NAME: NADIA SHOUKAT

ROLL NO: BSF1904839

DEPARTMENT: ZOOLOGY
(8TH SEMSTER)
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
TOPIC ASSIGNED: DEVELOPMNTAL AND
SCOPE OF TOXICOLOGY
ASSIGNED BY: MARIAM RASHEED

UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION LAHORE

(VEHARI CAMPUS)
 TOXICOLOGY

DEFINATION:
Environmental toxicology is the study of toxic properties of chemicals (natural and man-
made) and their effects on humans and other species in the environment

TOXICITY

DEFINATION

Actually toxicity is a relative term generally applied in comparing one chemical with another.
• Toxicity of a chemical may be defined as the capability to cause injury in a living organism.

Toxic substances

• A highly toxic substance is that which causes damage to an organism if administered

in a very small amount.
 In fact, toxicity may not be defined without reference to the quality of a substance
administered or absorbed (Dose),
 The way in which this quantity is administered (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, injection),
and distributed in time (e.g., single dose, repeated dose),
 The type and severity of injury and the time required to produced that injury.

DEVELOPMENT OF TOXICOLOGY

Toxicology dates to the earliest humans Poisons played an important role in the history of
mankind.

Humans have a long history of using poison

1. Hemlock (Greek capital punishment)

2. Aconite (Chinese poison arrows)

Dioscorides—Greek physician who classified poisons for Nero. He included descriptions and
drawings.
Toxicology during this time, however, mainly focused on poisoning (suicide, state-sanctioned
& personal usage…).
This knowledge also lead to antidotes.

Emetics—Agent to induce vomiting following poisonings

Most known historical persons dealing with toxicology -
1.Dioscorides : first classification of poisons, use of emetics in treatment
2.Paracelsus :“ All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right
dose differentiates a poison from a remedy”. - A physician – alchemist; set the basics of
pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutics; investigated the dose-response relation.

o Catherine de Medici—Systematic study of the effects of poisons in the sick and poor
to make sure the correct concoction was delivered to her ‘customers’.
Noted the following:
o Rapidity of the toxic response (onset of action)
o Effectiveness of the compound (potency)
o Degree and specificity of response (site of action)
o Complaints of victims (clinical signs and symptoms)

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

1.1775—Role of soot in scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps (due to polyaromatic

hydrocarbons)
2.1825—Synthesis of phosgene and mustard gas (chemical warfare)
3.1880—Boom in organic chemical synthesis led to over 10,000 new compounds (no
industry testing for toxicity)
4.Orfila :Introduced the use of autopsy material to toxicology to provide legal proof of
poisoning.
5. Magendie: Detailed the absorption and distribution of various compounds in the body.

SCOPE

Toxicology is a science that has broad scope. Toxicology incorporates a very broad scope.

It is primarily concerned with the identification of deleterious agents and, secondly, with the
treatment of these agents for detoxification, i.e., removal of the toxin.
DIFFERENT BRANCHES

 Biochemical toxicology
 Behavioral toxicology_ behavior is final integrated expression of nervous system
 Nutritional toxicology _ the effect of diet
 Carcinogenesis cell growth
 Teratogenesis_ developmental process
 Mutagenesis _ genetic material
 Organ toxicology_ organ function

IMPOTANT POINTS

1. It deals with the toxic studies of the substances used

2. The medicine for the diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic purposes.
3. In the food industry as a direct or indirect addictive’s
4. In agriculture as pesticides growth regulators
5. In chemical industry as solvents, components
6. It also concerned with the health effects of metals radiations, petroleum products etc.