Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

poison: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Toxic substances

Curtis D. Klaassen, Mary O. Amdur, and John Doull (eds.), Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 3rd ed. (1986), contains in-depth discussions of basic toxicology principles and information on toxins classified according to use and target organs. Analysis of the chemical structure of toxins influencing their effect is provided in Stanley E. Manahan, Toxicological Chemistry: A Guide to Toxic Substances in Chemistry (1989). Michael A. Kamrin, Toxicology: A Primer on Toxicology Principles and Applications (1988), is a concise, nontechnical general introduction. Ernest Hodgson, Richard B. Mailman, and Janice E. Chambers, Dictionary of Toxicology (1988), explains concepts and terminology and covers organizations and authorities in the field.

Exposure and response to poisons

Robert H. Dreisbach and William O. Robertson, Handbook of Poisoning: Prevention, Diagnosis, & Treatment, 12th ed. (1987), contains concise but essential information on the toxicity and treatment of poisoning by biological toxins and drugs. Avram Goldstein, Lewis Aronow, and Sumner M. Kalman, Principles of Drug Action: The Basis of Pharmacology, 2nd ed. (1973), describes the principles governing chemical absorption, distribution, and excretion of the substances. Matthew J. Ellenhorn and Donald G. Barceloux, Medical Toxicology: Diagnosis and Treatments of Human Poisoning (1988), focuses on the poisons derived from biological sources. Sidney Kaye, Handbook of Emergency Toxicology: A Guide for the Identification, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Poisoning, 5th ed. (1988), surveys almost 200 toxic substances.

Sources of poisoning

George D. Clayton and Florence E. Clayton (eds.), Patty’s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd. rev. ed., vol. 2, Toxicology, parts A, B, and C (1981–82), is an extensive compendium of information on the toxicology of industrial chemicals. For concise reference on the subject, see Alice Hamilton, Hamilton and Hardy’s Industrial Toxicology, 4th ed., rev. by Asher J. Finkel (1983). The toxicology of chemicals found in commercial products is examined in Robert E. Gosselin, Roger P. Smith, and Harold C. Hodge, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, 5th ed. (1984), where information on chemical ingredients of many commercial products is detailed. Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. by Joel G. Hardman and Lee E. Limbird (1996), is an authoritative source of information on the toxicology of drugs and includes a section on the toxicity of industrial chemicals.

The toxicology of food is the subject of Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Food Additives, Toxicological Evaluation of Certain Food Additives (1988), including lists of acceptable consumption of flavourings, preservatives, and colours; Jose M. Concon, Food Toxicology, 2 vol. (1988), a comprehensive survey of food contamination and poisoning; Palle Krogh (ed.), Mycotoxins in Food (1987); and W.F.O. Marasas and Paul E. Nelson, Mycotoxicology: Introduction to the Mycology, Plant Pathology, Chemistry, Toxicology, and Pathology of Naturally Occuring Mycotoxicoses in Animals and Man (1987). Bruce W. Halstead, Poisonous and Venomous Marine Animals of the World, 2nd rev. ed. (1988), is an exhaustive and profusely illustrated compendium on the toxic marine animals of the world, from protozoans to polar bears, including their historical background, names, geographic distribution, biology, mechanism of intoxication, and medical, toxicological, pharmacological, and chemical aspects.

Curtis D. Klaassen King Lit Wong

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: ACS Publications - Toxic Mixtures in Time—The Sequence Makes the Poison. Oct 17, 2024
Add new Web site: Natural History Museum - Bite or be bitten: What is the difference between poison and venom? Sep 04, 2024
Add new Web site: Florida State University - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry - The chemistry of Poisons. Mar 22, 2024
Add new Web site: Open Library Publishing Platform - Environmental Science - Toxic Elements. Dec 19, 2023
Add new Web site: Royal Society of Chemistry - What is a poison? Jul 26, 2023
Video and links added. May 31, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Historical Context of Poison Control. May 31, 2023
Add new Web site: Verywell Health - How to Recognize and Treat Poisoning. Mar 06, 2023
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Poison. Jan 26, 2023
Added a photo of radiation injury and a photo of ergot on cereal grasses. Nov 12, 2020
Media added. Feb 13, 2019
Media added. Jan 24, 2019
Media added. Jan 11, 2019
Add new Web site: Women's and Children's Health Network - Kids' Health - Poisons. Mar 25, 2017
Media added. Apr 22, 2016
Media added. Apr 18, 2016
Media added. Apr 07, 2016
Add new Web site: Science Learning - Poisons and toxins. Mar 21, 2016
Restyled formatting of table. Nov 19, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Nov 18, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Nov 10, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Nov 10, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Oct 03, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Oct 03, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Oct 03, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Oct 03, 2008
Restyled formatting of table. Oct 03, 2008
Added new Web site: Department of Health Care Services State of California - Understanding Toxic Substances. May 04, 2008
Article revised. Oct 05, 2000
Article revised. Sep 05, 2000
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: