Question

“All substances are poisons: there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” (Paraclesus, 1493-1541), a Swiss physician Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not? Why does the dose determine if a substance is a poison or a remedy? What is a toxic substance? What does it mean for something to be toxic? What is the effect of a toxic substance? Do all substances have the potential of being toxic? Are toxic substances natural or man-made? Who or what is affected by toxic substances?

Answer 1

Q) “All substances are poisons: there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” (Paraclesus, 1493-1541)

-I agree with this statement because all substances are good when it is taken in proper quantity or lebel, eveything in excess is harmfull for the body, even the most useful substances for survival like oxygen and water, if taken in excess becomes harmful and the harmful substances or chemicals if taken in a low amount is not toxic. The toxicity of a specific substance depends on various factors, these are i) how much of the substance a person is exposed to, ii) how they are exposed, and iii) for how long they are exposed.

Examples are - Caffeine in a normal human diet does not cause illness, but if somebody consumes 50 times of the normal amount it can kill the person.

Another example is oxalic acid found in spinach, it is harmless when taken it is taken in normal quantity, but it can cause kidney damage or death if 10 to 20 pounds consumed at a time.

Why dose makes the substance poison or remedy ?

Dose is the most important factor making a substance poison or remedy, Any substance can be toxic if we eat, drink, or absorb it in too much. Even chemicals found naturally in our food and drinks are toxic, if consumed in large quantities.

Example is-  Vitamin D, is an important nutrient which helps for good health when taken the recommended dosages. but vitamin D is also a highly toxic chemical, when taken too much, it can lead to serious health problems including kidney stones, high blood pressure, deafness, and even death.

another example is in case of Iron tablets these are given to anemic patients (10-20mg/kg body weight), having iron deficiency in blood, but if high dose is consumed it increases the level of "free" iron in the body. Free iron is a pro-oxidant - it is the opposite of an antioxidant - and it may cause damage to cells,and increases the risk of cancer.

What is a toxic substance-

Toxic substances are materials that are poisonous to living organisms, there are many artificial and natural toxic substances, also called as toxins. They damage living tissues or organs by interfering in specific cell functions. Sometimes they destroy cell membranes, prevent important cell processes in functioning, many causes cells to mutate, or make mistakes during replication process. The most common and dangerous man-made toxic substances in our environment are chlorinated hydrocarbons, they are DDT (dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane ) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), produced mainly by pesticide manufacturers and other chemical industries used to kill pests.

What does it mean to be something toxic:- The toxicity of a substance depends on three factors: its chemical structure, the extent to which the substance is absorbed by the body, and the body's ability to detoxify the substance (change it into less toxic substances) and eliminate it from the body.

Effect of a toxic substance:- The toxic substances can attack a single cell, or a group of cells, or an organ system, or the entire body of the organism. They can stop a process or reduce the function of a process in the body.

Are all substances have the potential to be toxic:- Yes all substances have the potential to be toxic, even the most essential components of life like oxygen and water, if taken in high quantity they can be poisonous.It all depends on the dose of the material consumed.

Are toxic substances Natural or Man made :- They are both Man-made and Natural .

Man-made toxic substances - These are the synthetic chemicals prepared in Labs or factories, examples are pesticides, medicines, and various kinds of industrial chemicals, they are found in complex mixtures of various forms. These chemicals affect humans and other organisms.

Natural toxic substances:- These are found in nature, causing harm to organisms, example of naturally occurring elements like arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium. These are toxic in various concentrations to both plants and animals.

Other naturally occurring toxins are the substances produced by plants and animals, mostly as a part of their natural defence system, protecting them from other plants and animals that prey on them. Example is the Bufatoxin an active component of the venom of the common European toad, bufo vulgaris, It causes the heart to pump harder and the blood vessels to constrict. Toads secrete this venom in their skin when they feel threatened.

Who or what is affected by toxic substances:- Both plants , animals and humanbeings are affected by toxin substances,Toxic substances are poisonous, they cause disturbances in an organism, usually by a chemical reaction or other activity in the molecular lebel, when an organism absorbs it in sufficient quantity.

These toxic substances affect organisms and their various processes,at times they can at times reduce the efficiency of the processes.