Toxicology
Definition:
Toxicology: is branch of medicine that deal with study of the effects physical,
chemical and biological agent that may effect on living organism. Where study origin,
action ,symptoms ,Fatal dose ,diagnosis (analysis) and treatment(antidote).
A toxic agent: is anything that can produce an adverse biological effect may be
chemical, physical, or biological in form. For example, toxic agents may be chemical
(such as cyanide), physical (such as radiation) and biological (such as snake venom).
Poisons: any chemical substance or agent that effect on living organism functions
and lead to death.
Toxin: toxic substances that are produce from plants ,animals or bacteria.
Toxicant: is any toxic substance often made by human activities.
Xenobiotic: is the general term that is used for a foreign substance taken into the
body E.g. drugs and pesticides.
LD50:the dosage of chemicals need for produce death in fifty percent of treat
animals.
: Branches of Toxicology
.Clinical Toxicology-
.Environment Toxicology-
.Food Toxicology-
.Forensic Toxicology-
.Veterinary Toxicology-
.Industrial Toxicology-
-Analytical Toxicology.
Classification: according to
1. Nature: -solid, liquid and gases.
2. Target organs: -GIT, CNS, heart, liver, kidney and lung.
3. Mode of action: -local, remote (systemic) and double (mixed).
4. Mode of poisoning: -accidental, suicidal(F- T and M- F) and homicidally. Also
it may be acute of chronic.
Duration and Frequency of Exposure:- Toxicologists usually divide the
exposure of experimental animals to chemicals into four categories:
1. Acute
2. Subacute
3. Subchronic
4. Chronic
Acute, exposure to a chemical for less than 24 h,(single dose or small amount of
poison)
Subacute, refers to repeated exposure to a chemical for 1 month or less.
Subchronic, refers to repeated exposure to a chemical for 1 to 3 months.
Chronic refers to repeated exposure to a chemical chronic for more than 3 months.
Its produced when rate of entry of a chemical into the body exceeds its rate of
elimination (accumulation ).
Factors affecting the toxicity of poisoning.
Factors related to poisons Factors related to patient
1. State of poison: -concentration, 1. Stomach: PH, amount and the type of
solubility, PH and the form of poison food.
{solid (fine and lumps), liquid and 2. Age.
gases}. 3. Disease: liver and kidney disease.
2. Dose: 4. tolerance: addicts.
3. Rote of administration: -IV > 5. Idiosyncrasy: (Favism) abnormal
inhalation > I peritoneal > S.C > IM > response to drugs.
ID > oral > contact with the skin. 6. Hypersensitivity: exaggerated
4. Accumulation: -intake > elimination. response.
5. Chemical interaction: -
a. Addition (1 + 1 = 2) e.g. Aspirin
and paracetamol.
b. Synergism (1 + 1 = 3) e.g.
alcohol and Barbiturate.
c. Antagonism: BAL and lead.
6. Metabolism: methanol.
fate of the poison:
Part excreted by vomiting and diarrhea. Part absorbed and passes to the liver to
modify or destroy.
In general circulation go to target organs, (later destroyed in the tissue) after that
elimination by kidney, respiration, milk, sweat,.... etc.
NB: certain poisons are re - absorption and re - excretion (entero - hepatic
circulation) e.g.
1. 10% morphine excreted via the stomach.
2. Large amount of mercury re-excreted in cecum.
3. Amount of arsenic re-excreted in descending colon.
Diagnoses of poisoning:
1. History: 5 Ws (who, what poisons, when, where, why).
2. circumstantial evidence.
3. Clinical assessment: vital signs such as (blood pressure, respiration, body
temperature, pulse, coma, pupils,........etc.).
4. Toxicological analyses:
a. Living patient: (blood, urine, vomit, saliva, .............etc.)
b. Dead victims BMP. (organs).
Analysis of toxic agents? (how can)
Two-steps procedure.
1. Screening test:
Which is a rapid, simple analysis that is qualitative procedure to
detect specific drug or substance.
Sensitive but lack specificity
Assay: E.g. immunoassays.
2. Confirmatory test:
Test utilizing more specificity-and quantitative
TLC and gas chromatography.
