How Much Is Too Much

The lethal dose for caffeine is approximately 150–200 mg/kg of body mass. How much caffeine would be lethal for a 120 lb person? How many cups of coffee is this?

How can scientists determine the toxicity of a substance?

• By conducting laboratory experiments on cell cultures

• Through public surveys and questionnaires

• By comparing it to other substances with known toxicity levels

• Using computer simulation models

How is toxicity related to body weight?

• Higher body weight reduces the impact of toxins

• Body weight has no relation to toxicity

• Lower body weight reduces the impact of toxins

• Toxicity is only related to the type of toxin, not body weight

Given that the LD50 for ethanol is 7060 mg/kg (rat, oral): How many milligrams of ethanol would be lethal to a 132 lb adult? (6 significant figures) Give unit of measurement.

Given that the LD50 for ethanol is 7060 mg/kg (rat, oral): How many glasses containing 13,000 mg of ethanol would be lethal to a 132 lb adult?

The LD50 for vitamin A is 1510 mg/kg (rat, oral): How many mg of vitamin A would be lethal to a 132 lb adult?

The LD50 for vitamin A is 1510 mg/kg (rat, oral): How many vitamin tablets containing 0.40 mg of vitamin A would be lethal to a 132 pound adult?