Question

Why are nitrogenous wastes toxic to humans?

Answer 1

Nitrogenous wastes:

1. Ammonia is direct waste which is produced as a byproduct of protein metabolism by all animals.
2. Because of its toxicity, many animals convert ammonia into less toxic forms.
3. Any conversion of ammonia into its several other forms in animals requires an expenditure of cellular energy (i.e. usage of ATP) to convert the ammonia to either form of nitrogenous waste.
4. The excretory product in humans is urea majorly. Excess nitrogen is excreted from the body.
5. Nitrogenous wastes tend to form toxic ammonia, which raises the pH of body fluids.
6. The formation of ammonia also requires energy in the form of ATP and large quantities of water to dilute it out of a biological system.