Toxicology

Question 1

Toxic effects seen in animal studies serve as models for human health effects and are predictive of human health effects in almost all cases, T or F?

Answer 1

False; animal and in vitro testing are of uncertain value for predicting human health effects

Question 2

The fetus has a well-developed blood-brain barrier protecting it from absorbing toxic chemicals through the placenta, T or F?

Answer 2

False; the placenta is a relatively ineffective barrier to many types of chemicals by simple diffusion

Question 3

What is NOT correct about animal toxicity tests?

Answer 3

In vitro assays are slow and relatively expensive ways to determine mutagenicity

Question 4

What is NOT a characteristic of dose-response curves?

Answer 4

Characteristics are independent of the test animal and the route of exposure

Question 5

Detoxification reactions always transform a toxic agent to a less toxic, water-soluble metabolite, T or F?

Answer 5

False; not all transformations diminish the risk of toxicity