How Toxicologists Establish Safe Doses of Chemicals
The Dose Makes the Poison, But Just How Much is Safe? Stories about chemicals that might be harming us are frequently in the news and our social media feeds. Sometimes…
Our mission is to enhance public understanding of toxicology through access to objective, science-based information on the safety of chemicals and other agents encountered in daily life.
What is Toxicology?
The Science
Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects. We are made up of chemicals and they are a part of everything we do. Whether naturally occurring or man-made, our bodies are constantly interacting with chemicals in our food, products, and environment.
TEF’s Goal
TEF provides the public with access to reliable scientific information in order to make informed decisions about chemical exposures. Everyone is exposed to chemicals. Whereas some types of exposure are beyond our control, we as a society have the power to accept or reject certain exposures. Individuals also often have choices in the type and amount of certain chemicals to which each of us may be exposed. No chemical, biological or physical agent in our environment is completely without risk, but risk is sometimes worth taking if the benefits outweigh the risk.
Our Latest Videos
We are very pleased by the positive response to our newest video Toxicity Today offering a comic taste of the “sometimes not poisonous and sometimes very poisonous” Botox® and the not-always-as-safe-as-you-think overconsumption of water.
