CRC DEV REPROD TOXIC PDF

Preface

The areas of developmental and reproductive toxicology are becoming increasingly important. Developmental toxicology encompasses the study of hazard and risk associated with exposure to toxicants during prenatal development and has been expanded in recent years to include effects on the developmental process until the time of puberty, i.e., until the completion of all developmental processes. It is well known that a considerable percentage of newborns have significant anatomical defects, that birth defects are a major cause of hospitalization of infants, that "spontaneous" abortion and perinatal death are common, and that numerous individuals suffer from congenital functional deficits such as mental retardation. Although considerable progress has been made in determining the cause of these defects, the etiology of the majority of birth defects is not yet known or only poorly established. We still must learn much about the mechanisms involved in eliciting congenital defects and the genetic and environmental factors and their interactions that trigger these mechanisms. Reproductive toxicology is the study of adverse effects of chemical or physical agents on the reproductive processes of both sexes and the causes of such effects. Concern has been voiced regarding reproductive issues, such as the possibility that human sperm counts have decreased in at least some geographic areas in recent times and that early menarche and precocious breast development may have environmental causes. Thus it is certain that both mechanistic studies of known developmental and reproductive toxicants and the toxicological assessment of pharmaceutical agents, food additives, pesticides, industrial chemicals, environmental pollutants, and the like to which humans may be exposed will be of importance for the foreseeable future. This situation points to the need for useful references in the field of developmental toxicology, teratology, and reproductive toxicology, and provides the impetus for the current volume.

The purpose of this book is to provide a practical guide to the practice of developmental and reproductive toxicology; inclusion in a single volume of material from these areas will be of value to the many individuals with professional responsibilities in both. Further, this book provides information in one source that is currently scattered through the literature or has not been readily available; it provides much of that information in considerable detail. Although the current work is primarily oriented toward research designed to establish the likelihood of harm to humans, it should also prove useful to those who are primarily interested in effects on other organisms. This book should be especially useful for individuals working in industry who are responsible for testing chemical agents for developmental or reproductive toxicity and for those who manage such endeavors. It should be helpful to regulatory scientists at all levels of government who must evaluate the adequacy of studies and who must interpret data on hazard and establish the potential risk from exposures. This volume will also be useful in training students and technicians, and for individuals active in other areas who find the need to become familiar with the principles and practice of developmental or reproductive toxicology.

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology: A Practical Approach is intended to be a practical guide as well as informative, providing insights gained from hands-on experience along with a theoretical foundation. Although this book is intended to be a relatively comprehensive guide to the fields of developmental and reproductive toxicology, there were practical limits to the number and scope of areas that it could address. It should also be noted that mention of vendors, trade names, or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.

The editor wishes to especially thank the contributing authors, whose efforts and expertise made this project a success. Thanks also go to Taylor & Francis and the following individuals in its employ: Stephen Zollo, who proposed that the current work be published as a follow-up to the Handbook of Developmental Toxicology , which I had previously edited, and who has provided invaluable advice and encouragement on the project, and to Patricia Roberson, who has provided essential technical guidance during the process of bringing the book to publication.