What's the difference between a venom a toxin?
How is a poison different?

Others might have more to say, but I knew we had talked about this before, and I found this.

Here's another one: VENIN,
defined as any of the poisonous constituents of animal venoms

TOXIN is defined (full def at MW) as a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism. But don't I routinely hear the word 'toxin' used to describe chemical contaminants?

quote:

don't I routinely hear the word 'toxin' used to describe chemical contaminants?

Certainly several minerals, etc, such as mercury, are described as 'toxic'.

In medicine the word "toxin" is often used. This link tells about some of the medical toxins, such as the cholera toxin. And they mention lead, too, as a mineral toxin.

Toxin is noawdays largely used as a nonsense word by the "alternative health" cranks selling snake-oil to the masses on the promise that it will "clear the toxins from your body". It won't for several reasons. First, in the sense they are trying to use it toxins don't exist. Second, even if they did their products are no more than "woo" - might as well claim that painting your nose blue and doing a dance will clear toxins. Third your body is already well designed to rid itself of whatever toxic byproducts your meatabolism produces.
If anyone offers too sell you something that will rid you of toxins you should offer to swap it for the bridge you bought from a guy in the bar.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,

You're back!!

Totally agree. And here is a good article from your own "Guardian" explaining why.

I just saw a typo in my post! But I like the idea of "meatabolism" so much I'm going to leave it.
You are right. I am back.