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

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...
Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
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,...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Antidotes01:17

Antidotes

Antidotes are medicinal substances used to counteract the harmful effects of toxins or drugs in the body. They function in various ways, each uniquely designed to combat specific toxic compounds.
Specific antidotes operate by inhibiting the enzymes that control biochemical pathways, reducing the production of harmful metabolites.
An example of an antidote is atropine, which counteracts the detrimental effects of cholinesterase inhibitors. It achieves this by deactivating muscarinic receptors,...
Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison01:14

Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison

In cases of acute poisoning, the primary objective is to prevent further absorption of the toxic substance into the body. Immediate interventions using various decontamination techniques targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can achieve this. Decontamination is crucial to prevent poison from entering the systemic circulation, which involves washing affected areas with water and mild soap and removing contaminated clothing. Once external decontamination is done, attention must be turned to...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Community assessment of fish consumption and methyl mercury exposure among Asian women of reproductive age in Chicago.

Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology·2026
Same author

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Zanubrutinib in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL/SLL).

Cancer medicine·2025
Same author

Determining Associations Between Levels of Ethylene Oxide Gas Exposure and Neurocognitive Performance for Older U.S. Adults.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2025
Same author

"The simple life experiences that every other human gets": Desire for normalcy among adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2022
Same author

Patient, Family, and Clinician Perspectives on Location of Death for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer.

JCO oncology practice·2022
Same author

Corrigendum to "Persistent and Toxic Chemical Pollutants in Fish Consumed by Asians in Chicago, United States" [Sci. Total Environ. 811 (2022):152214/ DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152214].

The Science of the total environment·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation and Quantification of Botulinum Neurotoxin From Complex Matrices Using the BoTest Matrix Assays
12:25

Isolation and Quantification of Botulinum Neurotoxin From Complex Matrices Using the BoTest Matrix Assays

Published on: March 3, 2014

Toxins in everyday life.

Howard Chey1, Susan Buchanan

  • 1Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, 835 South Wolcott, MC 684, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Primary Care
|October 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Primary care providers can identify and manage patient exposure to common environmental toxicants like indoor pollutants, heavy metals, and pesticides. This review aids in recognizing health effects and includes a practical environmental history form.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Primary Care Medicine

Background:

  • Patients frequently encounter environmental toxicants in daily life.
  • Primary care settings are crucial for identifying and managing toxicant exposures.
  • Understanding exposure sources and health impacts is essential for patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common toxicants encountered in primary care.
  • To outline methods for recognizing and managing toxicant exposures.
  • To provide a resource for environmental history taking.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of environmental toxicants and their health effects.
  • Compilation of information on indoor/outdoor pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, electromagnetic fields, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

More Related Videos

Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy
07:13

Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy

Published on: February 25, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Isolation and Quantification of Botulinum Neurotoxin From Complex Matrices Using the BoTest Matrix Assays
12:25

Isolation and Quantification of Botulinum Neurotoxin From Complex Matrices Using the BoTest Matrix Assays

Published on: March 3, 2014

Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy
07:13

Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy

Published on: February 25, 2021

  • Inclusion of a sample environmental history form.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified key environmental toxicants relevant to primary care.
    • Detailed health effects associated with various exposures.
    • Provided guidance on recognition and management strategies.
    • Offered a practical tool for patient assessment.

    Conclusions:

    • Primary care physicians play a vital role in addressing environmental toxicant exposures.
    • Effective management requires recognizing sources and understanding health impacts.
    • The provided environmental history form can enhance patient evaluation.