CRC K38773 PDF

Preface

Toxicology is an important science. It provides a sound basis for formulating measures to protect the health of workers against toxicants in factories, farms, mines, and other occupational environments. It is also valuable in the protection of public health hazards associated with toxic substances in food, air, and water. Toxicology has played and will continue to play a signifi cant role in the health and welfare of the world. World Health Organization, being cognizant of the importance of toxicology, organized a toxicology training course in China in 1982, as part of the ongoing China– WHO collaborative program on medical sciences. One of the authors (FCL) was invited to lectures on basic toxicology. The fi rst edition of this book originated from those lecture notes.

Over the years, a number of important developments have occurred in toxicology. Furthermore, some readers of the book have suggested that discussions on certain groups of important chemicals and toxicants would not only provide some general knowledge of these substances, but also facilitate a deeper appreciation of the various aspects of toxicology. The book has received worldwide acceptance, as evidenced by its repeated editions and reprintings, and by the appearance of its version in six foreign languages (Chinese, French, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, and Taiwan Chinese).

This new edition has been further updated and expanded to include new chapters on toxicology of the endocrine system and nanotoxicology. Thus, there are chapters on lactation, over-the-counter products, and occupational toxicology, as well as a section describing the symptomatology of the Gulf War Syndrome and the probable toxicants implicated. The other chapters have been updated/expanded, notably those on carcinogenesis, developmental toxicology, immuno logy, food additives and contaminants, environmental toxicology, and safety/risk assessment. However, details of some toxicity tests have been abbreviated to keep the size of the book within bounds; the retained material is intended to portray more clearly the effects of toxicants.

It is hoped that these additions and updates will enhance the usefulness of the book. In making these changes, the authors have kept in mind the broad aim of the fi rst edition, namely, brevity and relatively comprehensive coverage of the subjects. Thus the book continues to serve as an updated introductory text for toxicology students and for those in the stream of allied sciences who require a background in toxicology. Furthermore, as toxicology is a vast subject and is fast expanding, the book is likely to be useful to those who have become specialized in one or more areas in toxicology but wish to brush up in some other areas. The extensive chemical index and subject index will facilitate the retrieval of specifi c topics.