systemic toxic response

A systemic toxic response occurs when a poison affects parts of the body other than the initial site of contact. This contrasts with a local toxic response, which is confined to the area where the substance first enters the body, such as skin burns from strong acids.1

Systemic toxicants are absorbed and distributed throughout the body. For example, methanol is absorbed and converted to formic acid, which can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision impairment. The development of a toxic response can be immediate or delayed, depending on factors like absorption, distribution, and the speed of action at the target site. Toxic responses can also be morphological (structural changes) or functional (changes in how an organ works), or both. Some toxic effects are reversible, while others, like the formation of silicotic nodules in the lungs, are irreversible.1234