toxicpoisonous

Toxic and poisonous are terms used to describe harmful substances, but they have distinct meanings in science and everyday language. Poisonous describes something that can cause harm if it is ingested, inhaled, or touched, often because it contains toxins produced by living organisms. Toxic is a broader descriptor referring to the property of causing adverse biological effects, which can arise from chemicals, physical agents, or biological agents, regardless of how they are encountered.

In practice, many poisons are toxic, since they can produce harmful effects. However, not every toxic substance is described as poisonous in common usage. Some substances are toxic only under specific exposure conditions or routes (for example, inhaled toxins may be more harmful through the lungs than through ingestion). Conversely, a substance that causes harm primarily because it is produced by a living organism is often called a toxin, and toxins can be venom or other biologically generated poisons.

Key related terms include toxin, toxin-producing organisms, venom, toxicant, and toxinology. A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by a living organism; a toxicant is any toxic substance, including synthetic chemicals. The phrase “the dose makes the poison” summarizes how exposure amount and duration influence risk, with routes of exposure, metabolism, and individual susceptibility shaping outcomes.

Safety frameworks commonly describe hazards in terms of acute and chronic toxicity, exposure routes, and dose–response. Understanding the distinctions helps in risk assessment, regulation, and public health communications.