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A '''toxicant''' is a type of [[poison]] that is made by humans or human activity (i.e. not naturally occurring).<ref name="National Cancer Insitute Dictionary">{{url=http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?cdrid=687391}}</ref> This is in contrast to a [[toxin]], which is a poison produced naturally by an organism (e.g. plant, animal, insect).<ref name="National Cancer Institute Dictionary 2">{{url=http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=46622}}</ref> |
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A '''toxicant''' (or '''toxic''')<ref name="urlPoisonous Coinage : CJR:">{{cite web |url=http://www.cjr.org/language_corner/poisonous_coinage.php |title=Poisonous Coinage : CJR: |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> is a chemical compound that has an effect on organisms. |
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A distinction can be drawn between "toxic" and [[toxin]], with the latter being a subcategory of the former.<ref name="urlPoisonous Coinage : CJR:">{{cite web |url=http://www.cjr.org/language_corner/poisonous_coinage.php |title=Poisonous Coinage : CJR: |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-12-13}}</ref> |
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Many toxicants are pesticides, or are unwanted by-products of some production process, or accidental spoils. |
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"Toxicant" can be considered a synonym for [[poisonous]], while "developmental toxicant" can be considered a synonym for [[teratogen]].<ref>{{DorlandsDict|eight/000109684|toxicant}}</ref> |
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==Concentration range== |
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The effects depend on the concentration of the compound. |
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Generally three concentration ranges can be delineated of all chemical compounds |
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* '''too little''': the metabolic behaviour deviates more from the natural behaviour for ''decreasing'' concentrations |
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* '''enough''': the metabolic behaviour is rather insensitive to changes in the concentration |
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* '''too much''': the metabolic behaviour deviates more from the natural behaviour for ''increasing'' concentrations |
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==Effects== |
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The effect of toxicants can be quantified on the basis of the concentration inside the organism. The [[Dynamic Energy Budget]] theory can be used to specify the mode of action of the compound for the individual organism under study: one or more parameters of the DEB model change as function of the internal concentration. |
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==Pesticides== |
==Pesticides== |
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Some toxicants are specifically developed to fight pests,the so-called [[pesticide]]s such as |
Some toxicants are specifically developed to fight pests, the so-called [[pesticide]]s such as |
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* [[insecticide]]s to kill insects |
* [[insecticide]]s to kill insects |
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Revision as of 04:19, 21 February 2012
A toxicant is a type of poison that is made by humans or human activity (i.e. not naturally occurring).[1] This is in contrast to a toxin, which is a poison produced naturally by an organism (e.g. plant, animal, insect).[2]
Pesticides
Some toxicants are specifically developed to fight pests, the so-called pesticides such as
- insecticides to kill insects
- herbicides to kill weeds,
- food conservation products to kill micro-organisms
See also
References
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