Understanding the critical role of toxicology in pharmaceutical education and practice for ensuring patient safety
"The dose makes the poison."
Every day, pharmacists are the first healthcare professionals people consult about medication use. But do we consider that the same substance can be both a remedy and a threat? Toxicology — the science studying the interaction between poisonous substances and living organisms — is an integral part of pharmaceutical education 3 .
In an era where chemical substances surround us and medications become increasingly complex, understanding toxicology principles transforms from an academic discipline into a necessary condition for pharmaceutical professionals' competence 3 .
Enables pharmacists to properly recommend medications, anticipate potential risks, recognize poisoning symptoms, and provide competent safety counseling.
The foundational toxicology principle, formulated by Paracelsus during the Renaissance, states: "All substances are poisons and there are no substances without poisonous properties. Only the dose determines the poison" 3 .
Used as a medicinal drug
Noticeable side effects appear
Causes coma, becoming life-threatening 3
Contemporary toxicology uses three main research method groups:
| Organism | Habitat | Indicator Value |
|---|---|---|
| Nostoc pruniforme Algae | Clean water bodies | Indicator of clean water |
| Tubifex | Polluted rivers | Forms clusters in heavily polluted waters |
| Blue-green algae (Oscillatoria) | Polluted water bodies | Indicator of dangerous organic compound pollution |
| Rat-tailed maggot (Eristalis larva) | Polluted water bodies | Inhabits waters with strong hydrogen sulfide odor |
In 2020, the Northern State Medical University conducted research assessing students' toxicology training levels. The study included questionnaires for medical university students to identify their awareness of household, environmental and occupational chemical hazards, as well as knowledge about chemical substance structures in the Arkhangelsk region environment .
Special attention was paid to assessing future medical professionals' readiness to provide first aid for chemical poisonings outside medical organizations, knowledge of preventive measures procedures, and making organizational-medical decisions during mass poisonings .
The results were alarming: unsatisfactory levels of student awareness about basic toxicology issues were identified. Particularly low indicators were noted in:
The study authors associate these deficiencies with extremely insufficient attention to the "Toxicology" discipline in educational program implementation .
| Assessment Parameter | Preparation Level | Main Problems |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness of household chemical hazards | Unsatisfactory | Insufficient knowledge about common household toxicants |
| Readiness to provide first aid for poisonings | Unsatisfactory | Uncertainty in actions during community poisonings |
| Knowledge of preventive measures procedures | Unsatisfactory | Insufficient understanding of prevention systems |
| Decision-making during mass poisonings | Unsatisfactory | Unformed action algorithms in emergencies |
Forensic and clinical toxicology widely use chromatographic kits - specialized laboratory tools designed for precise and sensitive substance analysis in biological samples. These kits can detect and quantitatively determine substances at very low concentrations, necessary for working with microtraces 2 .
| Tool/Reagent | Purpose | Pharmacy Application |
|---|---|---|
| Chromatographic kits | Detecting drugs and metabolites in biological samples | Medication quality control, bio-sample analysis |
| Forensic toxicology kits | Analyzing poisonous substances in organs and tissues | Identifying potentially toxic components in medications |
| Biological test systems (bacteria, algae, invertebrates) | Assessing substance toxicity | Screening safety of new drug formulations |
| Chemical reagents for sample preparation | Preparing samples for analysis | Preparing pharmaceutical substances for analysis |
The conducted research indicates the need for correcting the educational process with targeted study of household and industrial chemical structures specific to the residence territory and future professional activity . For pharmaceutical specialists, this means:
Toxicological aspects of medication effects
Counseling on acute and chronic poisonings
Regional toxicological situation specifics
The study authors justify the need to restore the academic discipline "Toxicology and Radiology with Medical Protection from Toxic Substances" with a volume of at least 3 credit units and develop an interdisciplinary program in medical universities within the new scientific-practical direction - toxicological preventology (poisoning prevention science) .
For pharmaceutical specialists, toxicology training should become not just a formal education element, but a key component of professional thinking, enabling medication therapy safety assurance and preventing potential patient health risks.