Final answer:
The liver is responsible for the breakdown of ethanol and other toxins in the body, converting harmful substances into less toxic forms before they're excreted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human organ responsible for breaking down ethanol and other toxins is the liver. The liver carries out many functions, including detoxification of harmful substances, production of bile, and metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Ethanol is processed by the liver's alcohol dehydrogenase system. The enzymes involved in this degradation convert ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is toxic, and then to acetate, a non-toxic molecule. Drug metabolism is another critical liver function, whereby it modifies substances such as medications. However, metabolites are not directly removed by the liver but usually become less harmful before they are excreted by other organs.