ENVIRONMENTAL

TOXICOLOGY
UNIVERSIDAD MANUELA BELTRAN
INGENIERIA AMBIENTAL
2018
 Toxicodynamic
Toxicokinetics
s

Quantitation of
the time course of Molecular,
toxicants in the biochemical, and
body physiological
effects of
toxicants in
biological system
Indicator: Plasma
concentration

Result: Biological
effective dose
 ROUTES OF EXPOSURE

Ingestion Inhalation

Intravenous
Intraperitoneal

Intramuscular
Dermal

Subcutaneous
INHALATION

Direct
contact with Response
Deposited tissue
Vapor in the
Gas respiratory Distribute to
track organs with
Mist Diffuse into
affinity for Response
Particulate the blood
the
Exhalated chemical
 SKIN (OR EYE)
Lipid Distribute to
Absorrbed
soluble organs with
into the
toxicants affinity for Response
blood
cross the the
Chemical system
skin barrier chemical

Contact Response
 INGESTION
If its
Excreted
unsoluble

Absorbed to Transported
Swallowed the lining of by the
Chemical If its soluble the blood to Response
gastrointesti internal
nal tract organs
Response
If it is
on the
irritation or
gastrointesti
corrosive
nal track
 INJECTION

Distribute to
Absorrbed
organs with
Cross the into the
Chemical affinity for Response
skin barrier blood
the
system
chemical
Elemental (liquid metallic) mercury is
slowly absorbed from the intestinal tract,
and is considered to be of no toxicologic
significance by this route.

However, mercury vapor is very efficiently

absorbed through the lungs, and is
severely toxic. Elemental mercury can also
be absorbed through the skin, although
less efficiently than through the lungs.
Juan and Pedro are two friends that live in a town with a big
factory on it. One of the residuals that come out from the process
is the particle matter which contains high levels of minerals.
Normally, Juan eats vegetables which are harvested on the area;
and Pedro lives nearby the factory, but buys organic food from
other places. From the following statements which probably are
true:
1. Pedro has a higher intake of particle matter
2. Juan present higher consequences on his health due to the
location of particle matter on his body.
3. Juan has a higher intake of particle matter
4. Pedro present higher consequences on his health due to the
location of particle matter on his body.
Snorting is never a good idea, especially alcohol. In 2014,
teens started the new trend by snorting small shots of alcohol,
primarily gin, to get intoxicated quicker.  Why?
1. Inhalation is a much faster and direct route for xenobiotics
than ingestion
2. Inhalation is a much faster and direct route than dermal
3. Inhalation is the most protected route of exposure
4. Ingestion is the most direct route of exposure
ABSORTION
 Process by which toxicants cross body
membranes and enter the bloodstream or
tissues.
ABSORTION depends on…
1. Physical and chemical nature of toxicant
2. Amount of toxicant
3. Concentration of toxicant
PHYSICO- CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF TOXICANTS
 Descriptors:
1. Physico- chemical
General: Melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure,
NERNEST PARTITION COEFFICIENT (P), etc
Electric: ionization potential, mass: charge ratio, ç
DISSOCIATION CONSTANT (pKa), etc
Quantum chemical: Atomic charge, bond energy,
resonance energy, etc.
NERNST PARTITION
COEFFICIENT
 Partitioning: Movement of molecules from one phase to
another
 The distribution or partition of a solute between immiscible
liquids is known as Nernst`s distribution law.
DISSOCIATION CONSTANT (pKa)
 Defines degree of ionization of molecules
of a toxicant into charge cations and anions
at a particular pH.
 Represents pH at which 50% ionizaition is
achieved
CELL MEMBRANE

Functions of embedded molecules:

1. Receptor for external molecules
2. Transport of materials across the membrane
3. Connecting cells to each other or to other structures in the body like bone
or basemant membrane
4. Recognition of self/ non-self
5. Enzimatic activity
CELL MEMBRANE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moPJkCbKjBs
 Osmosis
ACROSS THE CELL MEMBRANE
MECANISMS OF TRANSPORT

Passive transport
Dialysis
Facilitated difusion

Active transport
Phagocytosis
Endocytosis
Pinocytosis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfy92hdaAH0
 TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION
 After absortion, toxicants will reach the blood, lymph or other
body fluids.

 BLOOD

High
pressure
lead leakage
of fluid
Plasma
55%; blood
cells (45%)
Major
vehicle for
transport of
toxicants
BLOOD
 Toxicants are absorbed as molecules and ions.
Some toxicats at blood pH form colloid particles as
a third form in this liquid.
They have various possibilities for transport in
blood:
 To be physically or chemically bound to the blood
elements, mostly erythrocytes
 To be physically dissolved in plasma
 To be bound to one or more types of plasma proteins
(human boy has btw 600 and 800 km2 of available
surface of plasma proteins)
LINFATIC SYSTEM
 http://
es.slideshare.net/manoj2205/solubility-and-partition-coefficie
nt
 Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Chapter
33- Toxicology
 http://www.ilocis.org/documents/chpt33e.htm
 https://ehs.unl.edu/documents/tox_exposure_guidelines.pdf
 http://ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/publichealthtoxicology/PDFs/Le
cture1_Trush.pdf