Intro Toxicity Flashcards
How are tests done on animals?
-ingestion, skin application, inhalation, gavage
-placing the product in water or air of test animal’s environment
What does cruelty-free mean?
-there are no laws surrounding the statement
-could mean the final product is not currently being tested on animals, but the separate ingredients probably have been
what are some measures of toxicity?
-mortality
-teratogenicity (causes birth defects)
-carcinogenicity (cause cancer)
-mutagenicity (causes heritable change in DNA)
How is toxicity measured?
-as clinical “endpoints”
What is LD50?
-median lethal dose
-dose where 50% of the population would die
-expressed in mg/kg
What is the definition of poison?
-any pesticide with LD50 of 50mg/kg or less
-must have labels
-must have “danger” and “poison”
-must have skull with crossbones
What are the LD50 of some insecticides?
-nicotine = 50mg/kg
-TCDD (dioxin) = 0.1mg/kg
-parathion = 13 mg/kg
-malathion = 370 mg/kg
What are heavy metals?
-chemical elements with specific gravity less than 5x specific gravity of water
-atomic weight greater than Na and density greater than 5 g/cm^3
-high reflectivity, electrical/thermal conductivity, strength
-usually includes lead, cadmium, mercury
How are metals absorbed through the respiratory system?
-vapor or aerosol
-readily absorbed in alveolar space
-larger particles cleared via mucociliary transport and swallowed
-small particles may reach gas exchange and can be absorbed into blood
how are metals absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract?
-through food or water
-absorbed in GI tract lining via diffusion, transport or pinocytosis
What are some factors that change the absorption of heavy metals in the GI tract?
-metal solubility
-chemical forms of metal (methyl mercury is lipid soluble vs inorganic mercury isn’t)
-similar composition = similar absorption sites (calcium & lead)
-physiological state of the person (ex. vit d increases lead abs.)
Which heavy metals are readily absorbed in alveolar space?
-cadmium
-mercury
-tetraethyl lead
How are heavy metals excreted from the body?
-metals in blood can be bound to plasma proteins and AA
-if bound to low MW proteins and AA = filtered in glomerulus into fluid of renal tubule
-Cd and Zn can be reabsorbed in the tubule
Can enterohepatic circulation occur with heavy metals?
-yes
-absorbed metal may be excreted into bile, pancreatic secretions, or saliva
What are some minor pathways of excretion for heavy metals?
-hair (Hg, Zn, Cu, As)
-nails
-saliva
-perspiration
-exhaled hair
-lactation
-exfoliated skin
What is the acute toxicity of metals?
-pt not usually exposed and suddenly gets exposed to it
-from high-concentration exposure with little opportunity to detoxify, eliminate, or adapt
How is acute toxicity of metals treated?
-increase elimination
-prevent irreversible organ/tissue damage
-treat symptoms
What is the chronic toxicity of metals?
-more problematic because you cannot tell that it’s occurring until it has accumulated over time
-diagnosed by finding excessive metals in blood and urine
-organs not involved in abs or elim of metals may also be affected
What are the similarities and differences between acute and chronic metal toxicity?
Difference: the time between exposure and symptoms is different, organs affected is different
Similarities: treatment and most symptoms
Where can lead be found and lead to exposure?
-outdoor paint products (lead in residential paint banned in 1977)
-soil
-dust
-paint chips
-contaminated water
- lead-related occupation
-folk remedies
-congenital exposure
What are the two lead types still used in some countries?
-tetraethyl lead
-tetramethyl lead
-found in gasoline