Toxicant
Toxicant
Toxicant (pronounced: /ˈtɒksɪkənt/) is a substance that can cause harm to living organisms when introduced into the body. The term is derived from the Latin word 'toxicum', meaning 'poison'.
Etymology
The term 'toxicant' is derived from the Latin word 'toxicum', which means 'poison'. The word 'toxicum' itself is derived from the Greek word 'toxikon', which was used to refer to the poison that was applied to arrows.
Definition
A toxicant is any chemical or mixture that, if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed, or if it contacts a biological system, may cause a harmful effect. The harm can occur in various forms, including physical injury, disease, death, or birth defects in offspring. The severity of the harm is dependent on the concentration and duration of exposure to the toxicant.
Types of Toxicants
There are several types of toxicants, including:
- Chemical toxicants: These are substances that are harmful to the body due to their chemical properties. They include substances such as lead, mercury, and asbestos.
- Biological toxicants: These are substances that are produced by living organisms and can cause harm to other organisms. They include toxins produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants.
- Physical toxicants: These are substances that cause harm through physical means, such as radiation or heat.
Related Terms
- Toxin: A toxin is a toxicant that is produced by a living organism. It is often used interchangeably with the term 'toxicant', but technically, a toxin is a subset of toxicants.
- Toxicology: This is the study of the harmful effects of toxicants on living organisms.
- Toxicity: This refers to the degree to which a substance can harm a living organism.
- Poison: A poison is a substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Toxicant
- Wikipedia's article - Toxicant
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