Fundamental Toxicology

By John H. Duffus, Howard G. J. Worth

The Royal Society of Chemistry

Copyright © 2006 The Royal Society of Chemistry
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-85404-614-0

Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Toxicology John H. Duffus,
Chapter 2 Introduction to Toxicodynamics Robert F.M. Herber,
Chapter 3 Toxicokinetics Andrew G. Renwick,
Chapter 4 Data Interpretation John S.L. Fowler,
Chapter 5 Risk Assessment H. Paul A. Illing,
Chapter 6 Risk Management H. Paul A. Illing,
Chapter 7 Exposure and Monitoring Douglas M. Templeton,
Chapter 8 Genetic Toxicology Douglas McGregor,
Chapter 9 Carcinogenicity Douglas McGregor,
Chapter 10 Introduction to Toxicogenomics Darrell Boverhof, Jeremy Burt and Timothy Zacharewski,
Chapter 11 Reproductive Toxicity Frank M. Sullivan,
Chapter 12 Immunology and Immunotoxicology Graeme Wild,
Chapter 13 Skin Toxicology David A. McKay and Roger D. Aldridge,
Chapter 14 Respiratory Toxicology Raymond Agius and Anil Adisesh,
Chapter 15 Hepatotoxicity Alison L. Jones,
Chapter 16 Nephrotoxicity Robert F.M. Herber,
Chapter 17 Neurotoxicity John H. Duffus,
Chapter 18 Behavioural Toxicology Gerhard Winneke,
Chapter 19 Pathways and Behaviour of Chemicals in the Environment Monika Herrchen,
Chapter 20 Ecotoxicity – Effects of Toxicants on Ecosystems Martin Wilkinson,
Chapter 21 Radionuclides Milton V. Park,
Chapter 22 Biocides and Pesticides Birger Heinzow and Helle Raun Andersen,
Chapter 23 Toxicology in the Clinical Laboratory Robin A. Braithwaite,
Chapter 24 Pharmaceutical Toxicology Robin A. Braithwaite,
Chapter 25 Safe Handling of Chemicals Howard G.J. Worth,
Appendix A: A Curriculum for Fundamental Toxicology,
Appendix B: Glossary of Terms Used in Toxicology,
Appendix C: Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in Toxicology,
Appendix D: Abbreviations and Acronyms of Names of International Bodies and Legislation,

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Toxicology

JOHN H. DUFFUS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Toxicology is the fundamental science of poisons. A poison is generally considered to be any substance that can cause severe injury or death as a result of a physicochemical interaction with living tissue. However, all substances are potential poisons since all of them can cause injury or death following excessive exposure. On the other hand, all chemicals can be used safely if exposure of people or susceptible organisms to chemicals is kept below defined tolerable limits, i.e. if handled with appropriate precautions. If no tolerable limit can be defined, zero exposure methods must be used.

Exposure is a function of the amount (or concentration) of the chemical involved, and the time and frequency of its interaction with people or other organisms at risk. For very highly toxic substances, the tolerable exposure may be close to zero. In deciding what constitutes a tolerable exposure, it is essential to have data relating exposure to the production of injury or adverse effect. A problem often arises in deciding what constitutes an injury or adverse effect.

An adverse effect is defined as an abnormal, undesirable or harmful change following exposure to the potentially toxic substance. The ultimate adverse effect is death but less severe adverse effects may include altered food consumption, altered body and organ weights, visible pathological changes or simply altered enzyme levels. A statistically significant change from the normal state of the person at risk is not necessarily an adv