Dose-response relationship
Overview
The dose-response relationship, or exposure-response relationship, describes the change in effect on an organism
caused by differing levels of exposure (or doses
) to a stressor
(usually a chemical) after a certain exposure time . This may apply to individuals (e.g.: a small amount has no significant effect, a large amount is fatal), or to population
s (e.g.: how many people or organisms are affected at different levels of exposure).
Studying dose response, and developing dose response models, is central to determining "safe" and "hazardous" levels and dosages for drug
s, potential pollutants, and other substances to which humans or other organism
s are exposed.
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
caused by differing levels of exposure (or doses
Dose (biochemistry)
A dose is a quantity of something that may impact an organism biologically; the greater the quantity, the larger the dose. In nutrition, the term is usually applied to how much of a specific nutrient is in a person's diet or in a particular food, meal, or dietary supplement...
) to a stressor
Stressor
Stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, an external stimulus or an event that causes stress to an organism. An event that triggers the stress response may include for example:...
(usually a chemical) after a certain exposure time . This may apply to individuals (e.g.: a small amount has no significant effect, a large amount is fatal), or to population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
s (e.g.: how many people or organisms are affected at different levels of exposure).
Studying dose response, and developing dose response models, is central to determining "safe" and "hazardous" levels and dosages for drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
s, potential pollutants, and other substances to which humans or other organism
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s are exposed.
