The damaging effects of a poison is dependent upon getting the concentration of active compound at the target site for enough time. Not all target organs are affected equally. Those organs like the liver, kidneys and lungs have very high blood flow and are therefore more susceptible.
Poisons have many mechanisms by which they can cause damage or death and the damage can occur at the molecular, cellular or organ level. Molecularly, a poison can interact with protein, lipids or DNA pathways. At the cellular level, the poison can:
- interfere with receptor-ligand binding
- interfere with membrane function
- interfere with cellular energy production
- bind to biomolecules
- perturb homeostasis