Toxicants, not toxins
As a toxicologist, this is a serious pet peeve of mine. Mercury and arsenic are toxicants, not toxins. A toxicant is a poison, a toxin is a poison of biological origin (e.g., snake venom). All toxins are toxicants. Not all toxicants are toxins. If you are unsure, use toxicant. Thank you for your time.
p.s.
For lovers of the tv show House, despite what Dr. House tells us every single week, his crew does not search people's homes for toxins, but toxicants.
As a toxicologist, this is a serious pet peeve of mine. Mercury and arsenic are toxicants, not toxins. A toxicant is a poison, a toxin is a poison of biological origin (e.g., snake venom). All toxins are toxicants. Not all toxicants are toxins. If you are unsure, use toxicant. Thank you for your time.
p.s.
For lovers of the tv show House, despite what Dr. House tells us every single week, his crew does not search people's homes for toxins, but toxicants.