Introduction to Toxicology

Toxicology is the study of the effects of chemicals on living individuals. It basically pays attention to the symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and in detecting poisons.

Below are examples of chemicals that we encounter in our day to day lives:

Category	Examples
Metals, and metalloids	arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, etc
Inorganics (other)	asbestos, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide
Hydrocarbons - aliphatic	propane, butane, pentane, hexane
Aliphatic alcohols, ketones, ethers, aldehydes and acids	ethyl alcohol (ethanol), acetone, diethyl ether, formaldehyde, acetic acid
Hydrocarbons - aromatic	benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene
Phenols	phenol, pentachlorophenol
Chlorinated volatile organic compounds	perchlorethylene (tetrachloroethene), trichloroethylene (trichloroethene), vinyl chloride
Chlorinated non volatile organic compounds	chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides such as chlordane and DDT
Miscellaneous organic compounds	acrylonitrile, benzidine, aniline, di-isocyanates, organophosphates

Photo credit: http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/toxicol.htm

Below is a video wherein you could see the effects of harmful chemicals to animals, humans, and in our environment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiNAZsawWg0&feature=related

This video features the principles and basics of toxicology, this would give you a precise explanation to the topic:

What you have read is a simple introduction to toxicology, further topics about toxicology would soon be posted.

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