Concepts in ToxicologyToxicology has never been more important. Advances in chemistry and technology offering improvements in the quality of human life become ever more rapid, bringing with them the potential for new toxicity hazards. This has led to legislation requiring toxicity testing and risk assessment for all chemicals and their uses. The new REACH (Risk Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) Regulation has profound economic consequences because, without official authorization, a chemical cannot be marketed. This book explains, in depth, the ideas underlying current advances in toxicology and its application in regulating and ensuring the safe use of chemicals. Sometimes old ideas have become assumptions that have become embedded in related laws and regulation, even though the thinking of toxicologists has moved on in line with developments in science. This leads to confusion in public understanding that the book should dispel. There are also fundamental ideas in toxicology that are not well understood concerning the concepts of hazard and risk and even about what constitutes a chemical. For many people the word 'chemical' describes manmade substances only. In fact, it is correctly applied to all substances that exist, from pure elements to the most complex biological molecules in food and medicines. This is further complicated by the complex distinction between the descriptors, 'toxic' and 'nontoxic'. Developments in epigenetics are revolutionizing our understanding of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Improved understanding of apoptosis and necrosis leads to improved interpretation of potentially toxic effects at the cellular level. The recently defined term 'chemical speciation' is driving more targeted research on the toxicity of inorganic chemicals. This book explains the concepts implied by key toxicological terms using diagrams to illustrate the relationships between them. It is an essential aid to understanding the new demands from regulators of risk assessment and to the implementation of appropriate risk management. |
Contents
Concept Group 1 Concepts Applying to Fundamental Principles | 13 |
Subgroup B Hazard and Risk Assessment | 39 |
Concept Group 2 Concepts Applying to Molecular and Cellular | 52 |
Concepts in Toxicology | 100 |
Other editions - View all
Concepts In Toxicology:Explanatory Dictionary Of Key Terms John H Duffus & Others No preview available - 2009 |
Concepts in Toxicology: Explanatory Dictionary of Key Terms John H Duffus,Douglas M Templeton,Monica Nordberg No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
absorption acid activity acute adverse effect aerobic agents anaerobic animals apoptosis autotrophs Available bioaccessibility bioaccumulation bioavailability biological biomagnification Biomarkers biomonitoring biotransformation blood cancer carbon carcinogenicity caspases cause cell death changes Chemical Safety chemical species chronic classification clearance compartment compounds concentration concept defined determine dioxygen dose drug Duffus ecotoxicology elements endocrine environment environmental enzymes epigenetic example exposure factors Further Reading gene genetic genome Globally Harmonized System half-life harmful hazard histone human immune individual interaction IPCS IUPAC label living organisms measure mechanisms membrane metabolism models molecular molecules monitoring mutagenicity mutations nanoparticles nickel occur oxidation particles persistence plasma population potential Product-type production proteins R-phrases radiation reaction refers regulatory reproductive toxicity requires respiration result risk assessment risk management sequence speciation studies teratogenicity term tissue toxic effects toxic substances toxicity toxicokinetics toxicology transport tumour uptake urine xenobiotics