What Dose Makes the Poison? Where Expert Cannot Say, Eleventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment

A central tenet of toxicology is that “the dose makes the poison.” Every chemical is toxic if enough of it is consumed, and every chemical has some dose – even if miniscule – at which it poses no significant risk. A chemical must be given in sufficient amount – something exceeding the “threshold dose” – before it will cause effects. This has obvious implications for toxic tort litigation, where a plaintiff who alleges injury from exposure to a toxic chemical must prove at minimum that he or she…
By: Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP