GC: n
S: UOT (last access: 8 December 2025); NIH (last access: 8 December 2025).
N: 1. First recorded in 1790–1800; < Ancient Greek toxico-, a combining form representing toxic in compound words+ -logy.
«branch of medicine treating of poisons and their antidotes,» 1815, from French toxicologie (1812), from Latinized form of Greek toxikon «arrow poison» (see toxic) + -logia (see -logy). Related: Toxicological; toxicologically; toxicologist.
2. The first known use of toxicology was in 1799.
- a science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems involved (such as clinical, industrial, or legal problems.)
- the scientific study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on the living organism.
3. Toxicology: toxicology
- The study of poisons, including their nature, effects, and detection, and methods of treatment.
- French and Spanish equivalents:
4. toxicology, study of poisons and their effects, particularly on living systems. Because many substances are known to be poisonous to life (whether plant, animal, or microbial), toxicology is a broad field, overlapping with biochemistry, histology, pharmacology, pathology, and many other disciplines.
- The study and classification of toxic substances was first systematized by Matthieu Orfila (1787–1853) in the 19th century. Traditionally, the toxicologist’s functions have been to identify poisons and to search for antidotes and other means of treating toxic injuries. An area related to the ancient practice of toxicology, forensic toxicology, dealing with the criminal use of poisons, also has a long history. With the proliferation of new, potentially toxic substances, however, the practical applications of toxicology have multiplied. In the ecological sciences, toxicologists play a part in the identification and elimination of environmental contaminants. Evaluation of occupational exposure to toxic substances is another aspect of the toxicologist’s work. In the United States, toxicologists work with the federal government’s Food and Drug Administration, attempting to identify potential dangers to public health posed by chemical additives in food and cosmetics; along with pharmacologists, toxicologists also participate in the safety testing of new drugs.
S: 1. DICT – https://www.dictionary.com/browse/TOXICOLOGY (last access: 8 December 2025); Etymonline (last access: 11 December 2025). 2. MW (last access: 8 December 2025). 3 TERMIUM PLUS (last access:11 December 2025) 4. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/science/toxicology (last access: 8 December 2025).
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