Concepts In Toxicology

This one-stop reference is for those who need to understand key toxicological concepts in the light of increasing chemical regulations. Toxicology has never been more important. Advances in chemistry and technology, offering improvements in the quality of human life, have become ever more rapid, bringing with them the need for appropriate management to ensure that the benefits of new substances are not accompanied by problems of toxicity. Safe use of chemicals requires a common understanding of scientific terminology and of its usage, between scientists in related disciplines, between scientists and regulators, and between regulators and the public, at both national and international level. Concepts in Toxicology is a one-stop reference for all those who now need to understand the fundamental toxicological concepts that underlie both the scientific development of the subject and its practical application in regulation and management of chemical safety. These concepts are often taken for granted by practitioners and the inherent assumptions are left unstated. This book provides full explanations of the meaning and use of toxicological terms chosen for their frequent occurrence in the literature and their importance in merging chemistry and toxicology. Concepts in Toxicology reflects current scientific knowledge and is designed to provide a readily available aid in responding to new demands from regulators for risk assessment and for the implementation of appropriate risk management to protect human health and the natural environment. Concepts in Toxicology should be an essential reference for anyone working in toxicology, chemicals management, or the implementation of legislation such as the new REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation now being implemented throughout the European Union. It will also help those concerned with the development of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) that may eventually supersede REACH. The authors have written a text designed to be a guide to concepts in toxicology that are fundamental both to where the subject is today and where it is going tomorrow. Toxicology 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.