Principles and concepts in toxicokinetic

Toxicokinetics (TK) describes the disposition of toxicants. It is widely used for stating the duration of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of toxicants through the body of an animal or human being. TK is closely related to the pharmacokinetics of a drug, albeit it is involved with toxicity. The toxicity of a chemical substance can be experienced after its exposure through different routes such as inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure. Moreover, the level of harmful responses after toxicant exposure is highly reliant on both the rate and degree of absorption by the body, its distribution to vulnerable organs/tissues, as well as interactions at target sites. This chapter highlights different sources of exposure, factors affecting toxicity, transport mechanisms, toxicity types, and TK models.