Toxicology

Paper Summary:

The writer begins this essay with a discussion of the metabolism of toxic substances. The writer explains that the rate of metabolism in effect defines the concentration of the toxic substance. The slower the metabolic rate the more easily the toxic substance enters systemic circulation. Further, in this paper the writer discusses possible poisoning from chemicals such as aspartame or aspirin. The writer concludes this study with a look at the Bhopal carbide plant disaster in 1984.

From the Paper:

"The human liver plays an important role in metabolizing and breaking down food material, (including toxic substances) before it can reach the circulatory system and affect the entire body. Nature has defined the liver as a first line defense mechanism against food materials and toxic substances that we may consume unknowingly. The metabolizing enzymes in the hepatocytes are very efficient and this defense mechanism is known as 'first pass effect'. Typically, Phase one reactions are mainly oxidative, reductive or hydrolytic processes and form substrates for phase two conjugations. The cytochrome p450 enzymes are mainly responsible for the Oxidative phase one reactions. These are a group of enzymes that are actually a family of proteins that can act upon a wide range of substrates. Lipophilic chemicals are oxidated to yield water-soluble chemicals. These enzymes also perform heterocyclic hydroxylations and analkylation reactions. The end products of the phase one reactions are ready for conjugation with glycine, glucuronic acid, etc and are easily excreted from the body via urine."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lorie, Dwornik, "Chemical Warfare Agents and Toxic Waste Disguised As Household Cleaning Products", Available at, http://www.rense.com/general19/chemical.htm Accessed On Dec 12th 2005
• Illinois Department of Public Health, 'Methyl isocyanate', Available at, http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/factsheets/methyl_isocyanate.htm Accessed On Dec 12th 2005
• AU, 'TED Case Studies: Bhopal Disaster', Available at, http://www.american.edu/TED/bhopal.htm Accessed On Dec 12th 2005
• Dr.Joseph Mercola, 'Aspartame: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You', Available at, http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/hidden_dangers.htm Accessed on December 12th 2005
• Christine M Stork, 'Where are the Life Threats", Available at, http://www.upstate.edu/poison/pdf/ToxnewsLtr/01_00toxnews.pdf Accessed on Dec 12th 2005

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