Definition of Toxicology
the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects
Georg Ebers
- 1837-1898
- German Egyptologist
- purchased the Ebers papyrus in Luxor, Egypt in 1873
Ebers Papyrus
- dates to 1500 BC
- one of the earliest documented texts on toxicology
- gave insight into how the Ancient Egyptians thought about chemicals and toxicity + Ancient Egyptian medicine in general
- chapter on poisons and poisoning
Toxicology in the Middle Ages
- poisoning was common
- hemlock was used to execute Socrates
alkaloid
bioactive compound produced by plants that contains nitrogen
Sushruta Samhita
- 3rd or 4th century BC
- defined stages of poisoning and antidotes
Pliney the Elder
- 23 - 75 AD
- claims all natural knowledge, including extensive knowledge of poisons
Emperor Nero of Rome
- used cyanide to dispose of unwanted family members
Paracelsus
- Swiss Physician, 1493-1541
- credited with founding toxicology
- concept that dose makes the poison
Percivall Pott
- 1714-1788
- first to demonstrate the environmental origins of cancer
- showed scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps
Victor Grignard
- developed a method of generating carbon-carbon bonds using catalysts
- advent of modern organic chemistry, allows for creation of new polymers
- won Nobel Prize in 1912
What compound is this?
- mustard gas
- poisoning as a tool of war in WW1, leads to Geneva Protocal 1925
- only outlaws use and not development, poisons are still used
DDT
- long-lasting, very persistent insecticide
- discovered by Paul Hermann Muller, won Nobel Prize in 1948
- breaks down into DDD and DDE
- effective against mosquitos, still largely used in Africa
What compound is this?
DDT
What compound is this?
DDD
What compound is this?
DDE
Problems with DDT
- organisms with very quick reproductive cycles are able to evolve detoxification mechanisms to reduce the toxicity of the DDT
- cytochrome P450s can reduce the toxicity
- mutations in sodium channel genes
- causes eggshell thinning in birds
What compound is this?
Thalidomide
- causes phocomelia (very short/missing limbs)
- intended to treat morning sickness in pregnant women
Rachel Carson
- 1907-1964
- wrote the book “Silent Spring” detailing the decline of frog populations
- fisheries biologist, wrote for the radio
- second woman EVER to get a full time job in US Fish and Wildlife Service
- criticizes our willingness to use compounds/rush into things without knowing what their consequences will be
Thomas Jukes
- had a weekly column in Nature from 1975-1980
- scientist at UC Berkeley
- adamantly opposed Carson, claiming her ideas would put us back into the Dark Ages
This compound is an example of what type of compound?
polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs)
used as fire retardants
persistent
This compound is an example of what type of compound?
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
used as coolants/dielectrics
persistent
This compound is an example of what type of compound?
perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
used in scotch guard and stain repellents
persistent
What compound is this?
DEHP
used as a plasticizer (plastic softener)
