Toxicology

Toxicology is the branch of biology that examines how harmful substances (xenobiotics) interact with living organisms (including animals, plants, microorganisms, and humans) and their environments. It seeks to answer fundamental questions about what makes a substance toxic, how much exposure is dangerous, and why different species respond differently.

This section looks at how toxins and toxicants (xenobiotics) get into the body, how they move around, and what the body does to break them down or store them. It also explores the effects they can have, from immediate reactions after a single exposure to long-term health problems that build up slowly over time. Toxicology does not only explore the effects on human health, but it also looks at how harmful substances (xenobiotics) build up in animals, plants, and microorganisms, move through food chains, and affect entire ecosystems.

We welcome original research, methodologies, reviews, and communications that advance the understanding of toxicology. Full experimental details must be provided in original research papers, which can be deposited as supplementary material. The list of keywords below is not exhaustive but rather examples of topics of special interest to this Section.