::The Crying Earth::

5.1.3 Mechanism for Minimizing Toxic Effects


There is a few mechanisms for minimizing toxic effect such as:

• Metabolic degradation & excretion eliminate toxins
• Repair mechanisms mend damage
• Diet, also, is an important health factor.
• Toxic chemical exposure: timing, dose, and route of exposure.
• Characteristics and condition of the target organism also are very influential in determining effects of toxins.
• Just because something can be detected doesn't mean that it's present in a dangerous form or concentration.

1. Liver: enzyme systems detoxify and help excretion out of body, can also convert substances into carcinogens
2. Excretion: bladder and kidney can be exposed to the toxins

• DNA, protein, cells all have repair mechanisms to replace worn or damaged parts Tissues with high level of cell growth and replacement can be a site of unregulated growth if under stress (cancer)

• Expensive - hundreds of thousands of dollars to test one toxin at low doses
• Time consuming
• Often very inhumane
• Difficult to compare toxicity of unlike chemicals or different species of organisms