ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to give reader the basic information needed to understand how chemicals can affect living systems. It discusses the effects of chemicals on people, on animals, and on the environment, both from short-term and long-term exposure. One important factor in acute exposures is the speed at which the chemical is absorbed. Another factor that must be considered is the frequency of exposure. Chronic exposures are much more difficult to study than acute exposures, since long time periods may be involved and different routes of entry of the chemical to the body may have been used. The chronic toxins are usually divided into three groups, depending upon their effects: teratogens, mutagens, and carcinogens. Toxicologists use experimentation to arrive at dose-response relationships. From these data, values are determined that can be used to estimate relatively safe levels of human exposure.
