Toxicology is the scientific study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on knowledge from chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine. The goal of toxicology is to understand how chemicals interact with living systems to cause injury or disease.
Toxicologists use a variety of techniques to study the effects of chemicals on living systems. These include in vitro (laboratory) studies using cells and tissues, in vivo (animal) studies, and epidemiological (human population) studies. In vitro and in vivo studies provide information about the mechanisms by which chemicals cause injury or disease. Epidemiological studies help to identify groups of people who are at increased risk for exposure to harmful chemicals.
Toxicologists also develop methods to assess the risks posed by chemicals to human health and the environment. Risk assessment is a complex process that considers many factors, including the toxicity of a chemical, its concentration in air, water, or soil, and how long it will remain in the environment. Toxicologists use this information to develop recommendations for safe exposure levels for both workers and the general public.
Toxicology is an important science because it helps us to understand how we can be exposed to harmful chemicals and what we can do to protect ourselves from them.