Definition of toxicology Toxicology

/tɑˌksɪkɑˈlʌʤi/ - [taksikalujee] - tox•i•col•o•gy

We found 7 definitions of toxicology from 7 different sources.

What does toxicology mean?

Plural: toxicologies

toxicology - the branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature and effects and treatments of poisons

materia medica, pharmacological medicine, pharmacology the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects

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toxicology (Noun)
The branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature, effect, detection and treatment of poisons and poisoning.

toxicology (n.)
The science which treats of poisons, their effects, antidotes, and recognition; also, a discourse or treatise on the science.

toxicology
A science that deals with poisons, their actions, their detection, and the treatment of the conditions they produce.\n(Source: LANDY)

toxicology
tok-si-kol′ō-ji, n. the science of poisons.—ns. Toxē′mia, Toxæ′mia, Toxicē′mia, Toxicæ′mia, blood-poisoning.—adjs. Toxē′mic, Toxæ′mic, septicemic; Tox′ic, -al, pertaining to poisons, toxicological.—adv. Tox′ically.—adj. Tox′icant, poisoning.—n. a poison.—adj. Toxicolog′ical, pertaining to toxicology.—adv. Toxicolog′ically.—ns. Toxicol′ogist, one versed in toxicology; Toxicō′sis, a morbid condition caused by the action of a poison; Tox′in, -e, a poisonous ptomaine. [Gr. toxikon, arrow-poison—toxikos, for the bow—toxon, a bow, logia—legein, to say.]

Toxicology is the study of the negative effects of chemicals on living things. The main factor in the "toxicity" of a substance is the dose (how much of the chemical has been given), as almost all substances can be toxic under the right conditions.

Many chemicals that we call poisons are only toxic when made into different chemicals by the body. Many chemicals are made toxic in the liver by enzymes, for example paracetamol, which is a common drug. There is also some variation in liver enzymes (caused by genetic variation) in different people that can cause a substance to be more toxic in one person than it is in another. Some substances are also only toxic when they are with other chemicals, as one liver enzyme can cause activity in another enzyme.