Toxicology

The study of the detrimental effects of substances on living beings is known as toxicology. It is a field of biology, chemistry, and pharmacology. It also investigates the adverse effects of chemical, biological, and physical agents in biological systems, which produce varying degrees of damage in living creatures. In toxicology, the link between dose and consequences on the exposed organism is critical. The dosage (acute or chronic), the route of exposure, the species, age, sex, and environment are all factors that determine chemical toxicity. 

Toxicology entails observing and reporting symptoms, mechanisms, detection, and treatment of toxic chemicals in people, with a focus on poisoning. It encompasses natural environmental agents and chemical substances, as well as pharmaceutical molecules manufactured for human medical purposes. In living creatures, these compounds may have harmful effects such as disrupted development patterns, discomfort, sickness, and death. The purpose of toxicity testing is to detect a substance's negative consequences. The following are the two key elements that influence adverse effects: 

• Dose 
• Routes of exposure (oral, inhalation, or dermal)
• Duration and concentration of exposure

Substances are examined in both acute and chronic models to investigate dosage. In general, several studies are carried out to evaluate whether a drug causes cancer and to investigate other types of toxicity. Toxicity tests can be performed in vivo (on the entire animal), in vitro (on isolated cells or tissues), or silicon (on computer models) (in a computer simulation).

Toxicology and potential career paths

Toxicology is a vital profession because people are concerned and dreaded about the possibly hazardous consequences of products, treatments, and chemicals they come into contact with regularly. They also have mental stimulus problems, when treated or known about incorrectly. We wouldn't know what could potentially poison or injure living beings or the environment if toxicologists weren't around. 

A toxicologist is a scientist who studies the impact of chemicals on living things. Toxicology is divided into two areas: 

• One is concerned with the effects of poisonous compounds on individuals.
• The other is concerned with their impact on the environment.

Toxicology is a vast field of research with numerous sub-disciplines. Graduate or postgraduate degrees are available to aspirants.

Job roles for a Toxicology aspirant are

• Research
• Product Safety Evaluation
• Teaching
• Public Service, Regulatory Affairs, and Consulting

Many toxicologists are primarily involved in the discovery of new understanding about how toxic compounds create their effects, particularly in academic and nonprofit institutions. Toxicology research includes subspecialties such as chemical carcinogenesis, reproductive and developmental toxicology, neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology, inhalation toxicology, risk assessment, and many others. 

To investigate the cellular, biochemical, and molecular processes behind hazardous responses, researchers use laboratory animals, human and animal cells in culture, and other test systems. Individuals working in the industry, academia, and government can participate in research. There are numerous options and applications of this field of study