Thermodynamic Activity of Certain Industrial Poisons: Use of Activity in the Toxicology of Volatile Organic Compounds

摘要

The equilibrium distribution relationships by means of which one obtains comparable quantitative data characterizing the narcotic state are examined. The relation of the strength of nonspecific action of substances to different distribution functions and the question of logarithmic dependence of the strength in homologous series are discussed. A thermodynamic discussion of the narcotic state is given. Toxicological activity as a function characteristic of nonspecifically acting substance at the site of action - activity determining the two-phase toxicity of the substance - is substantiated. Data for mice are used to set up a toxicity scale for freely evaporating substances. The concept of latitude of biological action and thermodynamic capacity based on the concepts of activity and two-phase toxicity is proposed and substantiated. The direction of the metabolism of toxic substances in relation to the decreasing activity of metabolites is discussed. (ERA citation 04:024710)