With the MeeTox project, we wanted to investigate how the population understands the concept of toxicity and whether toxic substances can be found in products that we use every day and that are considered safe. Are these facts worrying and where do people look for information about toxicity and the safe use of different products? Having identified the need for education, we created educational materials, presentations and videos, prepared texts and then developed an online course that adults can take to familiarize themselves with the basics of toxicology and understand the difference between potential toxicity and the risk of harm to health. The creation of the originally conceived booklet, which has evolved into a comprehensive publication, the MeeTox book “Meet the toxicity – live safely”, covering various topics, also provided an opportunity to introduce toxicology as a science to a lay audience. By acquiring toxicological knowledge, each individual is enabled to critically engage with, recognize, evaluate and effectively use information about toxicity. In this way, they can protect their health and preserve the environment through responsible behavior.
We live in the 21st century where a large number of chemicals that we use on a daily basis are synthesized through various products. In this way, we expose our bodies to a large number of compounds, many of which have been shown to be toxic in tests. Toxic substances also enter the body through inhalation of outdoor and indoor air as well as through water and food. To understand the hazards and risks associated with the widespread use of chemicals, it is important to know how and when they are toxic. The toxic potential of chemicals is studied in the scientific discipline of toxicology, which is not included in primary and secondary school curricula. There is a lack of understanding of toxicity among the general public, especially at a time when we are surrounded by information from various sources that is very often unreliable and inaccurate. As professors of toxicology and prominent scientists in the field, we believe that the general public needs reliable scientific information and the basics of toxicology in order to live safely with chemicals and achieve a high level of health and environmental protection.