What is toxicology?

• A. The study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms
• B. The science of measuring pH levels in solutions
• C. The study of chemical reactions and stoichiometry
• D. The branch of biology dealing with toxins from plants only

Answer: (A)

Toxicology is the study of how chemicals or physical agents can harm living organisms, including how dose and exposure route influence effects and the mechanisms by which toxins act. This description best defines toxicology, capturing its focus on adverse effects on living beings. Other statements describe topics outside toxicology: measuring pH is about acidity in solutions; chemical reactions and stoichiometry deal with reaction quantities and how substances transform; and limiting the focus to plant toxins misses the broad range of toxic substances toxicology covers, from metals and drugs to environmental pollutants.