The evolution of toxicology: From poison to risk asessment

This paper analyzes the history of Toxicology through the many cultures, researchers, concepts and methodologies. The text is not only a set of data and ephemeredes but also represents the attempt to describe the evolution of this discipline through society's image. Given that as of the 20th and 21st centuries a risk society appeared, the role of toxicology took on greater importance; the author shows that toxicology then consisted of more the just studying poisons. At the provisional end of this history, toxicogenomics appear, the last transformation of this research field.