toxicológiában

Toxicology is the scientific study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine. Toxicologists investigate how poisons and other toxic substances affect the body at a molecular, cellular, and organ level.

The primary goal of toxicology is to understand the mechanisms by which toxic substances cause harm, to identify the dose-response relationship (how the severity of the effect relates to the amount of exposure), and to establish safe levels of exposure for humans and the environment. This knowledge is crucial for public health, environmental protection, and regulatory decision-making.

Branches of toxicology include environmental toxicology, which focuses on the impact of pollutants on ecosystems; forensic toxicology, which deals with the legal aspects of toxicology, such as in criminal investigations; occupational toxicology, which examines the health risks associated with workplace exposures; and clinical toxicology, which involves the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning cases. Toxicologists use a variety of methods, including in vitro studies (cell cultures), in vivo studies (animal models), and epidemiological studies (examining human populations).