http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/ Type two similar terms in the search box. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:53:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-2544 admin Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:35:52 +0000 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-2544 The difference between a toxin and a prion: A toxin is a substance that poisons or irritates whereas a prion is a type of infectious agent. But unlike infectious viruses and bacteria, prions are not cellular organisms. Prions are proteins that normally perform a beneficial function in animal tissue; but they can become abnormally shaped, leading to illness. According to the US Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadBugBook/ucm071397.htm - abnormal prions can be infectious when consumed by other animals. Prions are thought to be absorbed into the body during digestion where they begin the process of changing their normal protein counterparts into abnormal proteins; however infectious prions from one species of animal have less of a potential of causing the abnormal shape in the normally shaped prion proteins of another species (the "species barrier"). The difference between a toxin and a prion:
A toxin is a substance that poisons or irritates whereas a prion is a type of infectious agent. But unlike infectious viruses and bacteria, prions are not cellular organisms. Prions are proteins that normally perform a beneficial function in animal tissue; but they can become abnormally shaped, leading to illness. According to the US Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadBugBook/ucm071397.htm - abnormal prions can be infectious when consumed by other animals. Prions are thought to be absorbed into the body during digestion where they begin the process of changing their normal protein counterparts into abnormal proteins; however infectious prions from one species of animal have less of a potential of causing the abnormal shape in the normally shaped prion proteins of another species (the “species barrier”).

]]> http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-2543 Holman Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:36:09 +0000 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-2543 What is the difference between a toxin and a prion? What is the difference between a toxin and a prion?

]]> http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-1047 admin Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:09:48 +0000 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-1047 Interesting comment, Ethan. "Water toxicity" usually refers to the level of harmful substances (of any kind) in water. So water utility companies, for example, do water toxicity tests to make sure water is OK to drink. Why not water poisonousness tests? Maybe the word is just too long and awkward! It seems that the distinction between toxins and poisons is not maintained in longer words like 'toxicity' and 'toxicology' The alternative words, poisonousness and poisonology are rarely used. 'Water toxicity' is sometimes used erroneously to describe the harmful effects of drinking too much water. The correct term for this is 'water intoxication'. Interesting comment, Ethan. “Water toxicity” usually refers to the level of harmful substances (of any kind) in water. So water utility companies, for example, do water toxicity tests to make sure water is OK to drink. Why not water poisonousness tests? Maybe the word is just too long and awkward! It seems that the distinction between toxins and poisons is not maintained in longer words like ‘toxicity’ and ‘toxicology’ The alternative words, poisonousness and poisonology are rarely used.
‘Water toxicity’ is sometimes used erroneously to describe the harmful effects of drinking too much water. The correct term for this is ‘water intoxication’.

]]> http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-1045 Ethan Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:55:18 +0000 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-1045 What about usage such as water toxicity? What about usage such as water toxicity?

]]> http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-961 lori Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:11:07 +0000 http://difference-between.com/science/poisonous-and-toxic/#comment-961 thx that was great! thx that was great!

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