phototoxicityn.
/ˌfəʊtəʊtɒkˈsɪsᵻti/, U.S. /ˈˌfoʊdoʊˌtɑkˈsɪsədi/ Medicine and Biology.
Toxic or adverse effects caused by the reaction of light with a photoactive compound present within the body, on the skin, or in the environment; non-allergic effects of this nature. Also: the property of causing such effects.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > environmental disorders > [noun] > light
photophoby1858
light sensitivity1905
photosensitization1926
photosensitivity1938
phototoxicity1942
1942 S. Epstein in Jrnl. Investigative Dermatol. 5 290 I propose the term ‘phototoxicity’ for the primary, non-allergic photosensitivity, and ‘phototoxic reaction’ for the effect produced by this mechanism... Phototoxic reactions apply indiscriminately to all individuals.
1974 M. C. Gerald Pharmacol. xxvii. 471 Demeclocycline has been shown to cause phototoxicity in some patients, where severe burns develop when susceptible patients are exposed to sunlight.
1988 New Scientist 23 June 42/2 Phototoxicity is a problem that is not always detected in safety tests on animals.
1997 Guardian 13 Nov. (Online section) 12/3 At present, the Centre's human cell lines are only available for phototoxicity tests.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1942