The first information on toxicology dates back to early humans, who used animal poisons and plant extracts for hunting, killing, and assassination. The Ebers Papyrus (around 1550 BCE) compiled information about some known toxins, including hemlock (the poison used to execute Socrates), the root of the crown imperial (used as a spear poison by the Chinese), opium (which was used both as a poison and as an antidote), and various metals like lead, copper, and antimony. Dioscorides, a Greek physician during the Roman Empire, made the first attempt to categorize poisons, describing them in detail. Although this classification was only used as a standard until the 16th century, it is still considered a good basis for categorizing toxins. Hippocrates (around 400 BCE) used some poisons and toxicology principles to treat diseases. The most well-known person to be killed by poison was Socrates (470–399 BCE), who was executed with hemlock.

Analytical toxicology is the method of detecting, identifying, and measuring foreign compounds in biological and environmental samples (by transferring the environmental sample to a toxicology laboratory). Analytical methods are used to analyze and assess a wide range of chemical compounds, such as various industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, narcotics, and naturally occurring toxins. One of the practical techniques in this branch of toxicology includes spectroscopic methods such as UV-Vis spectroscopy and atomic absorption and emission. Separation devices, which are standard methods for some substances, include gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Analytical toxicology can assist in the diagnosis, management, prognosis, and prevention of poisoning. Analytical toxicology laboratories can analyze a broad spectrum of chemical exposure and usage (such as chemical incidents, therapeutic drug monitoring, forensic analysis, and drug monitoring). It also plays a role in determining the pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics of pharmaceutical substances or the effectiveness of new treatments.

Toxicology experts conduct various experiments to determine the effects of toxic substances on humans and other living organisms. Cellular (molecular) and biochemical toxicological research is carried out to study the mechanisms of toxic effects and their impact on systems such as the nervous system and immunity. These experiments are mostly performed on laboratory animals. In these studies, specialists introduce a specific amount of a toxic substance into the body of a living organism through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal absorption, and then examine the harmful effects it causes on the organism’s body. Through this process, they aim to generalize the effects of these substances on humans. This method is one of the ways to gather information in toxicology.