The exogenous chemicals may be drugs, compounds synthesized by humans, or agents originating in nature. Thus Toxicology is an old, broadly based, and integrative discipline. However, much of the recently expanding interest in Toxicology is due to problems which are byproducts of the use of modern chemicals in our industrialized society.
Toxicologists work mainly in industry and governments, but also at universities.
Their tasks range from testing particular chemicals to measuring their presence, assessing risks by interpreting data, or studying mechanisms of toxicity. There are many subspecialties, such as Clinical, Forensic, Legal, Industrial, and Environmental Toxicology, offering opportunities for specialized employment. I am currently in the toxicology program, entering my fourth year this fall. I didn't love physics as much, and toxicology was more involved with poisons and drugs that may be harmful for the body. So I was particularly interested in drugs and their whole process in making, as well as forensics sciences.