Toxification is the conversion of chemical compounds into more toxic forms. This conversion can take place in the body as well as in substrates such as soil or water. The conversion can be caused by enzymatic metabolism in the body or in microorganisms as well as by abiotic chemical reaction. This concept is related to prodrugs, which are inactive drugs which become activated in the body. Examples of toxification include:

• Nitrite into carcinogenic nitrosamines
• Nicotine into the carcinogenic NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)- 1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone)
• Benzo[a]pyrene into the carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide
• Methanol into the toxic formaldehyde
• Ethylene glycol into oxalic acid

[edit] See also

• Toxicity
• Prodrug