Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity01:25

Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity

Bioactivation is a metabolic process that transforms less reactive substances into highly reactive metabolites, initiating tissue toxicity. This transformation can lead to various toxic effects, including carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Reactive metabolites are classified into two main types: electrophiles and free radicals.Electrophiles are electron-deficient species and are produced primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 during the metabolism of compounds containing carbon, nitrogen, or...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Governing new technologies that stop biological time: Preparing for prolonged biopreservation of human organs in transplantation.

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons·2024
Same author

Practical considerations for reinterpretation of individual genetic variants.

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2023
Same author

Global Governance of Human Genome Editing: What Are the Rules?

Annual review of genomics and human genetics·2021
Same author

Does the law require reinterpretation and return of revised genomic results?

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2021
Same author

Legislating in the time of a pandemic: window of opportunity or invitation for recklessness?

Journal of law and the biosciences·2020
Same author

Can Clinical Genetics Laboratories be Sued for Medical Malpractice?

Annals of health law and life sciences·2020
Same journal

Establishment of a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia complicated with pulmonary hypertension and its potential applications.

Human & experimental toxicology·2026
Same journal

Pulmonary iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticle-biomolecule interactions modified during aging and metabolic syndrome disease progression.

Human & experimental toxicology·2026
Same journal

Retraction: Carvedilol alleviates the detrimental effects of azathioprine on hepatic tissues in experimental rats: Focusing on redox system, inflammatory and apoptosis pathways.

Human & experimental toxicology·2026
Same journal

Inhibition of store-operated calcium entry mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatotoxicity via modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress responses.

Human & experimental toxicology·2026
Same journal

Stevioside inhibits colorectal cancer progression by regulating macrophage polarization.

Human & experimental toxicology·2026
Same journal

Predictive factors of severe outcome in glufosinate ammonium poisoning: A retrospective study in Vietnam.

Human & experimental toxicology·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A High-throughput Assay for the Prediction of Chemical Toxicity by Automated Phenotypic Profiling of Caenorhabditis elegans
09:01

A High-throughput Assay for the Prediction of Chemical Toxicity by Automated Phenotypic Profiling of Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 14, 2019

Hormesis and toxic torts.

Gary E Marchant1

  • 1Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics, Center for the Study of Law, Science and Technology, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, PO Box 877906, Tempe, AZ 85287-7906, USA. gary.marchant@asu.edu

Human & Experimental Toxicology
|May 16, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hormesis, a concept where low-level exposures can be beneficial, may offer a defense in toxic-tort lawsuits. Its admissibility in court hinges on scientific acceptance and jury perception.

More Related Videos

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
08:58

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants

Published on: July 29, 2019

Viability Assays for Cells in Culture
12:03

Viability Assays for Cells in Culture

Published on: January 20, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A High-throughput Assay for the Prediction of Chemical Toxicity by Automated Phenotypic Profiling of Caenorhabditis elegans
09:01

A High-throughput Assay for the Prediction of Chemical Toxicity by Automated Phenotypic Profiling of Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 14, 2019

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
08:58

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants

Published on: July 29, 2019

Viability Assays for Cells in Culture
12:03

Viability Assays for Cells in Culture

Published on: January 20, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Health
  • Law and Policy

Background:

  • Hormesis, a dose-response phenomenon, has primarily been applied in regulatory contexts.
  • Toxic-tort litigation presents a novel avenue for the practical application of hormesis.
  • Establishing the scientific validity and acceptance of hormesis is crucial for its legal defense utility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of hormesis as a defense strategy in toxic-tort litigation.
  • To assess the admissibility of hormesis evidence in legal proceedings.
  • To evaluate the factors influencing the perception and acceptance of hormesis in court.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of legal standards for scientific evidence admissibility.
  • Examination of the "general acceptance" criterion for scientific concepts.
  • Review of regulatory policy limitations versus potential judicial consideration of hormesis.

Main Results:

  • Hormesis may serve as a defense for entities sued over low-level toxic exposures.
  • Admissibility of hormesis evidence is likely contingent on scientific consensus and favorable circumstances.
  • Judicial consideration may be more receptive to hormesis than regulatory bodies bound by default assumptions.

Conclusions:

  • Hormesis holds potential as a defense in toxic-tort cases, but its legal viability is uncertain.
  • Successful implementation requires overcoming scientific acceptance hurdles and effectively presenting evidence to juries.
  • Jury perception, influenced by case specifics, will be pivotal in determining the success of hormesis-based defenses.