# Toxicant

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Toxicant
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Toxicant.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicant
> Source revision: 1314743495
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Toxic substance

This article is about artificial and natural toxic substances. For naturally occurring organic poisons, see [Toxin](/source/Toxin).

A **toxicant** is any [toxic](/source/Toxicity) substance, whether artificial or naturally occurring.[1] By contrast, a [toxin](/source/Toxin) is a poison produced naturally by an organism (e.g. plant, animal, insect, bacterium).[2] The different types of toxicants[3] can be found in the air, soil, water, or food.[4]

## Occurrence

Toxicants can be found in the air, soil, water, or food.[4] Humans can be exposed to environmental toxicants.[5] [Fish](/source/Fish) can contain environmental toxicants.[6] [Tobacco smoke](/source/Tobacco_smoke) contains toxicants.[7] [E-cigarette aerosol](/source/Composition_of_electronic_cigarette_aerosol) also contains toxicants.[8] The emissions of a [heat-not-burn tobacco product](/source/Heat-not-burn_product) contains toxicants.[9] Most [heavy metals](/source/Heavy_metals) are toxicants.[10] [Diesel exhaust](/source/Diesel_exhaust) contains toxicants.[11] [Pesticides](/source/Pesticide), [benzene](/source/Benzene), and asbestos-like fibers such as [carbon nanotubes](/source/Carbon_nanotube) are toxicants.[12] Possible [developmental toxicants](/source/Developmental_toxicity) include phthalates, phenols, sunscreens, pesticides, halogenated flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl coatings, nanoparticles, e-cigarettes, and dietary polyphenols.[13]

## Related terms

By contrast, a [toxin](/source/Toxin) is a poison produced naturally by an organism (e.g. plant, animal, insect).[2] The 2011 book *A Textbook of Modern Toxicology* states, "A toxin is a toxicant that is produced by a living organism and is not used as a synonym for toxicant—all toxins are toxicants, but not all toxicants are toxins. Toxins, whether produced by animals, plants, insects, or microbes are generally metabolic products that have evolved as defense mechanisms for the purpose of repelling or killing predators or pathogens."[14]

[Biocides](/source/Biocide) are classified as oxidizing or non-oxidizing toxicants.[15] [Chlorine](/source/Chlorine) is the most commonly manufactured oxidizing toxicant.[15] Chlorine is ubiquitously added to drinking water to disinfect it.[16] Non-oxidizing toxicants include [isothiazolinones](/source/Isothiazolinone) and [quaternary ammonium compounds](/source/Quaternary_ammonium_cation).[17]

An [intoxicant](/source/Psychoactive_drug) is a substance that intoxicates such as an [alcoholic drink](/source/Alcoholic_drink).[18] An intoxicant is a substance that impairs the [mind](/source/Mind) and causes a person to be in a [state](/source/Mental_state) varying from exhilaration to lethargy.[19]

## Health impacts

See also: [Brain health and pollution](/source/Brain_health_and_pollution)

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2024)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mann2011_1-0)** Francisco Sánchez-Bayo, Paul J. van den Brink, Reinier M. Mann (9 September 2011). [*Ecological Impacts of Toxic Chemicals*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5oYEMyCTEcwC&pg=PA6). Francisco Sanchez-Bayo. pp. 6–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-60805-121-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60805-121-2).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NCI_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NCI_2-1) ["NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - toxin"](http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=46622). National Cancer Institute.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Manahan2009_3-0)** Stanley Manahan; Stanley E. Manahan (17 December 2009). [*Environmental Chemistry, Ninth Edition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=OrPMBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA629). CRC Press. pp. 629–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4398-8247-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4398-8247-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hodgson2011_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hodgson2011_4-1) Ernest Hodgson (20 September 2011). [*A Textbook of Modern Toxicology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6wp20BrihwIC&pg=PT88). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 88–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-118-21129-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-21129-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PrestonReynolds2018_5-0)** Preston, Joshua D.; Reynolds, Leryn J.; Pearson, Kevin J. (2018). ["Developmental Origins of Health Span and Life Span: A Mini-Review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876086). *Gerontology*. **64** (3): 237–245. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1159/000485506](https://doi.org/10.1159%2F000485506). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0304-324X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0304-324X). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5876086](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876086). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29324453](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29324453).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GaskinsChavarro2018_6-0)** Gaskins, Audrey J.; Chavarro, Jorge E. (2018). ["Diet and fertility: a review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5826784). *American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology*. **218** (4): 379–389. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.ajog.2017.08.010](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ajog.2017.08.010). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0002-9378](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0002-9378). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5826784](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5826784). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28844822](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28844822).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BrelandSoule2017_7-0)** Breland, Alison; Soule, Eric; Lopez, Alexa; Ramôa, Carolina; El-Hellani, Ahmad; Eissenberg, Thomas (2017). ["Electronic cigarettes: what are they and what do they do?"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4947026). *Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences*. **1394** (1): 5–30. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2017NYASA1394....5B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017NYASA1394....5B). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/nyas.12977](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fnyas.12977). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0077-8923](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0077-8923). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4947026](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4947026). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26774031](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26774031).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PerikleousSteiropoulos2018_8-0)** Perikleous, Evanthia P.; Steiropoulos, Paschalis; Paraskakis, Emmanouil; Constantinidis, Theodoros C.; Nena, Evangelia (2018). ["E-Cigarette Use Among Adolescents: An Overview of the Literature and Future Perspectives"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5879739). *Frontiers in Public Health*. **6**: 86. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3389/fpubh.2018.00086](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2018.00086). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2296-2565](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2296-2565). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5879739](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5879739). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29632856](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29632856).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LiSaad2018_9-0)** Li, Gerard; Saad, Sonia; Oliver, Brian; Chen, Hui (2018). ["Heat or Burn? Impacts of Intrauterine Tobacco Smoke and E-Cigarette Vapor Exposure on the Offspring's Health Outcome"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160993). *Toxics*. **6** (3): 43. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018Toxic...6...43L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018Toxic...6...43L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3390/toxics6030043](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Ftoxics6030043). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2305-6304](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2305-6304). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6160993](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160993). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [30071638](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30071638).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-KimKim2015_10-0)** Kim, Hyun Soo; Kim, Yeo Jin; Seo, Young Rok (2015). ["An Overview of Carcinogenic Heavy Metal: Molecular Toxicity Mechanism and Prevention"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699750). *Journal of Cancer Prevention*. **20** (4): 232–240. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.15430/JCP.2015.20.4.232](https://doi.org/10.15430%2FJCP.2015.20.4.232). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2288-3649](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2288-3649). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4699750](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699750). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26734585](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26734585).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LeemJang2014_11-0)** Leem, Jong Han; Jang, Young-Kee (2014). ["Increase of diesel car raises health risk in spite of recent development in engine technology"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207092). *Environmental Health and Toxicology*. **29** e2014009. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5620/eht.e2014009](https://doi.org/10.5620%2Feht.e2014009). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2233-6567](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2233-6567). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4207092](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207092). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25318659](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25318659).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CostaMiozzi2017_12-0)** Costa, Chiara; Miozzi, Edoardo; Teodoro, Michele; Briguglio, Giusi; Rapisarda, Venerando; Fenga, Concettina (2017). ["New insights on 'old' toxicants in occupational toxicology"](https://doi.org/10.3892%2Fmmr.2017.6374). *Molecular Medicine Reports*. **15** (5): 3317–3322. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3892/mmr.2017.6374](https://doi.org/10.3892%2Fmmr.2017.6374). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1791-2997](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1791-2997). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28339055](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28339055).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WolffBuckley2017_13-0)** Wolff, Mary S.; Buckley, Jessie P.; Engel, Stephanie M.; McConnell, Rob S.; Barr, Dana B. (2017). ["Emerging exposures of developmental toxicants"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473289). *Current Opinion in Pediatrics*. **29** (2): 218–224. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1097/MOP.0000000000000455](https://doi.org/10.1097%2FMOP.0000000000000455). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1040-8703](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1040-8703). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5473289](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473289). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28059904](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28059904).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hodgson-2011_14-0)** Ernest Hodgson (20 September 2011). [*A Textbook of Modern Toxicology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6wp20BrihwIC&pg=PT77). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 77–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-118-21129-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-21129-8).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Garverick1994_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Garverick1994_15-1) Linda Garverick (1 January 1994). [*Corrosion in the Petrochemical Industry*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qTfNZZRO758C&pg=PA103). ASM International. pp. 103–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-87170-505-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-87170-505-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Pilotto1995_16-0)** Pilotto, Louis S. (1995). ["Disinfection of drinking water, disinfection by-products and cancer: what about Australia?"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1753-6405.1995.tb00304.x). *Australian Journal of Public Health*. **19** (1): 89–93. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00304.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1753-6405.1995.tb00304.x). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1035-7319](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1035-7319). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [7734603](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7734603).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Vazquez-DuhaltQuintero-Ramirez2004_17-0)** Rafael Vazquez-Duhalt; Rodolfo Quintero-Ramirez (18 September 2004). [*Petroleum Biotechnology: Developments and Perspectives*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Hxcgxf_FMKoC&pg=PA210). Elsevier. pp. 210–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-08-047371-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-08-047371-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SalmSklansky2001_18-0)** Don Salm; Ron Sklansky (2001). [*Legislation on Recodification of Operating While Intoxicated and Safety Laws Pertaining to Motor Vehicle, All-terrain Vehicle, Boat Or Snowmobile Operation*](https://books.google.com/books?id=y3NiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA12). Wisconsin Legislative Council. pp. 12–.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bahammam2013_19-0)** Fahd Salem Bahammam (2013). [*Food and Dress in Islam: An explanation of matters relating to food and drink and dress in Islam*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CRojJ7lnb18C&pg=PP1). Modern Guide. pp. 1–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-909322-99-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-909322-99-8).

## External links

- Media related to [Toxicants](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Toxicants) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Toxicology Fields Aquatic toxicology Ecotoxicology Occupational toxicology Entomotoxicology Environmental toxicology Forensic toxicology Medical toxicology In vitro toxicology Toxicogenomics Concepts Acceptable daily intake Acute toxicity Bioaccumulation Biomagnification Fixed-dose procedure Lethal dose Poison Toxic capacity Toxicity class Toxin Venom Treatments Activated carbon Antidote Cathartic Chelation therapy Gastric lavage Hemodialysis Hemoperfusion Whole bowel irrigation Incidents 1858 Bradford sweets poisoning 2007 pet food recalls Bhopal disaster Minamata disease Niigata Minamata disease Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko Seveso disaster Consumption of Tide Pods Visakhapatnam gas leak 2022 Aqaba toxic gas leak List of poisonings Related topics Biological warfare Carcinogen Food safety Hazard symbol List of extremely hazardous substances Mutagen Occupational safety and health Category Commons WikiProject

v t e Poisoning Toxicity Overdose Poison History Inorganic Metals Toxic metals Beryllium Cadmium Lead Mercury Nickel Thallium Tin Dietary minerals Chromium Cobalt Copper Iron Manganese Zinc Other non-toxic metals Silver1 Metalloids Arsenic Nonmetals Sulfuric acid Selenium Chlorine Fluoride Organic Phosphorus Pesticides Aluminium phosphide Organophosphates Nitrogen Cyanide Nicotine Nitrogen dioxide poisoning CHO alcohol Ethanol Ethylene glycol Methanol Carbon monoxide Oxygen Toluene Pharmaceutical Drug overdoses Nervous Alcohol Anticholinesterase Aspirin Barbiturates Benzodiazepines Cocaine Lithium Opioids Paracetamol Serotonergic substances Tricyclic antidepressants Cardiovascular Digoxin Dipyridamole Vitamin poisoning Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Megavitamin-B6 syndrome Biological2 Fish / Seafood Ciguatera Haff disease Ichthyoallyeinotoxism Scombroid Shellfish poisoning Amnesic Diarrhetic Neurotoxic Paralytic Other vertebrates Amphibian Batrachotoxin Bombesin Bufotenin Physalaemin Birds Coturnism Mammal Snakes / Snake venom Alpha-Bungarotoxin Ancrod Batroxobin Arthropods Arthropod bites and stings Bee sting / Bee venom Apamin Melittin Scorpion venom Charybdotoxin spider venom Latrotoxin / Latrodectism Loxoscelism Tick paralysis Plants / Fungi Cinchonism Ergotism Fish toxins Lathyrism Locoism Mushroom Strychnine Related topics Bite and Stinger plant Cnidocyte Venomous animals Poisonous animals Deadly fungus Mycotoxicology Miscellaneous Antibiotic EPA list of hazard Lists of poisonings List of types of poison Pollution 1Silver is generally non-toxic metal, but in large doses it can lead to argyria, which is rare. 2 including venoms, toxins, foodborne illnesses. Category Commons WikiProject

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Toxicant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicant) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicant?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.