
i) Pesticides: mainly used in agriculture
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