PHOTO CREDIT: TOXICOLOGY

"All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison".

---The dose makes the poison---

-Paracelsus

MAGELLAN

MAGELLAN( POISON FORM)

              PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGE 1 

         PHOTO CREDIT: IMAGE 2

It’s everyone’s fear to be poisoned. When one got poisoned, its effects are really life-threatening. Some conditions are reversible; some could cause fatal injuries which could lead to death. Oh by the way, what is a poison? What are its sources?

à But before answering the questions above, let us first explore the world of TOXICOLOGY…

TOXICOLOGY is defined by some, as the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. From the book of clinical chemistry by Michael L. Bishop et al, their definition of TOXICOLOGY is, it is the study of poisons. Also, TOXICOLOGY is concerned with study of symptoms, its mechanisms, the treatments or antidotes that could counteract the effect of the poison or toxin and detection of poisoning.

TOXIN VS TOXICANT

TOXIN is naturally derived, meaning it was produce by living organisms.

TOXICANT is man-made, meaning it is artificially prepared.

                    PHOTO CREDIT: TOXIC

Toxicology, as a body of knowledge, is divided into different fields such as Mechanistic, Descriptive, Forensic, Clinical, and Environmental toxicology. Let’s take a glimpse of what these branches are all about.

• Mechanistic Toxicology – its main concern is on how the toxin/poison causes their effects.

• Descriptive Toxicology – in here, toxicity testing is done and the properties of toxic substance are studied.  This branch of toxicology uses laboratory animals (e.g. rats) to predict the toxicity level of a particular substance to humans.

• Forensic Toxicology – investigation of the “agent” used in poisoning. Medico-legal aspects of toxic substances are studied in this branch of toxicology.

• Clinical Toxicology – it studies disease caused by exposure to the toxic substance/s. This field of toxicology is also concern with the manifestations of the sign and symptoms and on how to counteract the poison.

• Environmental Toxicology – the effects of toxic agents in the environment (air, water, soil) and in humans.

For more information about toxicology and its divisions, feel free to click these links! LINK 1, LINK 2 and LINK 3

Now let’s try to answer the previous questions above.

What is a POISON?                                                          PHOTO CREDIT: POISON

     A POISON is substance or a chemical thatcauses disturbances to living organisms. It could cause mild to severe conditions that could also lead to death.

    What are its sources?

s

     Common poisons at home and work

CLEANING AGENTS

PHOTO CREDIT: SOURCE 1

Plant toxins

POISON IVY

PHOTO CREDIT: SOURCE 2

Animal toxins

PORTUGUESE MAN O' WAR

PHOTO CREDIT: SOURCE 3

Drugs

SOME MEDICATIONS

PHOTO CREDIT: SOURCE 4

Substances of abuse

MARIJUANA

PHOTO CREDIT: SOURCE 5

Know more about these sources by clicking this LINK

Thanks to those persons who contributed their knowledge about toxicology! I hope you learn something about toxicology, and don't let yourself be POISONED! :D

TAKE CARE EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS... til next time :))

REFERENCES:

CLINICAL CEMISTRY _{TECHNIQUES, PRINCIPLES, CORRELATIONS} 6^TH ED. by Michael L. Bishop et al

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

http://www.agls.uidaho.edu/etox/

http://www.enotes.com/

http://www.scaht.org/

http://www.eoearth.org/

http://www.news-medical.net/

http://aquaticpath.umd.edu/

http://www.terrificscience.org/

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/

http://www.ncpoisoncenter.org/