...a multidisciplinary science that examines the adverse effects of chemicals on organisms.
...the science of determining harmful levels of substances, how toxicity occurs, and how it can be controlled.
Too Much of a Good Thing
As with pharmacology, the science of toxicology is based upon an assumption that there is a relationship between the dose (amount), the concentration at the affected site, and the resulting effects. However, unlike pharmacology, which seeks to find the right dosage and affects to produce a positive change in the patient, toxicology seeks to understand how substances are poisonous in the wrong amounts, in combination with other substances, or to certain organisms. Toxicology plays an important role in determining conditions under which chemicals can be used safely.
The Society of Toxicology is the leading global force in advancing science to enhance human, animal, and environmental health. The Society of Toxicology website provides information for students considering a career in toxicology, including position statements on the ethical use of animals in research.
Learn more at MSU’s Center for Integrative Toxicology. Faculty from Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology and other fields contribute to the Environmental & Integrative Toxicological Sciences PhD Interdisciplinary training program.
Careers Opportunities: Check out this article from ScienceCareers.org on June 20, 2008.