British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Neurotoxin definition

Definition: A neurotoxin is a poison that affects the nervous system. Pesticides or chemicals can contain neurotoxins. When ingested or breathed in, the toxin will block the synapses so that the electrical impulses are stopped from crossing the gaps between neurons. This stops the nervous system from working, it can cause illness or even death. Snake bites, for example, often contain neurotoxins that block the synapses and cause illness, and so do a lot of pesticides which can be dangerous to people.