What are "synergistic effects" in toxicology?

Synergistic effects in toxicology refer to situations where two or more substances interact in such a way that they produce a combined effect that is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This means that the presence of one substance enhances the potency or toxicity of the other, leading to an amplified response in the body's biological systems.

For example, if two chemicals are each harmful on their own, exposure to both together might result in a much more severe toxic effect than if a person were exposed to just one of the chemicals at a time. This is crucial in toxicology because it means that regulatory assessments need to consider not just the individual effects of substances, but also how they may interact together in complex ways. Understanding synergistic effects is essential for risk assessment, especially in the context of environmental exposures or when considering potential drug interactions in pharmacology.