Toxicology is traditionally defined as the science of poisons over time our understanding of how various agents can cause harm to humans and other organisms has increased resulting in a more descriptive definition of toxicology as the study of the adverse effects of chemical physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects. Toxicology toxicology terminology toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms a toxicologist is a scientist that determines the harmful effects of agents and the cellular biochemical and molecular mechanisms responsible for the effects. Pdf introduction to toxicology definitions terminology find read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. I introduction to toxicology 1 a what is toxicology toxicology is the study of how natural or man made poisons cause undesirable effects in living organisms what are harmful or adverse effects harmful or adverse effects are those that are damaging to either the survival or normal function of the individual