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DB / Metadata Management Program (MMP): Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging


Special Instructions

  • Distinguishing between adverse effects, poisoning, and toxicity:
    • adverse effects: for unintended harmful side effects of a substance or procedure in normal use
    • poisoning: for severe or life threatening systemic effects of a substance, through environmental exposure, overdose, accident or error
    • toxicity: for experimental studies on the effects and margin of safety of drugs, chemicals, etc. and for non-life threatening exposure to environmental agents

  • Distinguishing between metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacology:
    • metabolism: what the body does to a chemical
    • pharmacokinetics: how an exogenous chemical travels through the body
    • pharmacology: the chemical’s effect on the body


Last Reviewed: June 17, 2017