Chemical Effects
The impact of chemicals on various human organs is influenced by several critical factors:
- Toxicity: Refers to the degree of harmfulness of the chemical. How poisonous is it?
- Form: What is the state of the chemical? Is it a solid, liquid, gas, or a combination?
- Exposure route: How is the body exposed to the chemical? Is it ingested, inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or injected?
- Dose: Refers to the quantity of the chemical that enters the body. How much is introduced?
- Absorption rate: This denotes how easily the chemical is taken up by the body. A chemical that isn't absorbed can't produce toxic effects.
- Metabolism rate: How rapidly is the chemical processed after exposure? A faster metabolism can either intensify or mitigate the chemical's effect, transforming it into a substance that is either more toxic, less toxic, or non-toxic.
- Distribution within the body: Where does the chemical travel in the body? Does it remain in the digestive system for excretion, or does it reach vital organs like the lungs or brain?
- Interaction: All substances we consume or come into contact with are made up of chemicals. The way these chemicals interact with a toxin can either positively or negatively influence our health.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-3. Which term describes the amount of chemical that makes its way into the body?
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