The Surprising Science Of Toxic Doses

Technically, almost any substance can be a poison depending on the amount consumed. Even water and oxygen become lethal if taken in doses that overwhelm the body's natural balance.

Toxicity is less about what a substance is and more about how much you are exposed to at once. This principle explains why substances we need for survival, like salt or vitamins, can be fatal in extreme quantities. Scientists use this concept to study the precise thresholds where substances stop being life-sustaining and start causing damage. It is a powerful reminder that in biology, the dose truly makes the poison.