Which field is the study of toxicants or poisons, including identification, chemistry, biological effects and treatment?

• A. Toxicology
• B. Toxicokinetics
• C. Toxidynamics
• D. Toxicodermology

Answer: (A)

The field that studies toxicants or poisons, including their identification, chemistry, biological effects, and treatment, is toxicology. Toxicology covers how poisons are detected and characterized, how they interact with living systems to cause harm, and how poisonings are managed—from decontamination and antidotes to supportive care. The other terms refer to narrower aspects: toxicokinetics looks at what the body does to a toxin (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and the time course of exposure; toxidynamics (toxicodynamics) focuses on the mechanisms by which toxins produce their effects; and toxicodermology isn’t a standard, widely used field. So toxicology best fits the full range described.