title: [What is a "poison"? Proposal of definition].
abstract: We discuss different interpretations of the term poison as well as the need of bringing up to date the changes in this matter according to the science progress. A clear and exact definition is proposed after analysing the factors that affect the relativity of the concept and its boundaries. The proposal for a definition is presented taking into account the most broadly extended concepts concerning its significance. That is to say: "a poison is, for human beings and their non-pathogenic and non-harmful biological environment, an electromagnetic or corpuscular radiation, or a non-infectious chemical agent, structured no larger in size than a small particle or fibre that, after being generated internally or after contact, penetration and/or absorption by a live organism, in sufficiently high dose, can produce or produces a direct or indirect adverse effect unrelated to its temperature or measurable electrical potential difference". The scientific knowledge needs accurate definitions to avoid ambiguities.
authors: Laboratorio de Toxicología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. raimon.guitart@uab.cat
authors: Raimon
authors: R
authors: Guitart
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Giménez
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009676:Noxae / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D011042:Poisons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014116:Toxicology
chemical_list: D009676:Noxae; D011042:Poisons