Lecture 3 Flashcards
Toxicology
Because of the quantity and variety of chemicals used by the chemical process industries, chemical engineers must be knowledgeable about:
the way toxicants enter biological organisms
the way toxicants are eliminated from biological organisms
the effect of toxicants on biological organisms, and
methods to prevent or reduce the entry of toxicants into biological organisms
Fundamental Principle of Toxicology:
There are no harmless substances, only harmless ways of using substances.
qualitative and quantitative study of the adverse effects of toxicants on biological organisms
Toxicology
can be a chemical or physical agent, including dusts, fibers, noise, and radiation.
Toxicant
property of a toxicant describing it effect on biological organism
Toxicity
likelihood of damage to biological organism based on exposure resulting from transport and other physical factors of usage.
Toxic Hazard
Routes of Entry
Ingestion, Inhalation, Absorption/Injection
Routes of entry: Ingestion
through the mouth into the stomach
Routes of entry: Inhalation
through mouth/nose into lungs
Route of Entry: Absorption/Injection
through skin
Plays the most significant role in toxicants entering the body through ingestion
gastrointestinal tract
plays a role in absorption and injection routes of entry
skin
for toxicants entering the body through inhalation
respiratory system
rule of thumb for dust particles:
the smaller the particles, the farther they penetrate into the respiratory system
toxicants are eliminated by the following routes:
Excretion
Detoxification
Storage
Minor routes of toxicant exit:
skin(sweat), hair, and nails
toxicant eliminated through kidneys, liver, lungs, or other organs
excretion
toxicants are eliminated by changing the chemical into something less harmful by biotransformation, usually processed by the liver but can also occur in the blood, intestinal tract wall, skin, kidneys, and other organs.
Detoxification