October 30, 14

Katryn Punsalang
Clinical Toxicology
General mechanism of toxic action of the following:
Acids
Cause an immediate coagulation-type necrosis that creates aneschar, which
tends to self-limit further damage.
Bases
Cause liquefactive necrosis with saponification and continued penetration
into deeper tissues, resulting in extensive damage.
Volatile poisons
As a fat-soluble petrochemicals, they easily pass through fatty membranes of
the lungs, into the bloodstream. Volatile poisons also sets the brain as one of
their primary targets and may cause interruption vital metabolic pathways.
Volatile materials will enter the body via the lungs, as well as by other routes
such as skin absorption (Volatilization).
Non- volatile poisons
Considered highly toxic chemicals. Concentrated solutions are slightly
irritating. These are absorbed by all routes. A potent neurotoxin causing
peripheral neuropathy, contact dermatitis and carcinogenic in test animals.
Heavy metals
They produce their toxicity by forming complexes or "ligands" with
organic compounds. These modified biological molecules lose their ability to
function properly, and result in malfunction or death of the affected cells. The
most common groups involved in ligand formation are oxygen, sulfur, and
nitrogen. When metals bind to these groups they may inactive important
enzyme systems, or affect protein structure.
Alcohol & Ketone
Alcohol is attracted and concentrated to the membranes of the nerve cells
and affects their function. This is how alcohol impairs the motor functions
such as speech and many times your natural inhibitions and overall
judgment. Long term alcoholics tend to die at an early age because of the
damage done to multiple organs. Alcohol can seriously damage the nerve cell
of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart, and gallbladder over time, which can
lead to early organ failure, cancer or disease.
Aldehyde
They can act as haptens in allergic hypersensitivity diseases, respiratory
allergies, and idiosyncratic drug toxicity. It alters red blood cell structure.
Acetaldehyde induces a deficiency
of vitamin B1. Thiamin, or Vitamin B1, is so critical to brain and nerve
function it is often called the "nerve vitamin. Toxicity of acetaldehyde

substance is responsible for the metabolic abnormalities found in patients

suffering with and overgrowth of candida.
Ketone & Alcohol
Hydrocarbons may cause direct injury to the lung after pulmonary aspiration
or systemic intoxication after ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Many
hydrocarbons are also irritating to the eyes and skin.
Many aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers,
ketones, and other substituted or complex hydrocarbons are capable of
causing serious systemic toxicity, such as coma, seizures, and cardiac
arrhythmias.
Insecticides
They are neurotoxicants, and act by poisoning the nervous systems of
the target organisms. Insecticides are mostly not species-selective with
regard to targets of
toxicity, and mammals, including humans, are highly sensitive to their
toxicity.
Rodenticides
All these compounds inhibit hepatic synthesis of the vitamin
Kdependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X. Only the synthesis of new
factors is affected, and the anticoagulant effect is delayed until currently
circulating factors have been degraded. Peak effects usually are not observed
for 23 days because of the long half-lives of factors IX and X (2460 hours).
References:
Casarett and Doulls Toxicology : The Science of Poisons
Poisoning & Drug Overdose Copyright 2007: Kent R. Olson