title: Toxicology: assessing the hazard.
abstract: Some of the fundamentals of toxicology that are used by the toxicologist in assessing the toxic properties of compounds have been discussed. It is easy to see that a large amount of keen professional judgment must enter into the toxicologist's decisions. It is not a job that can be done by an amateur, even though some well meaning lay and political associates may believe they are capable of doing so. The toxicologist's job is not finished when he has determined the toxicological properties of a compound. He then has to assess the hazard of the compound, an infinitely more complex and complicated task. In the end, as stated by Dr. Mrak, "There are no harmless substances, there are only harmless ways of using substances" (quoted in Reference 1, p. 11).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations