Heterotóxico is a term used in the medical field to describe substances or agents that are toxic to living organisms. It is typically used to refer to chemical compounds that are harmful to human or animal health. The term is more commonly used in written context than in oral speech due to its technical nature.
Example Sentences
El químico identificó un compuesto heterotóxico en la muestra de suelo. (The chemist identified a heterotoxic compound in the soil sample.)
El empleo de ciertos productos de limpieza puede resultar en la liberación de agentes heterotóxicos en el ambiente. (The use of certain cleaning products can result in the release of heterotoxic agents into the environment.)
Idiomatic Expressions
No tomes eso, es heterotóxico. (Don't drink that, it's toxic.)
La exposición prolongada a sustancias heterotóxicas puede tener efectos graves en la salud. (Prolonged exposure to heterotoxic substances can have serious health effects.)
Siempre debes leer las etiquetas de los productos para evitar el contacto con sustancias heterotóxicas. (You should always read product labels to avoid contact with heterotoxic substances.)
Etymology
The word "heterotóxico" is formed by the combination of "hetero-" meaning different or other and "tóxico" meaning toxic. The prefix "hetero-" is derived from the Greek word "héteros" which means "the other."