The Benefits of Toxins in Human Treatment - Research Paper

Introduction

Toxins are related to various adverse effects on human health creating a significant public health concern. However, toxins also provide various benefits especially regarding human treatment among other important aspects of human life (Hayes & Kruger, 2014). Human healthcare researchers have discovered various beneficial applications of different toxins in human treatment. For instance, some toxins, modified toxins or toxins compound extracts are applied as medicine or as an important element in making certain useful medical drugs in appropriate quantities. Some of the produced medical drugs from toxins provide treatment of disease conditions unrelated to intoxication from the respective toxin. However, some toxins are used to produce antidote for health conditions linked to intoxication from intoxication by respective toxins or closely related types of toxins (Hayes & Kruger, 2014). For example, snake venom produces various adverse effects on human health by altering the normal functioning of the body in various ways. However, researchers have discovered various beneficial applications of different types of venoms and venom compound extracts in the treatment of venomous intoxication. Several types of snake venoms are applied in the production of antivenin used as physiological antidotes in suppression or treatment of given types of snake venom intoxication (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). For example, the polyvalent Crotalidae antivenin is produced from different snakes' species venom including Western diamondback, Fer-de-lance, South American rattlesnake, and the Eastern diamond rattlesnake (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The application of the snake venoms in the production of antivenins involves extracting blood serum of given animals exposed to graduated quantities of the snake venom which contains immunoglobulins effective in neutralizing given types of snake venom intoxication activities in human victims. The immunoglobulins contained in snake venoms are broken down in enzymatic reactions usually through the activity of enzyme pepsin facilitating the isolation of an antigen that neutralizes given snake venom intoxication (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). Several toxins are also applied in the production of useful substances used in different beneficial human activities. For instance, lead is applied in the manufacture of leaded paints.

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Evidence for Toxicity in Human Health

Toxicity or intoxication manifests in various ways regarding human physiological processes and physical conditions. Toxicity may manifest through identifiable signs of disrupted normal body metabolic processes in body cells and tissues. For instance, the disruption of the energy synthesis metabolic process in body cell mitochondrion organelle manifests by the sign of abnormal body temperatures that includes either body temperatures significantly higher or lower than the optimal body temperature in mammals (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). Other observable signs of body metabolic processes disruptions include impaired body sensitivity due to disruption of the neurotransmission body processes. Toxicity also manifests in the form of signs and symptoms of abnormal or inhibited physical and physiological body activity. Some of the signs and symptoms of inhibited physical and physiological body activities include abnormal breathing rate, impaired sight or hearing, movement, excretion, growth and development activities among other manifestations (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The inhibition of body physical and physiological activities mainly results from impaired body metabolic processes such as respiration, oxygen absorption, neurotransmission among others. Toxicity can also manifest in the form of identifiable signs and symptoms of specific body organ failure. Some of the toxins act on specific body tissues or cells of a given organ. For instance, some toxins act on liver cells including excess alcohol resulting in observable signs of liver cirrhosis such as yellowing of the skin and eyes associated with liver failure (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). Toxicity also manifests in the form of signs and symptoms of systemic organ failure as a result of multiple organ failure. The intoxicated individual's multiple body organs may manifest signs and symptoms of systemic dysfunction such as inability to breath, move, hear, talk or think normally. The systemic organ failure results from intoxication by toxins that act on body cells and tissues of different organs or disrupts closely interrelated organ systems including breathing, endocrine, blood circulation, and respiratory systems (Hayes & Kruger, 2014). Toxicity may also manifest in the form of individual's abnormal physical appearance such as eroded eye cornea or conjunctiva, and skin damage usually due to exposer to external corrosive toxins.

Different Categories of Toxins

Toxins are classified in different categories mainly depending on the mode of intoxication or target body cell, organ or organ system. Toxins occur in two main broad classifications including organ-specific toxins that act on certain targeted tissue or organ body cells. On the other hand, systemic toxins refer to a class of toxins that acts on multiple body tissues or organs cells. Toxins occur in five main categories which include neurotoxins, cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and immuno-toxicity toxins (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The neurotoxicity toxins act on the central and peripheral nervous system cells, tissues, and organs producing negative human health effects. The adverse human health effects related to the impairment of the nervous system activity mainly disrupts the normal neurotransmission process by damaging the cells and tissues involved in the entire neurotransmission strategy (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). An example of neurotoxins includes lead which inhibits proper calcium metabolism especially in developing the brain of young children thereby impairing vital brain development processes resulting in disrupted neurotransmission (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The cytotoxicity toxins act on the intracellular and extracellular body cells of various body tissues leading to adverse human health effects directly or indirectly related to abnormal cell structure functioning. An example of cytotoxicity toxins includes carbon monoxide which acts on red blood cells internal structure called hemoglobin. The intoxication of red blood cells with carbon monoxide toxin results in the combination of the red blood cells hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin a relatively staple compound that inhibits the transportation of oxygen to various body cells and tissues which may result to death. Hepatotoxicity toxins refer to toxins that act on the liver cells and tissues resulting in adverse health effects related to inhibited normal liver functioning (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). An example of hepatotoxicity toxins includes alcohol which if taken in excess under long exposure leads to irreversible liver damage or liver cirrhosis. Nephrotoxicity toxins include chemicals or substances that act on the kidney and the nephron structure resulting to inhibited normal waste excretion through urine which may result to systemic toxicity due to wastes accumulated in the bloodstream (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). An example of nephrotoxicity toxins includes some medication drugs such as Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors that with long exposure leads to damaging of the kidney. Immuno-toxins affect the body immune system leading to significantly reduced immunity against emerging diseases (Greim & Snyder, 2018). A good example of immuno-toxin includes industrial chemical hydrazine that increases an individual's susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus with long exposure (Greim & Snyder, 2018).

Factors that Modify Toxicity in Human Health

Some of the main factors that modify toxicity in humans include age, gender, length of exposure and exposure route, level of metabolism, the strength of the individual immune system, ability of a toxicant to be absorbed and dissociate, and form and chemical activity of the toxin (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). Some of the toxic chemicals or substances are more toxic to infants and elderly than in young adults due to the difference in levels of metabolic processes. The severity of toxins also varies with gender due to the difference in metabolism levels, body fat and water composition, hormones among others. The length of exposure to toxins determines the level of concentration of the toxin in a victim's body which is directly related to the severity of effects and difficult in eliminating the toxin from the victim's body (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The strength of an intoxicated individual's immune system determines the ability to eliminate the toxins from the body. The higher the rate and extent of absorption of a toxin the greater the extent of distribution and activity of the toxin in the body which depends on the chemical form and route of exposure. The route of exposure determines the level of activity and absorption of toxins. Some toxins demonstrate greater absorption and activity levels when ingested than through inhalation or injection and vice versa. A healthy middle-aged man will experience intoxication effects differently from a middle-aged female who smokes and has a suppressed immune system when exposed in similar concentration and duration to a given toxin (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The healthy-middle aged male's stronger immune system compared to the middle-age provides greater ability to suppress the intoxication activity of the toxin compared to the middle-aged female through the detoxification response mechanism. The reduced ability of the female to suppress the intoxication activity of the toxin due to the weaker immune system in comparison with the male results in the female experiencing severer adverse effects (Richards & Bourgeois, 2014). The middle-aged female's smoking lifestyle further weakens the immune system and introduces nicotine chemical toxins that may react with the toxin exposed to resulting to severer adverse effects compared to the man (Greim & Snyder, 2018). The healthy male demonstrates a higher level of metabolism which facilitates a greater biotransformation ability compared to the female with suppressed immunity. The greater the biotransformation ability of the male enables faster elimination of the toxin which helps suppress the intoxication activity adverse effects (Hayes & Kruger, 2014). On the other hand, the female with reduced biotransformation ability will experience more amplified adverse effects due to delayed elimination of the toxin that results in prolonged intoxication.

References

Greim, H., & Snyder, R. (Eds.). (2018). Toxicology and risk assessment: a comprehensive introduction. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-1-119-13593-7

Hayes, A. W., & Kruger, C. L. (Eds.). (2014). Hayes' Principles and Methods of Toxicology. CRC Press. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manuel_Peitsch/publication/289727663

Richards, I. S., & Bourgeois, M. M. (2014). Principles and practice of toxicology in public health (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Retrieved from https://www.jblearning.com/catalog/productdetails/9781449645267