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What Is a Toxin?

The word toxin is used in multiple industries and academic disciplines such as health care, fitness, zoology and forensics. As such, its definition varies depending on the context. Nonetheless, there is common meaning and usage for the word toxin.

  1. Definition

    • Merriam-Webster defines a toxin as a "a poisonous substance...of a living organism...that induces antibody formation." The word toxin is historically rooted in the phrase "organic poison."

    Types of Toxins

    • Toxins can be broadly categorized as exotoxins, which are secreted by organisms, and endotoxins, which are released from bacteria. Exotoxins, or biotoxins, include toxins such as cytotoxins and neurotoxins.

    Naming Toxins

    • When naming toxins, the prefix is related to the area of the body affected by the toxin. For example, hemotoxins cause destruction of red blood cells. The term for man-made toxins is environmental toxins, but these substances are commonly called poisons.

    Toxins in Health Care

    • In the health care industry, doctors may run tests to determine if toxins are at dangerous levels within a person's body. Dangerous levels of toxins cause pain and health ailments.

    Toxins in Zoology

    • Toxins are also substances utilized by certain animals in order to survive. Animals like spiders and scorpions use toxins to hunt for food while bees and ants use toxins as defense mechanisms.

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