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Toxicologist
Studies how chemicals, drugs, and natural substances affect living organisms.
Did you know?
Paracelsus, the father of toxicology, said "the dose makes the poison" — even water is toxic if you drink too much
How subjects help
- Chemistry: Identify a poison in a blood sample and work out how it reacts in the body.
- Biology: Study which organs a chemical harms, such as the liver or kidneys, and how.
- Mathematics: Work out the dose at which a substance stops being safe and starts doing harm.
A famous name
Mathieu Orfila: His 1813 treatise on poisons made toxicology a science; he is called its father.
Try it yourself: Check a medicine label (a made-up one)
- Read the label. How much would an 8-year-old have?
- Someone had a dose at 8 in the morning. When is the earliest they could have the next one?
- A note says: "give a 5-year-old 5 ml". What is wrong with it?
- Why do you think labels change the amount by age?
Pharmacists and toxicologists check that every medicine and dose is right for the person, because the amount matters as much as the medicine.
Also try: Pack a match-day lunch.
Known for it in
USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Canada