NATS 1840 Chapter 19: 19.2-Toxicology-Assessing Chemical Hazards
8 Feb 2019
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How much, how often, and genes determines if a chemical is harmful. Toxicity: measures how harmful a substance is in causing injury, illness, or death to a living organism. Dose : the amount of a substance a person has ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. How well the body"s detoxification system works in response. (liver, kidneys) Genetic makeup (raises a question: when regulating levels of a toxic substance through skin. Frequency of exposure should the allowed level be to protect the most sensitive (at great cost), or the average person. Five major factors affecting harm caused by substance. Solubility: water soluble toxins (inorganic) can move throughout the environment and get into water supply and solutions in our body. Oil or fat soluble toxins: organic, can penetrate membranes surrounding and organisms cells, can accumulate in the body harmful effects. Persistence: resistance to break down, do their job for a long time, long lasting. Bioaccumulation: some molecules are absorbed and stored in specific organs.
