Toxins
Definition
Toxins are harmful substances produced by living organisms, such as bacteria, plants, or animals. These substances can cause adverse effects on other organisms they come into contact with.
Analogy
Imagine you have a friend who loves spicy food and decides to eat a super hot chili pepper. When your friend touches their eyes after handling the pepper, it causes burning and discomfort. In this case, the chili pepper acts as a toxin causing harm to your friend's eyes.
Related terms
Pollutants: Pollutants are harmful substances released into the environment by human activities. Unlike toxins, pollutants may not necessarily be produced by living organisms but still have detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health.
Toxicity: Toxicity refers to how harmful or poisonous a substance is to living organisms. It depends on factors such as dosage, exposure duration, and individual sensitivity.
Detoxification: Detoxification is the process by which an organism metabolizes or eliminates toxic substances from its body. Various organs like liver and kidneys play crucial roles in detoxifying harmful compounds.
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