Plant, Animal & Environmental

toxicity (Bt 412 T) (2)

What is toxicity?
-What is a poison??
--
--
-How poisons are classified ?
Origin, physical form, chemical activity, others
 Toxic agents

Plants and Animals Calories

Toxic agents
In regard to poisoning, chemicals can be
divided into three broad groups:
 Agricultural and industrial chemicals
 Drugs and Health care products,
 Biological poisons (plant and animal
sources)

Agricultural chemicals
pesticides (insecticides, herbicides,
fungicides, fumigants, and rodenticides)
Industrial chemicals
Hydrocarbons.
Chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Alcohols.
Ketones.
Aromatic amines and nitro compounds
Miscellaneous inorganic compounds.
Air pollutants
Interaction of Chemicals
Interactions can occur in a variety of
ways.

Interaction of Two Chemicals

Additive(2+3=5)
Synergistic(2+2=20)
Potentiation (0+2=10)
Isopropanol &CCl4.
Antagonistic(4+6=8),(4+(-4))=0
OR (4+0=1)
Toxin= (Greek:Toxikon),
poisonous substances produced within living cells
or organisms.
Poisons of biological origin (Biotoxins)

Biotoxins are grouped into three major categories:

(1) Microbial toxins, poisons produced by:

Fungi: mycotoxin
Algea : Phycotoxin;
blue-green algae,
dinoflagellates,
golden-brown algae
(2) Phytotoxins
toxins derived from plants
substances which are responsible for producing
the symptoms of disease in higher plants.

-Members of various classes of secondary

metabolites
(3) Zootoxins , animals poisons.
Biotoxins
Function as defensive mechanisms, as in some snakes,
fishes, arthropods (e.g., insects, millipedes), and others.
(in the protection of territorial rights for reproductive
purposes—and inhibitory or antibiotic substances)

Certain marine organisms and terrestrial plants may

release into the water, air, or soil inhibitory substances
that discourage the growth of other organisms; well-
known examples include the production of antibiotic
substances by microorganisms.

Biotoxins play important roles in the regulation of natural

populations.