Ch 9 Flashcards
(72 cards)
What are the four stages following exposure to toxins, poisons, and drugs?
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion or elimination.
What is absorption in toxicology?
Ingestion into the digestive tract, Inhalation into the lungs, Injection into the bloodstream, Absorbing through the skin.
What is distribution in toxicology?
Carried throughout the body by the circulatory system to organs like the brain, liver, and kidneys.
What happens during metabolism of a toxin?
The substance is broken down; toxins are removed by the liver and metabolized into less toxic forms.
What is excretion or elimination in toxicology?
Kidneys filter toxins as urine, Ingested substances passed as feces, Released through sweat glands, Exhaled through lungs.
How does acetaminophen affect the body?
Destroys liver cells and impairs detoxification ability.
What effect does cyanide have on the body?
Binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen availability, leading to loss of consciousness and death.
What is the effect of fentanyl?
Fifty times stronger than heroin, can cause overdoses and accidental deaths.
What does botulinum toxin cause?
Paralysis of muscles affecting breathing and heart, potentially leading to death.
What are the effects of cocaine on the body?
Causes high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
What are the categories of drugs based on body reactions?
Stimulants, Narcotics, Depressants, Hallucinogens, Anabolic steroids.
What is dosage in toxicology?
The amount of substance taken.
What does potency refer to in drugs?
Drugs with high potency may be lethal in very small amounts.
What is the duration in toxicology?
The frequency and length of exposure to a substance.
What are symptoms of poisoning?
Death with no trauma, Sudden unexpected death, Recurring unexplained illness, Similar symptoms in many people, Unexplained loss of consciousness.
What are the dangers of heavy metals?
Causes suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths, exposure through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption.
What is a common source of arsenic exposure?
Contaminates drinking water for millions globally.
How can children suffer from lead poisoning?
By eating old lead paint chips or drinking water from corroded lead pipes.
What is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Can lead to severe health issues or death due to lack of oxygen.
What is Carbon monoxide used for historically?
Used in Nazi gas chambers.
Where is cyanide naturally found?
In many seeds, inhaled when smoking cigarettes.
What type of poison is cyanide?
A quick-acting poison that interferes with oxygen use.
What are the sources of lead exposure?
Naturally occurring, found in gas, paints, weights, bullets.
What are the symptoms of lead overexposure?
Nausea, Abdominal pain, Insomnia, Headache, Weight loss, Constipation, Anemia, Kidney problems, Vomiting, Seizure, Coma, Death, Blue discoloration along gum line.
