Toxicology

Toxicology is the scientific discipline, situated at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and medicine, that studies the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem. This field involves identifying toxic substances, understanding their mechanisms of action, and determining the dose-response relationship, which establishes the level of exposure that causes harm. Toxicologists play a critical role in assessing the safety of drugs, food additives, and industrial chemicals, as well as in diagnosing and treating poisonings and developing regulations to protect public and environmental health.

  1. Introduction to Toxicology
    1. Definition and Scope of Toxicology
      1. Definition of Toxicology
        1. Scope and Interdisciplinary Nature
          1. Importance in Public Health and Medicine
          2. Historical Perspectives
            1. Early Use of Poisons
              1. Paracelsus and the Dose-Response Concept
                1. Orfila and the Foundation of Forensic Toxicology
                  1. Development of Analytical Techniques
                    1. Modern Era of Toxicology
                      1. Emergence of Environmental Toxicology
                        1. Emergence of Regulatory Toxicology
                          1. Advances in Molecular Toxicology
                        2. Branches of Toxicology
                          1. Mechanistic Toxicology
                            1. Study of Mechanisms of Toxic Action
                              1. Molecular and Cellular Approaches
                              2. Descriptive Toxicology
                                1. Toxicity Testing and Observation
                                  1. Data Collection and Interpretation
                                  2. Regulatory Toxicology
                                    1. Risk Assessment and Policy Development
                                      1. Regulatory Frameworks and Guidelines
                                      2. Clinical Toxicology
                                        1. Diagnosis and Treatment of Poisoning
                                          1. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
                                          2. Forensic Toxicology
                                            1. Postmortem Analysis
                                            2. Environmental Toxicology
                                              1. Impact of Chemicals on the Environment
                                                1. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment
                                                2. Ecotoxicology
                                                  1. Effects on Populations and Communities
                                                    1. Effects on Ecosystems
                                                      1. Bioaccumulation and Food Web Impacts