toxic

en-adj

toxic (comparative more toxic, superlative most toxic)

more toxic (comparative)
most toxic (superlative)

Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).

Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances.

If some types of electronic waste aren’t incinerated at a high enough temperature, dioxins, which can cause cancer and developmental problems, infiltrate the food supply. Without proper safeguarding, toxic heavy metals seep into the soil and groundwater.

2019 December 8, Hannah Beech, Ryn Jirenuwat, “The Price of Recycling Old Laptops: Toxic Fumes in Thailand’s Lungs”, in New York Times:

(toxicology, pharmacology) Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.


LC

en-noun

LC (countable and uncountable, plural LCs)

lethal concentration
lethal concentration#English

(toxicology) Initialism of lethal concentration.


aconite

aconite (countable and uncountable, plural aconites)

→ Irish: acainít

From French aconit, from Latin aconītum, from Ancient Greek ἀκόνιτον (akóniton).

Aconitum napellus
Aconitum napellus#Translingual

(toxicology) An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a poison and medicinally.


(toxicology) The amount of a substance required to kill half of a given population; a measure of toxicity.


thebaine

From Ancient Greek Θῆβαι (Thêbai, “Thebes”)

(toxicology) A poisonous alkaloid, paramorphine, obtained from opium; not used in medicine.


neurotoxin

There were stretches of days when the lakes were closed because of the algae. It sometimes secreted neurotoxins that could be fatal.

2020, Brandon Taylor, Real Life, Daunt Books Originals, page 31:

(neuroscience, toxicology, pharmacology) A toxin that specifically acts upon neurons, their synapses, or the nervous system in its entirety.


ricin

It had to be one of three things: A hoax. Or anthrax, which meant I’d have to go on Cipro for a month. Or if it was ricin, I was dead, so bye-bye.

2021 January 24, Donald G. McNeil Jr, “Fauci on What Working for Trump Was Really Like”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(biochemistry, toxicology) An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean.


PBT

PBT (countable and uncountable, plural PBTs)

w:persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances

(toxicology, countable) Initialism of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (substance).


TDI

TDI (countable and uncountable, plural TDIs)

Coordinate term: TWI

Evaluations of dioxin hazards are made on the basis of the tolerable daily intakes (TDI). Since 1980 the TDIs are established by appropriate authorities in individual countries. By definition TDIs are the maximum doses which are not harmful even when taken over the whole life.

2005, Przemysław Mastalerz, The True Story of DDT, PCB, and Dioxin, Wydawnictwo Chemiczne, →ISBN, page 91:

tolerable daily intake
w:tolerable daily intake

(toxicology) Initialism of tolerable daily intake.


atropine

atropine (countable and uncountable, plural atropines)

atropines (plural)
atropia (alternative)

From Latin Atropa (“genus of deadly nightshade”) + -ine.

af

Atropa belladonna
Atropa belladonna#Translingual

(toxicology, pharmacology) An alkaloid extracted from the plant deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other sources, such as the seeds of the thorn-apple. Though overdoses would be fatal it is used as a drug in medicine for its paralytic effects (e.g. in surgery to relax muscles, in dentistry to dry the mouth, in ophthalmology to dilate the pupils).


MPTP

(neurotoxicology) 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine: a byproduct of synthetic heroin, or MPPP, which causes parkinsonian symptoms in users; and a neurotoxin that degrades into MPP+ after crossing the blood-brain barrier, which causes a degradation of the dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra.


(neurotoxicology) A neurotoxin that cannot cross the blood-brain barrier but which, once in contact, can destroy the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra.


sarin

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sarin.wav

Named after the initials of its creators, Gerhard Schrader (1903–1990), Ambros, Rüdiger and Van der Linde.

The health minister in Turkey, which treated many of the attack's victims and conducted autopsies on others, said test results conducted on victims confirmed sarin gas was used.

2017 April 12, Samuel Osborne, “Vladimir Putin says US-Russia relations are worse since Donald Trump took office”, in The Independent:

Because Syria was not a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, there was no international mechanism to ascribe responsibility for the attack, although UN inspectors did conclude that sarin had been deployed.

2022 April 17, Scott Lucas, “When Will There Be Justice Over Assad’s Sarin Attacks?”, in EA WorldView:

Trostianets mayor Yuriy Bova said officials had discovered traces of the deadly substance sarin and other chemical substances. Sarin is a clear and odourless substance that is classed as a potentially lethal nerve agent.

2022 April 18, Paul Withers, “Putin chemical weapon horror: Ukrainian mayor says 'remains' of sarin found after retreat”, in Daily Express:

(toxicology, military) The nerve gas O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate, used as a chemical weapon.


aflatoxin

(toxicology) Any of a family of mycotoxins, produced by molds of the Aspergillus genus, that can be toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic; typically found as contaminants of animal food or peanuts.


tetrodotoxin

en-noun

tetrodotoxin (countable and uncountable, plural tetrodotoxins)

From German Tetrodotoxin, corresponding to Tetrodon (tetr- + -odon) + toxin.

Both creatures belong to a large pan-tropical order of fish, many of which have tetrodotoxin in their skin, liver, ovaries, and intestines.

1985, Wade Davis, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Simon & Schuster, page 118:

The blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena lunulata has tetrodotoxin, the deadly toxin it also releases in a bite, in their ink but the concentrations and effect in inking are not known.

2017 August 9, Mark Carnall, The Guardian:

(neurotoxicology) A neurotoxin, originally discovered in Tetraodontiformes, and found in pufferfish, blue-ringed octopus, etc.


CRS

CRS (countable and uncountable, plural CRSs)

(toxicology) Abbreviation of crotylsarin.


ciguatoxin

(toxicology) Any of several closely related toxins, having a complex structure including a row of thirteen connected heterocyclic rings, produced by algae that are eaten by many fish; causes ciguatera poisoning in humans.


brodifacoum

(toxicology) A highly lethal anticoagulant poison used as a rodenticide.


neurotoxicology

(neuroscience, toxicology) The scientific study of poisoning by neurotoxins.


neurotoxic

en-adj

neurotoxic (comparative more neurotoxic, superlative most neurotoxic)

more neurotoxic (comparative)
most neurotoxic (superlative)

(toxicology, neuroscience, pharmacology) Having a toxic effect on nerve tissue.


teratology

en-noun

teratology (countable and uncountable, plural teratologies)

From terato- + -logy, from Ancient Greek τέρας (téras, “monster”) + -λογία (-logía, “study of”).

affix

(toxicology) The study of the mechanisms, teratogenic agents, or teratogens, in bringing about malformations.

tératologie

(toxicology) study of the mechanisms in bringing about malformations.


bufadienolide

(biochemistry, toxicology) Any of a class of toxic steroids present in some plants and secreted by some toads through the skin as a defense; sometimes present as a glycoside.


neurolysin

(neuroscience, toxicology) A neurotoxin.


batrachotoxin

en-noun

batrachotoxin (countable and uncountable, plural batrachotoxins)

From Ancient Greek βάτραχος (bátrakhos, “frog”) + toxin.

compound

(neurotoxicology, uncountable) An extremely neurotoxic and cardiotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in poison dart frogs.

(toxicology, countable) Any one of a group of extremely neurotoxic and cardiotoxic steroidal alkaloids found in poison dart frogs, Melyridae beetles, and certain birds.


pyrotoxin

(toxicology) Any of several pyrogenic bacterial toxins.


hormesis

en-noun

hormesis (countable and uncountable, plural hormeses)

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ὅρμησις (hórmēsis), from Ancient Greek ὁρμή (hormḗ).

bor+

So the concept of a permissible, safe, or “threshold” dose gained currency, and this was used to set standards in industries where workers were exposed to radiation, such as uranium mining and nuclear power generation. Some people went even further, arguing for radiation hormesis—that small doses of radiation were actually good for you.

2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, chapter 5, in Merchants of Doubt:

Though he is given to gee-whizzery about anything “super awesome”—Small amounts of radiation are actually good for you! It’s called radiation hormesis!—he has scant interest in the specifics of the apps that many YC companies produce; what intrigues him is their potential effect on the world.

[2016 October 3, Tad Friend, “Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny”, in The New Yorker:

(biology, toxicology) A phenomenon in which an environmental agent or stressor produces a stimulatory or beneficial effect at low doses and an inhibitory or harmful effect at higher doses, corresponding to a biphasic dose-response relationship.


amatoxin

(toxicology) Any of a class of toxic peptides produced by several mushrooms of the genus Amanita and others.

amatoksiini

any of a class of toxic peptides produced by amanitas


brevetoxin

From dinoflagellate species Karenia brevis + toxin.

neurotoxic shellfish poisoning
neurotoxic shellfish poisoning

(organic chemistry, toxicology) Any of a class of complex polycyclic polyethers that cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning


ochratoxin

(toxicology) Any of a class of mycotoxins, having an isocoumarin structure, produced by some fungi of the genus Aspergillus and others


pectenotoxin

diarrhetic shellfish poisoning
diarrhetic shellfish poisoning

(toxicology) Any of a class of cyclic polyether toxins, produced by dinoflagellates, associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning


toxicosis

en-noun

toxicosis (countable and uncountable, plural toxicoses)


adequately wet

(toxicology, construction) Of asbestos: made wet for safety reasons, in order to prevent the escape of harmful particles, for example during demolition.


paramorphine

(toxicology) A poisonous alkaloid, also known as thebaine, obtained from opium; not used in medicine; but used as a precursor for the manufacture of some medicines.


antiendotoxic

en-adj

antiendotoxic (comparative more antiendotoxic, superlative most antiendotoxic)

more antiendotoxic (comparative)
most antiendotoxic (superlative)

(toxicology, pharmacology) That counteracts the effects of an endotoxin

antiendotóxico

that counteracts the effects of an endotoxin


venomosity

Probably from venomous + -ity; compare Middle English venymouste.

(toxicology) The strength of venom in an animal.


charybdotoxin

Blend of Charybdis + toxin; along with scyllatoxin in the same scorpion's venom, it references the monsters Scylla and Charybdis of Ancient Greek mythology.

(toxicology) An oligopeptide neurotoxin from the venom of a scorpion of the genus Leiurus.


Draize test

Developed in 1944 by American toxicologists John H. Draize and Jacob M. Spines.

(toxicology) An acute toxicity test in which a small amount of the test substance is applied to the eye or skin of a restrained, conscious animal (typically an albino rabbit) which is subsequently observed.


route of administration

en-noun

route of administration (plural routes of administration)

(pharmacology, toxicology) The path by which a drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body.

給藥途徑 /给药途径

path by which a drug is taken into the body


gliotoxin

From the fungi species Gliocladium fimbriatum + toxin.

(toxicology) A mycotoxin, originally isolated from Albifimbria verrucaria (syn. Gliocladium fimbriatum), that causes apoptosis of certain cells.


reprotoxic

en-adj

reprotoxic (comparative more reprotoxic, superlative most reprotoxic)

more reprotoxic (comparative)
most reprotoxic (superlative)

/ˌɹiːpɹəʊˈtɒksɪk/

(pharmacology, toxicology) Having a toxic effect on the process of reproduction


conotoxin

(biochemistry, toxicology) A neurotoxic peptide isolated from the venom of a marine cone snail of genus Conus.


oxidopamine

(neurotoxicology, pharmacology) A neurotoxin used by scientists for selective killing of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons.


antibothropic

(toxicology, pharmacology) Countering bothropic venom.


bibrotoxin

(toxicology) A toxin derived from the venom of the asp Atractaspis bibronii.


sarafotoxin

From Hebrew שָׂרָף (saráf, “venomous snake”) + toxin.

(toxicology) Any of a class of toxins derived from the venom of the snake Atractaspis engaddensis.


anticytotoxic

Another option exists for eliminating Tregs is anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) antibodies.

2015 June 17, Liu Yang et al., “Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy Treatment for Glioblastoma Multiforme”, in BioMed Research International, volume 2015, →DOI:

(toxicology, pharmacology) Acting against cytotoxic effects.


karlotoxin

Exposure of gill cells to algal extracts, brevetoxins and PST toxins was for 2 hrs, and to karlotoxin for 2, 3, 4 and 5 hrs.

2015 July 22, “Progress in Understanding Algal Bloom-Mediated Fish Kills: The Role of Superoxide Radicals, Phycotoxins and Fatty Acids”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI:

(toxicology) Any of a class of amphipathic toxins isolated from Karlodinium veneficum


apitoxin

(toxicology) The venom found in a honey bee's sting.


hypertoxic

The hypertoxic case has, as a rule, a characteristically poor rash, and in estimates of the result of treatment too much attention need not be paid to what happens to the rash; a plentiful distribution of the toxin into the cutaneous tissues probably acts as a safety-valve.

In a paper read before the Academiè royale de Medècine de Belgique (Procès-verbal, April, 1892), Dr. Masius shows that in doses generally considered as hypertoxic, digitalis may be taken not only without inconvenience, but that such massive doses will surely and rapidly prevent the dangers arising from cardiac weakness and from a high temperature?

1829, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, American Journal of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, page 468:

We often find in insanity an inverse toxicity of the urine, and the blood, in mania especially, is as much more hypertoxic as the urine is hypotoxic.

1832, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Irish Journal of Medical Science, Dublin, page 153:


phaseolotoxin

From Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola + toxin.

(toxicology) A toxin, produced by halo blight pathogen, that causes systemic chlorosis.


dermatotoxic

dermatotoxic (comparative more dermatotoxic, superlative most dermatotoxic)

more dermatotoxic (comparative)
most dermatotoxic (superlative)


the dose makes the poison

(toxicology) The damage that a substance causes is determined more by its quantity than by its essence.


phototoxin

(medicine, toxicology) Any toxin that causes an allergic reaction in the skin, developing into photosensitivity.


necrotoxin

(toxicology) Any toxin that causes necrosis.


cangitoxin

From sea anemone species Bunodosoma cangicum + toxin.

(toxicology) A neurotoxin found in the venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum.


maurotoxin

From the scorpion species Scorpio maurus palmatus + toxin.

(toxicology) A neurotoxin created by the Tunisian large-clawed scorpion.


hefutoxin

Blended form of the acronym derived from (He)terometrus (fu)lvipes, + toxin

(toxicology) A neurotoxin in the venom created by the Asian black forest scorpion.


scyllatoxin

Blend of Scylla + toxin; along with charybdotoxin in the same scorpion's venom, it references the monsters Scylla and Charybdis of Ancient Greek mythology.

(toxicology) An oligopeptide neurotoxin from the venom of a scorpion of the genus Leiurus.


destruxin

(toxicology) Any of a group of mycotoxins found in Metarhizium anisopliae


cereolysin

Bacillus cereus
Bacillus cereus#Translingual

(toxicology) A haemolytic toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.


NOAEL

(toxicology) No-observed-adverse-effect level, the highest level of exposure to a substance at which there are no adverse effects on test subjects.


LOAEL

(toxicology) Lowest-observed-adverse-effect level, the lowest level of exposure to a substance at which there is an adverse effects on test subjects.


HNEL

(toxicology) Highest no-effect level, the highest level of exposure to a substance at which there are no adverse effects on test subjects.


cytogenotoxic

(cytology, genetics, toxicology) Having a genotoxic effect on a cell


reprotoxicity

en-noun

reprotoxicity (countable and uncountable, plural reprotoxicities)

(pharmacology, toxicology) The condition of being reprotoxic


reprotoxicant

(pharmacology, toxicology) Any reprotoxic material


vestibulotoxicity

(toxicology) toxicity that affects the vestibule of the ear


reprotoxicological

(pharmacology, toxicology) Relating to the toxicology of reprotoxicants


entomotoxicity

(toxicology) The condition of being entomotoxic


TOMP

(toxicology) Initialism of toxic organic micropollutant.


cross-resistance

cross-resistance (countable and uncountable, plural cross-resistances)

cross-resistances (plural)
crossresistance (alternative)
cross resistance (alternative)

Cross-resistance between antibiotics of the same class can occur frequently.

(pharmacology, toxicology) The tolerance to a usually toxic substance stimulated by former exposure to a structurally similar substance.


point of departure

point of departure (plural points of departure)

In toxicology, point of departure (POD) is defined as the point on a toxicological dose-response curve […] generally corresponding to an estimated low effect level or no effect level.

2017 April 6, “What Is Point of Departure (POD) and How to Use It to Calculate Toxicological Reference Dose (RfD)”, in ChemSafetyPro^(https://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/CRA/What_is_Point_of_Departure_(POD)_in_Toxicology_and_How_to_Use_It_to_Calculate_Reference_Dose_RfD.html), retrieved 2021-02-01:

(toxicology) a dosage level at which additional administration of an agent significantly loses its efficacy


PTX

PTX (countable and uncountable, plural PTXs)

(toxicology) Abbreviation of pumiliotoxin.

(toxicology) Alternative form of PLTX: Abbreviation of palytoxin.


CFP

CFP (countable and uncountable, plural CFPs)

ciguatera fish poisoning
w:ciguatera fish poisoning

(toxicology) Initialism of ciguatera fish poisoning.


TWI

Coordinate term: TDI

In May 2001 an expert committee has decided that tolerable doses should be expressed as tolerable weekly intake (TWI) and established TWI = 14 pg/kg.

tolerable weekly intake
w:tolerable weekly intake

(toxicology) Initialism of tolerable weekly intake.


PTMI

(toxicology) Initialism of provisional tolerable monthly intake.


PTDI

(toxicology) Initialism of provisional tolerable daily intake.


PTWI

(toxicology) Initialism of provisional tolerable weekly intake.


median lethal time

median lethal time (usually uncountable, plural median lethal times)

(toxicology) The average time interval during which 50% of a given population may be expected to die following the administration of a chemical or physical agent at a given concentration.


atracotoxin

Derived from Atrax, the genus of the spider, + -o- + toxin

Sydney funnel-web spider
Sydney funnel-web spider

(toxicology) A toxin from the Sydney funnel-web spider.


robustoxin

Derived from the species name Atrax robusta + toxin

(toxicology) The lethal toxin from the Sydney funnel-web spider.


robustotoxin

Derived from the species name Atrax robusta + -o- + toxin

(toxicology) Alternative spelling of robustoxin