toxicology
noun
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Even though most of us are aware of toxicology primarily from crime shows on TV, toxicologists actually do most of their work in other fields. Many are employed by drug companies, others by chemical companies. Many work for the government, making sure the public is being kept safe from environmental poisons in the water, soil, and air, as well as unhealthy substances in our food and drugs. These issues often have to do with quantity; questions about how much of some substance should be considered dangerous, whether in the air or in a soft drink, may be left to toxicologists. But occasionally a toxicology task may be more exciting: for instance, discovering that what looked like an ordinary heart attack was actually brought on by a hypodermic injection of a paralyzing muscle relaxant.
Examples of toxicology in a Sentence
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 July 2025
Saucedo added that investigators will not know whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident until the coroner’s office prepares a toxicology report.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 July 2025
The sergeant added that investigators will not know whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident until the coroner's office prepares a toxicology report.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 5 July 2025
In Melton's case, police were waiting for a toxicology report.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for toxicology
Cite this Entry
“Toxicology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxicology. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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toxicology
noun
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