-
What is the study of poisonous substances?
Toxicology
-
What are the routes of exposure to toxins?
- Ingestion
- Inhalation
- Transdermal
-
What is the term for the amount of damage done to an organism when the substance is administered at less than the lethal dose?
Toxic response
-
What is a one-time exposure of short duration to an agent that immediately causes a toxic response?
Acute toxicity
-
What is the term for multiple exposures for extended time periods to an agent at a dosage that will not cause an acute response?
Chronic toxicity
-
What type of test is performed first and usually of a qualitative nature and may lack specificity?
Screening test
-
What type of test is usually quantitative with good specificity and sensitivity?
Confirmatory test
-
What are alcohols considered?
Volatile organic substances
-
Name the different types of alchols
- Ethanol
- Methanol
- Isopropanol
- Ethylene glycol
-
What clinical condition is associated with ethanol?
-
What clinical condition is associated with methanol?
- Severe acidosis
- Blindness
- Death due to methanol conversion to formaldehyde
-
What clinical condition is associated with isopropanol?
- Severe and acute symptoms of toxic haptitis and cirrhosis
- Symptoms persist for a long time because isopropanol is matabolized to acetone - which has a long half life
-
What clinical condition is associated with ethylene glycol?
- Severe metabolic acidosis
- Renal tubular damage
-
Where is ethylene glycol found?
In antifreeze
-
Why is carbon monoxide considered toxic?
- It binds tightly to hemoglobin and does not allow oxygen to attach to the hemoglobin
- Forms carboxyhemoglobin
-
What clinical condition is associated with carbon monoxide?
Hypoxia in the brain and heart
-
How does cyanide exposure occur?
- Oral ingestion
- Inhalation
- Transdermal absorption
-
Where is cyanide used, typically?
-
Why is cyanide considered supertoxic?
Binds to heme iron and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase
-
How does aresenic travel in the blood?
Binds to thiol groups in proteins
-
How is arsenic excreted?
Ionized arsenic is excreted in the urine
-
What specimens are used to assess the level of arsenic poisoning?
- Short term exposure: Blood and urine
- Long term exposure: Hair and fingernails
-
Why is lead considered toxic?
- Binds to proteins
- Inhibits many enzymes
- Inhibits heme synthesis
-
What lab results are consistent with lead poisoning?
- Basophili stippling of RBCs
- Increased urinary excretion of aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrins
-
What is the acceptable blood lead level in young children?
<10 micro-gram/dL
-
Why is mercury considered toxic?
- Binds to proteins
- Inhibits many enzymes
-
What do organophophate and carbamate insecticides inhibit?
Inhibit acetylcholinesterase
-
What is the function of salicylate (aspirin)?
- Analgesic
- Antipyretic
- Anti-inflammatory
-
What happens at toxic doses of salicylate (aspirin)?
- Mixed acid-base imbalance seen in metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis (respiratory center stimulant)
- Ketone body formation
- Excess formation of lactate
-
What is the function of acetaminophen (tylenol)?
Analgesic
-
What is the toxic effect of acetaminophen (tylenol)?
Liver toxicity
-
What is the function of amphetamine and methamphetamine?
- Treat narcolepsy and disorders that affect ability to focus
- Stimulants
- Provide a sense of mental and physical well-being
-
What is the function of anabolic steroids?
- Increase muscle mass
- Increase athletic perfomance
-
What is the function of cannabinoids?
- Hallucinogenic
- Provide a feeling of mental well being and euphoria
- Impair mental function
- Impair short term memory
-
What is the primary cannabinoid component of marijuana?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
-
What is the half life of THC?
- One day following single use
- 3-5 days following chronic use
-
How long is THC detectable in urine?
- 3-5 days following single use
- Up to 4 weeks following chronic use
-
What is the function of cocaine?
- Local anesthetic
- CNS stimulant
-
What is the primary metabolite of cocaine?
Benzoylecgonine
-
When is benzoylecgonine detectable in the urine?
- 3 days following single use
- 20 days following chronic use
-
What are the different types of opiates found?
- Naturally occurring: opium, morphine, codeine
- Chemically modified: heroin, dilaudid, oxycodone
- Synthetic: Demerol, methadone, darvon, talwin, fentanyl
-
What is the function of opiates?
- Analgesic
- Sedative
- Anesthetic properties
-
What is associated with opiate use?
Respiratory acidosis
-
What is the function of phencyclidine (PCP)?
- Stimulant
- Depressant
- Anesthetic
- Hallucinogenic effects
-
When is phencyclidine (PCP) detectable in the urine?
Up to 7-30 days following chronic use
-
Name the different types of tranquilizers
- Barbiturates: Phenobarbital, amobarbital, secobarbital, and pentobarbital
- Benzodiazepines: Diazepam (valium), chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam
-
What is the function of tranquilizers?
Sedative hypnotics that produce depression of the CNS
-
What is clinical condition is associated with tranquilizers?
Respiratory acidosis
|
|
