Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation

Calanipawan Road, Tacloban City

Environmental Science

TOXICOLOGY

Group 4:
Hannah Joyce S. Alday
Lyka Jane E. Ayo
Gwenree Dania C. Capanang
Kenneth C. Medallada
Bernadette Allison C. Suarez
Marianne Joanna S. Tebrero
What is Toxicology?
 It is the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons.
 It is a scientific discipline, overlapping with biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and
medicine, that involves the study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on living
organisms.
 It is the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins and toxicants.
What are Toxins?
 It is defined as a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms.
 It can be small molecules, peptides, or proteins that are capable of causing disease on
contact with or absorption by body tissues interacting with biological macromolecules
such as enzymes or cellular receptors.
 Toxins vary greatly in their toxicity, ranging from usually minor to almost immediately
deadly.
Classification of Toxins:
1.) Biotoxins:
 Refers explicitly toxins of biological origin.
 It can be further classified, as fungal biotoxins, microbial toxins, plant biotoxins, or
animal biotoxins.
 Toxins produced by microorganisms are important virulence determinants responsible
for microbial pathogenicity and/or evasion of the host immune response.
 They vary greatly in purpose and mechanism, and can be highly complex.
Biotoxins in nature have two primary functions:
֍ Predation, such as in the spider, snake, scorpion, jellyfish, and wasp.

֍ Defense, such as in the bee, ant, termite, honey bee, wasp, and poison dart frog.

 Microbial Toxins: Tetanus toxin, Botulinum Toxin and Diphtheria toxin. The range
of poisonous chemicals produced by bacteria is large.

o Tetanus Toxin- produced by anaerobic bacillus Clostridium tetani, which

commonly resides in soil. The bacillus enters the human body through a wound in
the skin, and the toxin travels along peripheral nerves to the CNS.
o Botulinum Toxin-(Clostridium botulinum) it arises under low-oxygen conditions.
The toxin is sometimes ingested through improperly processed/canned food in
which the bacteria spores survive, then grow and produce the toxins. It can cause
intestinal infection in infants, wound infections and can be caught by inhalation.
o Diphtheria Toxin- is secreted by Corynebacterium, the pathogenic bacterium that
causes diphtheria. It causes the disease which its infection can cause serious
breathing complications, nerve problems leading to paralysis, heart failure and
even death. The toxin inhibits protein synthesis in cells.

o Fungal biotoxins = Myotoxins: spores, secondary metabolic product

 o Ex. Death Cap Mushroom (Amanita Phalloides)- widely distributed across
europe, but found all around the world. Have caps that are generally greenish in
color with white stripe gills. Eating one is enough to kill a healthy adult. Destroys
the liver cells.

o Fly Amanita (Amanita Muscaria)- Species likely found in the philippines. It

is called Fly amanita/agaric because little pieces of the mushroom are placed in
milk to attract flies, the flies would then become inebriated and crash into walls
and die. Its arguably one of the most iconic toadstool species. It is large wide
gilled, white-spotted, and usually red. It is one of the less deadly mushrooms from
the amanita family, as it only happens to have hallucinogenic properties.

 Plant Biotoxins:
o Ex. Water Hemlock: The deadliest and most poisonous plant in the world, it
contains a toxin called Cicutoxin w/c is a violent covulsant that acts as a stimulant
in the CNS. It has small white flowers that grow in umbrella like clusters.

o Rosary Peas: Is a herbaceous flowering plant, they are shiny, scarlet-red seeds
with a black spot. It contains a toxin called Abrin which is three times deadlier
than Ricin. It can be inhaled, swallowed, or injected. Found likely in the
Philippines.

Types of Biotoxins:

 Cyanotoxins, produced by cyanobacteria. Organisms include: The fiddle back spider,

most rattlesnakes and vipers, necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria)

 Dinotoxins, produced by dinoflagellates.

 Necrotoxins causes necrosis in the cells they encounter and destroy all types of tissue.

 Nuerotoxins primarily affect the nervous systems in animals. It generally consists of ion
channel toxins that disrupt ion channel conductance. Organism include: The black widow
spider, most scorpions, the box jellyfish, elapid snakes, the cone snail, the blue-ringed
octopus, venomus fish, frogs, palythoa coral.

 Myotoxins are small, basic peptides found in snakes and lizard venoms. It can cause
muscle tissue damage by a non-enzymatic receptor based mechanism. Organism
includes: Rattlesnakes, and the eastern bearded dragon.

 Cytotoxins are toxic at the level of individual cells, either in a non-specific fashion or
only certain types of living cells. Organism include: Ricin (castor beans), Apitoxin (Honey bees),
T-2 Mycotoxin (certain toxic mushrooms), Cardiotoxin III (Chinese cobra).

2.) Environmental Toxins:

 The term can explicitly include synthetic contaminants such as industrial pollutants and
other artificially made toxic substances.
 Encompasses cancer-causing chemicals and endocrine disruptors, both man-made and
naturally occurring that can harm our health by disrupting sensitive biological systems.
 Environmental Toxins include compounds such as:
֍ Lead
֍ Mercury
 ֍ Radon
֍ Formaldhyde
֍ Bezene
֍ Cadmium
֍ BPA
֍ Pthalates
֍ Pesticides
֍ Paralytic, Amnesic, Diarrheal & Nuerotoxic Shellfish Poisoning

Toxins present in the Environment:

Lead

֍ Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust.
It is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. It can harm production of
blood cells and the absorption of Calcium.

Sources:

֍ The environment- the air, the soil, the water.

֍ In our homes- paint, ceramic, pipe and plumbing materials, solders, batteries,
ammunition and cosmetics.

֍ Use of fossil fuels, leaded gasoline

֍ Former lead smelters

Mercury

֍ Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in the air, water and soil. A highly
toxic form is methyl mercury.

Main source of exposure to humans: Fish and Selfish

Natural Sources:

Include volcanoes, forest fires, cannabar (ore) and fossil fuels such as coal and
petroleum.

Anthropogenic Sources:

Discharge from hydroelectric, mining, pulp, and paper industries,

Incineration of municipal and medical waste and emissions from coal-using power
plants.

Radon

֍ Radon is a natural product of the environment. Heath authorities consider it a

health hazard because of its radioactivity. EPA classes it as a carcinogen.

Sources:

֍ From the natural breakdown of Uranium

֍ Soil, water and air

֍ Natural gas

Formaldehyde

֍ Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical. It is a well-known VOC (volatile

organic compound) that is found in both outdoor and indoor air

Sources:

o Household Products
o Combustion Sources
o Clothing and Bedding
o Fabrics & Upholstery
o Body Care and Baby Products
o Furniture

Benzene

֍ Widely used industrial chemical. Determined by DOH and Human Services as a

carcinogen. It can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Sources:

֍ The environment- the air, the soil, the water

֍ Gas emissions from volcanoes and forest fires

֍ Crude oil and cigarette smoke

Cadmium

֍ Cd and its compounds are highly toxic. It causes cancer and targets the body’s
cardiovascular, renal, GI, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

Sources:

֍ Mining and metallurgical operations

֍ Electroplanting industry

֍ Manufactring PVC plastics

֍ Ni-Cd batteries, paints, pigments and dyes

֍ Fertilizers and pesticides

֍ Anti-corrosives agent for steel, iron, copper, brass, and other alloys,

Cadmium

֍ Cd and its compounds are highly toxic. It causes cancer and targets the body’s
cardiovascular, renal, GI, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.
Sources:

֍ Mining and metallurgical operations

֍ Electroplanting industry

֍ Manufactring PVC plastics

֍ Ni-Cd batteries, paints, pigments and dyes

֍ Fertilizers and pesticides

֍ Anti-corrosives agent for steel, iron, copper, brass, and other alloys.

Phthalates

֍ Group of chemicals made from petroleum used in personal care products and are
used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastics and polyvinyl chloride.

Sources:

֍ The environment- the air, the soil, the water

֍ Plants

֍ Your home

֍ Treated effluents

֍ Landfill waste

Pesticides

֍ Used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to

animals.

Sources: Found as common contaminants in soil and water and on non-target

organisms.

Fluoride

֍ Natural mineral found in the Earth’s crust. Although it is safe for dental health,
consumption of large amounts is dangerous.

Sources:

֍ Dental products

֍ Processed Beverages & Foods

֍ Pesticides

֍ Tea drinks

֍ Teflon pans
 ֍ Mechanically deboned meat

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

֍ Foodborne illness that typically develops after consumption of shellfish

contaminated with saxitoxin.

֍ Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of

marine dinoflagellates.

Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning

֍ Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is an illness caused by consumption of the

marine biotoxin called domoic acid.

֍ Domoic acid a marine biotoxin produced by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia sp., a

type of naturally occurring microscopic algae.

Diarrheal Shellfish Poisoning

֍ Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP) is a marine biotoxins produced by the

dinoflagellate Dinophysis, which is a type of naturally occurring microscopic
algae.

Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning

֍ Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) is caused by consumption of

molluscan shellfish contaminated with brevetoxins primarily produced by the
dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis.

֍ Brevotoxins are a group of more than ten natural neurotoxins.

The Effects of Toxins in the Environment:

 Lead:
 Used in the production of batteries, ammunition, and metal products.
 When lead is released to the air, it may be transported long distances before it
deposits onto the ground. Once deposited, lead often adheres to soil particles.
 It can be transported into groundwater, but the amount of lead that moves into
groundwater will depend on the chemical form of lead and soil type.
 coats the surface of the leaf and reduces the amount of light reaching it.
 wipe out populations of bacteria and fungi on leaf surfaces and in soil.
 can result in decreased learning, memory, and attention and weakness in
fingers, wrists, or ankles, anemia and damage to kidneys. It can also cause
increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older individuals.
 Mercury:
 Mercury exists in various forms: elemental or metallic, inorganic and organic
 It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks
and as a result of human activity.
 Elemental and methylmercury are toxic to the central and peripheral nervous
systems.
  can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems,
lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are
corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney
toxicity if ingested.
 impacts of mercury to the environment is its ability to build up in organisms
and up along the food chain. 
 When released into the environment, it accumulates in water laid sediments
where it converts into toxic methylmercury and enters the food
chain. Mercury contamination is a significant public health
and environmental problem because methylmercury easily enters the
bloodstream and affects the brain.

 Radon:
 Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It has no smell, color or
taste. Radon is produced from the natural radioactive decay of uranium, which
is found in all rocks and soil. Radon can also be found in water.
 Radon escapes easily from the ground into the air, where it decays and
produces further radioactive particles. As we breathe, the particles are
deposited on the cells lining the airways, where they can damage DNA and
potentially cause lung cancer
 Radon is a radioactive compound, which rarely occurs naturally in the
environment. Most of the radon compounds found in the environment derive
from human activities. Radon enters the environment through the soil, through
uranium and phosphate mines, and through coal combustion.
 Some of the radon that is located in the soil will move to the surface and
enter the air through vaporization. In the air, radon compounds will attach to
dust and other particles. It can also move downwards in the soil and enter the
groundwater. However, most of the radon will remain in the soil.
 Formaldehyde:
 Typical releases of Formaldehyde are unlikely to affect plants and wildlife in
the vicinity. It is very quickly removed from the air by reaction with other
species in the atmosphere and is broken down in water and soil within days.
 As a VOC, Formaldehyde may be involved in the formation of ground level of
ozone, which can damage crops and materials. It is not considered likely that
Formaldehyde pollution has any effects on the global environment
 Inhalation of formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
Exposure to high levels may cause throat spasms, accumulation of fluid in the
lungs and in extreme cases death.
 Repeated exposures can lead to respiratory problems such as asthma and
bronchitis.
 Benzene:
 Normal environmental concentrations of benzene are unlikely to damage
animals or plants. It does have a low to moderate toxicity for aquatic
organisms, but this is only likely to be apparent when high concentrations
arise from significant spills.
  It reacts with other chemicals in the air and is thus removed within a few days
of release. In soils and water bodies it breaks down more slowly and can pass
into groundwater where it can persist for weeks.
 In the atmosphere, benzene can react with other chemicals to create smog.
This could break down naturally but it might also attach to rain and snow and
be carried to the ground to contaminate water and soil.
 When aquatic life, like fish, shellfish and other creatures in our rivers, lakes
and oceans, is exposed to benzene, it makes them sick and can stop them from
having babies. It can alter their behavior, change their appearance and shorten
their lives.
 Cadmium:
 If it is present in soils it can be extremely dangerous, as the uptake through
food will increase. Soils that are acidified enhance the cadmium uptake by
plants.
 Earthworms and other essential soil organisms are extremely susceptive to
cadmium poisoning. They can die at very low concentrations and this has
consequences for the soil structure.
 In aquatic ecosystems, it can bio-accumulate in mussels, oysters, shrimps,
lobsters, and fish. The susceptibility to cadmium can vary greatly between
aquatic organisms.
 Animals eating or drinking cadmium sometimes get high blood-pressures, liver
disease and nerve or brain damage.
 BPA:
 Enters into the environment either directly from chemical, plastics coat and
staining manufacturers, from paper or material recycling companies, foundries
who use BPA in casting sand, or indirectly leaching from plastic, paper and
metal waste in landfills.
 It affects growth, reproduction, and development in aquatic organisms.
Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species.
 An endocrine disruptor - a substance which interferes with the production,
secretion, transport, action, function and elimination of natural hormones.
 It can imitate our body's own hormones in a way that could be hazardous for
health.
 Pthalate:
 It reachs the environment not only during the manufacture of plastics, but
also during daily use of the produced goods and contaminate the environment
through leaching, migration and oxidation during product use and storage.
 Soil can also be polluted with phthalates as a result of oil leakage from
agricultural machinery, dry and wet deposition from atmospheric air and, most
frequently, the application of organic fertilizers. It reach crop plants from the
soil environment. Plants take up soil nutrients together with pollutants,
including phthalates, through their root systems.
 Phthalates are not chemically bonded to materials used in the
manufacturing process. They migrate to the surface of the produced goods
easily, and then to the environment and living organisms.
 Decreased the production of estradiol, a sex hormone responsible for the
development of reproductive organs, in females. Exposure to phthalates leads
 to hormonal and metabolic disorders as well as developmental and
reproductive defects resembling testicular dysgenesis in humans.
 Pesticide:
 Excessive use of pesticides may lead to the destruction of biodiversity. Many
birds, aquatic organisms and animals are under the threat of harmful pesticides
for their survival.
 It pollutes air, water and soil and affect considerably natural biological
equilibrium. It diminishes biodiversity, reduce nitrogen fixation, contribute to
the disappearance of pollinators, threaten fish, and destroy bird and animal
habitats.
 It can cause neurological and psychiatric complications, brain tumors, cancers,
spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and birth defects.

How Toxins affect the Human Body:

 8 Ways Toxins Damage our Body:

1. Toxins poison the enzymes so they don’t work properly.
 Our bodies are enzyme engines. Every physiological function depends on
enzymes to manufacture molecules, produce energy, and create cell structures.
Toxins damage enzymes and thus undermine countless bodily functions—
inhibiting the production of hemoglobin in the blood, for example, or lowering
the body’s capacity to prevent the free-radical damage that accelerates aging.
2. Toxins displace structural minerals, resulting in weaker bones.
 People need to maintain healthy bone mass for lifelong mobility. When toxins
displace the calcium present in bone, there is a two-fold effect: weaker skeletal
structures and increased toxins, released by bone loss, which circulate throughout
the body.
3. Damage the organs.
 Toxins damage nearly all your organs and systems. My book, The Toxin
Solution, focuses specifically on the detox organs. If your digestive tract, liver,
and kidneys are so toxic they are unable to detox effectively, your detoxification
will backfire and your body will remain toxic.
4. Toxins damage DNA which increases the rate of aging and degeneration.
 Many commonly used pesticides, phthalates, improperly detoxified estrogens, and
products containing benzene damage DNA.
5. Toxins modify gene expressions.
 Our genes switch off and on to adapt to changes in our bodies and the outer
environment. But many toxins activate or suppress our genes in undesirable ways.
6. Toxins damage cell membranes so they don’t respond properly.
 “Signaling” in the body happens in the cell membranes. Damage to these
membranes prevents them from getting important messages—insulin not
signaling the cells to absorb more sugar, for example, or muscle cells not
responding to the message from magnesium to relax.
7. Toxins interfere with hormones and cause imbalance.
 Toxins induce, inhibit, mimic, and block hormones. One example: Arsenic
disrupts thyroid hormone receptors on the cells, so the cells don’t get the message
from the thyroid hormones that cause them to rev-up metabolism. The result is
inexplicable fatigue.
 8. Toxins impair the ability to detoxify and this is the worst of all.
 When you are very toxic and desperately need to detoxify, it’s harder to do than
when you are not toxic. In other words, just when you need your detox systems
most (to address health issues), your hard-working detox system is most likely to
be functioning below par. Why? Because the heavy toxic load you already carry
has overwhelmed your detox capacity. That’s right. The more toxins you have
burdening your body, the greater the damage to your body’s detoxification
pathways.
 That’s why restoring your detox organs—and with them your detox pathways—is
such an important challenge (and why I devoted an entire book—The Toxic
Solution—to the subject). The net result is that you then can readily release toxins
from your body.
 7 Subtle Signs of Toxin Overload:
1. You have Brain Fog.
 Confusion, memory loss, and an inability to stay focused are all signs of brain fog
and can be the result of irritation caused by chemicals and toxins that you are
exposed to. "Through a series of reactions, toxins cause inflammation which can
strip the body from essential vitamins, minerals, and hormones necessary for daily
body function," Janette Nesheiwat, M.D., family and ER medicine and medical
correspondent, tells Bustle. "You can even think of it like a car that breaks down
when it has bad oil in it." When your body is filled with toxins, it won't run
properly and will affect many areas of your body including your brain.
2. You have Constipation.
 When you consume processed foods, you're consuming all the chemicals that
come with it such as preservatives, colorants, and artificial flavoring. According
to Dr. Nesheiwat this can lead to symptoms like an upset stomach and
constipation. "These could be signs of toxin overload and your body telling you to
slow down and take care of yourself," she says. Eating organic as much as
possible, limiting alcohol intake, and drinking plenty of water should help with
your bowel movements. "Consuming foods rich in vitamins and minerals can
strengthen the body and help eliminate toxins," she says.
3. You have Low Energy Levels.
 Research has found links between chronic fatigue and toxin exposure in the
environment from things like pesticides, solvents, and metals. When toxins
overload your body, it can cause your kidneys and liver to work overtime in order
to get rid of that waste. "If we put our kidneys into overdrive it can get 'backed up'
and cause toxin buildup, which in turn causes the symptoms of fatigue and low
energy," Dr. Nesheiwat says. But since fatigue can have many different causes,
it's important to talk with your doctor if this becomes an issue for you.
4. You have Unusual Smelling Body Odor.
 One major sign of a toxin overload is abnormal smelling body odor. As Dr.
Nesheiwat says, "The body creates gases and odors, which are by products of
metabolism and the breakdown of everything we inhale, ingest or are exposed to."
Unusual smelling body odors, urine, and bad breath are all signs that your body is
trying to get rid of toxins.
5. You have Chemical Sensitivities.
 "Any amount of toxins, not just an overload, can cause chemical sensitivities," Dr.
Nesheiwat says. In fact, multiple chemical sensitivities is the result of exposure to
 low levels of common environmental contaminants. Chronic exposure to low
doses may result in itching, fatigue, cognitive problems and organ damaging
inflammation.

6. You experience Physical Aches and Pains.

 It's easy to resort to fast food, which according to Dr. Nesheiwat is "loaded with
chemicals," when you're always on-the-go or just super stressed out from work.
But if you make it a habit to eat it often, this can cause toxins to build up in your
body. In fact, a recent George Washington University study found that burgers
and other foods that get consumed at fast food places may increase the number of
"health-harming chemicals" or pathlates in the body. As Dr. Nesheiwat says,
feeling run down and having aching joints and muscles are all symptoms
associated with a toxin overload.
7. You may notice Skin Issues that you didn’t have before.
 Products such as shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and lotions can contain harmful
chemicals. As Dr. Yazdani says, "Skin is the largest organ in the body and can
expose your entire body to penetration of toxins." Exposure to toxins can cause
symptoms such as acne, rashes, puffy eyes and eczema, among others. Sometimes
the products you use may not be the culprit. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, more than 13 million workers in the United States get exposed to
potentially harmful chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. People who
are most at risk work in a variety of industries from food service to health care.
 Exposure to toxins is pretty inevitable and it may be impossible to completely rid
yourself of toxins altogether. But you can definitely reduce the amount of toxins
in your body.

Endocrine Disruptors:

What are Endocrine Disruptors?

 Endocrine disruptors are naturally occurring compounds or man-made substances

that may mimic or interfere with the function of hormones in the body.
 Endocrine disruptors may turn on, shut off, or modify signals that hormones carry,
which may affect the normal functions of tissues and organs.
 Many of these substances have been linked with developmental, reproductive,
neural, immune, and other problems in wildlife and laboratory animals.

How are people exposed to Endocrine Disruptors?

 People may be exposed to endocrine disruptors through the food and beverages they
consume, medicine they take, pesticides they apply, and cosmetics they use. So,
exposures may be through the diet, air, skin, and water.
 Some environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as the pesticide DDT,
dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used in electrical equipment, are
highly persistent and slow to degrade in the environment making them potentially
hazardous over an extended period of time.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals may impact a broad range of health effects.

  Reductions in male fertility and declines in the numbers of males born
 Abnormalities in male reproductive organs.
 Female reproductive health issues, including
 fertility problems, early puberty, and early reproductive senescence.
 *Increases in mammary, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
 Increases in immune and autoimmune disease.

Examples of Endocrine Disruptors:

 Chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors include diethylstilbestrol (the

synthetic estrogen DES), dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and some other pesticides.
 Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use
primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
 Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a high production volume chemical
used in the manufacture of a wide variety of consumer food packaging, some
children’s products, and some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical devices. In
2006, NTP found that DEHP may pose a risk to human development,
especially critically ill male infants.
 Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring substances in plants that have
hormone-like activity. Examples of phytoestrogens are genistein and daidzein,
which can be found in soy-derived products.

Measures Taken To Minimize the Effect of Toxins:

‫ﻬ‬ Helping someone who’s conscious:

o If you think someone has been severely poisoned and they're still conscious, ask
them to sit still and stay with them while you wait for medical help to arrive.
‫ﻬ‬ Helping someone who’s unconscious:
o If you think someone has swallowed poison and they appear to be unconscious,
try to wake them and encourage them to spit out anything left in their mouth.
Don't put your hand into their mouth and don't try to make them sick.
‫ﻬ‬ Poisonous Fumes:
o If you think someone has inhaled poisonous fumes, assess the situation first and
don't put yourself in danger.
‫ﻬ‬ Hospital Treatment:
o Some people who have swallowed a poisonous substance or overdosed on
medication will be admitted to hospital for examination and treatment.
o Possible treatments that can be used to treat poisoning include:

1. Activated Charcoal
2. Antidotes
3. Sedatives
4. A ventilator
5. Anti-epileptic

‫ﻬ‬ Tests and Investigations:

o Investigations may include blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
 o A blood test can be used to check the levels of chemicals and glucose in the
blood. They may be used to perform a toxicology screen and liver function test.
‫ﻬ‬ Bodily Mechanisms:
o Metabolic degradation & excretion eliminate toxins.
o Repair mechanisms mend damage.
o Diet, also, is an important health factor.
o Toxic chemical exposure: timing, dose, and route of exposure.
o Characteristics and condition of the target organism also are very influential in
determining effects of toxins.
o Just because something can be detected doesn't mean that it's present in a
dangerous form or concentration.
‫ﻬ‬ Metabolic Degradation:
o Liver: enzyme systems detoxify and help excretion out of body, can also convert
substances into carcinogens.
o Excretion: bladder and kidney can be exposed to the toxins.
‫ﻬ‬ Repair Mechanism:
o DNA, protein, cells all have repair mechanisms to replace worn or damaged parts
Tissues with high level of cell growth and replacement can be a site of
unregulated growth if under stress (cancer).
‫ﻬ‬ Eat Organic:
o Choose organic fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat to reduce your exposure to
nasty pesticides and hormones. Organic foods are grown or produced without the
aid of pesticides or antibiotics.
‫ﻬ‬ Read Labels:
o The largest source of chemicals are found in personal care products and
cosmetics, particularly because there are so many, and they’re designed to be
easily and quickly absorbed through the skin, Smith said.
‫ﻬ‬ Hit the Gym:
o Toxic chemicals are actually stored in the body, and one of the most effective
ways to break down the fat cells and flush the chemicals out is through regular
exercise.
‫ﻬ‬ Cut the Saturated Fat:
o “A lot of toxic chemicals are attracted to fat,” said Smith, who noted that once
these chemicals are in our bodies, they enter our fat cells.
‫ﻬ‬ Make your Indoor Air Clean:
o Sure, pollution is toxic, but what’s in our homes can be just as dangerous –
especially because we spend a significant portion of our lives there.
‫ﻬ‬ Avoid Plastic and Non-Stick Pans:
o Choose glass instead of plastic when storing food.
‫ﻬ‬ Chug Water:
o Water is a great way to flush the toxins out of the body. Men should aim to drink
3.7 liters a day, and women should try for 2.7 liters.