Toxicology Flashcards
study of the undesirable effects of
xenobiotics in humans
Toxicology
chemicals and drugs that are
not normally found in or produced by the
body
Xenobiotic
can be obtained through the environmental exposure to chemicals or drugs
Xenobiotic
substances that are not
produced within a living cell or
microorganism
Toxicant
commonly used to describe
environmental chemicals
Toxicant
endogenous substances biologically
synthesized either in living cells or in
microorganisms
Toxin
the dose that has a therapeutic effect in 50% of the
population
ED50
the dose that would result in
death in 50% of the population
LD50
the dose that would produce a toxic response in 50% of the population
TD50
The three (3) common routes of exposure
Ingestion, Inhalation, and Transdermal Absorption
have the ability to
diffuse across the cell membrane
Hydrophobic substances
can be absorbed
anywhere along the GIT
Hydrophobic substances
cannot passively diffuse
across membranes
Ionized substances
become protonated in gastric
acid
Weak acids
can be absorbed in the stomach
Weak acids
absorbed in the intestine where
the pH is largely neutral or slightly alkaline
Weak bases
Incidence of defined biological effect in an
exposed population
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP
Implies that there will be an increase in the
toxic response as the dose is increased
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP
Can be described by dose-response curves
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP
Most commonly encountered non drug toxins
seen in a clinical setting
TOXICOLOGY OF SPECIFIC AGENTS
Cause medical emergencies with acute
exposure
TOXICOLOGY OF SPECIFIC AGENTS
Can cause general (depressant on CNS) and
specific effects
Alcohols
Site of metabolism of alcohol
LIVER
Most commonly abused drug
Ethanol
consumption of this during pregnancy may lead to fetal alcohol syndrome
Ethanol
it causes brain damage and growth problems
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
this promotes adduct formation
Acetaldehyde
product of direct addition of
two or more distinct molecules, resulting in
a single reaction product
Adduct
causes diuresis by inhibiting ADH
Ethanol
Effects of Ethanol Consumption
Toxic hepatitis and Liver cirrhosis
Antidote for chronic intoxication:
DIAZEPAM
two enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism
Alcoholic dehydrogenase and Aldehyde dehydrogenase
Commonly laboratory solvent
Methanol
Effects of Methanol Consumption
Severe metabolic acidosis, Tissue injury, Optic neuropathy, and Death
Kind of alcohol that excessive intake may lead to death
Methanol
The end product of methanol metabolism
Formic Acid