Living organisms are exposed to various chemicals through the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the food they eat. While some substances are totally safe to be consumed, others are toxic and can even facilitate fatal consequences. Therefore, understanding the toxicity of the products and chemicals we are exposed to daily is vital for living on Earth. And this is when toxicology comes into play. But what makes toxicology so crucial to humans and other living beings? Here are ten reasons why toxicology matters:
#1. Toxicology Overlaps with Many Different Scientific Fields
Toxicology is rarely considered a standalone scientific field. Instead, it overlaps with numerous other disciplines, including but not limited to biology, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, and pharmacology. Toxicologists provide critical information that biologists, chemists, biochemists, and medical scientists rely on. Whether we are talking about the toxicity of drugs or the treatment of patients poisoned with toxic chemicals, toxicology is what enables scientists and healthcare professionals to conduct further research or develop effective therapies.
#2. Toxicology Studies How Chemical Substances Affect the Environment or Living Organisms
Understanding the impact chemical substances have on the environment and living beings is crucial. Another reason why toxicology is so essential is that it studies the effects of various chemical agents on living organisms and our planet as a whole. To ensure the safety of living beings on Earth, it is critical to analyze the adverse effects of substances, also referred to as toxins. Without toxicology, scientists would not be able to identify and prevent health and ecological hazards caused by toxic chemicals.
#3. Toxicology Allows Pharmaceutical Scientists to Develop New Drugs and Therapies
Toxicology plays a crucial role in the overall process of drug discovery and development. Its primary objective is to evaluate how safe potential drug candidates are. Without toxicologists, developing optimal drugs and treatment therapies that are safe for humans would be impossible. Analyzing the risks and potential side effects of drugs is essential to creating effective medication.
#4. Toxicology Is Essential to Diagnosing Exposure to Toxins
While toxins in the blood can be checked through blood tests, diagnosing exposure to toxic chemicals involves the analysis of symptoms as well. In order for healthcare professionals to provide an accurate diagnosis, it is essential to have knowledge of the adverse effects caused by toxic substances. Since toxicology studies the activity of harmful chemicals and the way living organisms respond to exposure to toxins, it is crucial for diagnosing poisoning with toxicants.
#5. Toxicology Plays Critical Role in Treating Exposure to Toxins
Exposure to toxins can be fatal, but it can also be treated on many occasions. However, medical professionals need to understand how different chemicals work and what type of effects they have on living organisms. By studying the action and effects of chemical substances, toxicologists provide information crucial for treating patients poisoned with toxins. Without this information, healthcare providers would not be able to choose the right drugs and treatment therapies for their patients.
#6. Toxicology Helps Scientists Discover Ways to Limit Our Exposure to Toxic Chemical Substances
In order to prevent toxins from accumulating in living organisms in higher concentrations, it is crucial to limit our exposure to toxic chemicals in the first place. The only way to minimize the amount of toxins we ingest or absorb through our skin is to understand the toxicity of different substances. By providing detailed information about how toxic or harmful chemicals can be, toxicology enables scientists to develop ways to limit our exposure to these substances.
#7. Toxicology Studies Allow Us to Protect Ourselves from Infections and Diseases
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, toxins from bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants are among the most deadly substances that can be really dangerous for our health. While some toxins, such as the anthrax lethal toxin, disrupt cells’ defense system, others, such as the botulinum toxin, cause severe muscle-paralyzing diseases. Toxicology studies protect us from infections and diseases by providing information on how to minimize exposure to deadly chemicals.
#8. Toxicology Studies Are Key to Determining the Optimal Drug Dose
Determining the optimal drug dose is essential to finding the lowest dose possible that will take care of the symptoms without causing any long-term or severe side effects. In addition, toxicology studies are crucial to identifying effective and safe doses of various drugs. This is a critical step in the process of drug development and is also essential for healthcare professionals to prescribe the right drug at the right dose.
#9. Toxicology Reports Provide Critical Information for Forensic Science
Forensic toxicology is a branch of toxicology that focuses on the analysis of biological samples for the presence of drugs or other toxic chemicals. A toxicology report is a document containing the results of the analysis and provides detailed information about the type and amount of harmful substances present in the sample. Besides, toxicology is crucial for determining the potential effects of chemical substances on an individual’s death or health.
#10. Toxicology Is Fundamental to Increasing Public Safety
Toxicology studies provide critical resources for increasing public safety and reducing public health hazards. By identifying and analyzing toxic chemicals, toxicologists determine what exposure to toxins can potentially cause and minimize the adverse health effects accordingly. In addition, toxicology studies are of huge importance during natural disasters or environmental accidents that involve toxic chemical substances.
