ABSTRACT
Reactions of intoxicants with biological targets initiate the processes leading to toxicity (stage 3, Figure 7.1). In previous chapters the large range of factors, passage through membranes, binding, partition into lipids and metabolism to less and more toxic chemicals have been discussed. Intoxicant, whether exogenous or generated in vivo, is delivered to many cells of different types and cause toxicity to only a few. Sometimes particular cells are affected because they acquire a higher concentration of the intoxicant. Others are affected because of their particular biological make-up or because of the particular level of activity at which they function, e.g. have a higher requirement for energy.
