Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment


Book Description

The public depends on competent risk assessment from the federal government and the scientific community to grapple with the threat of pollution. When risk reports turn out to be overblownâ€"or when risks are overlookedâ€"public skepticism abounds. This comprehensive and readable book explores how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can improve its risk assessment practices, with a focus on implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. With a wealth of detailed information, pertinent examples, and revealing analysis, the volume explores the "default option" and other basic concepts. It offers two views of EPA operations: The first examines how EPA currently assesses exposure to hazardous air pollutants, evaluates the toxicity of a substance, and characterizes the risk to the public. The second, more holistic, view explores how EPA can improve in several critical areas of risk assessment by focusing on cross-cutting themes and incorporating more scientific judgment. This comprehensive volume will be important to the EPA and other agencies, risk managers, environmental advocates, scientists, faculty, students, and concerned individuals.




Mixture Toxicity


Book Description

In the last decade and a half, great progress has been made in the development of concepts and models for mixture toxicity, both in human and environmental toxicology. However, due to their different protection goals, developments have often progressed in parallel but with little integration. Arguably the first book to clearly link ecotoxicology an







Toxicological Risk Assessment of Chemicals


Book Description

Unlike many existing books on toxicology that cover either toxicity of a particular substance or toxicity of chemicals on particular organ systems, Toxicological Risk Assessment of Chemicals: A Practical Guide lays out the principle activities of conducting a toxicological risk assessment, including international approaches and methods for the risk




How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease


Book Description

This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.




Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment


Book Description

The new field of toxicogenomics presents a potentially powerful set of tools to better understand the health effects of exposures to toxicants in the environment. At the request of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Research Council assembled a committee to identify the benefits of toxicogenomics, the challenges to achieving them, and potential approaches to overcoming such challenges. The report concludes that realizing the potential of toxicogenomics to improve public health decisions will require a concerted effort to generate data, make use of existing data, and study data in new waysâ€"an effort requiring funding, interagency coordination, and data management strategies.




Electronic Waste


Book Description

Electronic Waste: Toxicology and Public Health Issues discusses the major public health concerns due to the presence of toxic chemicals that are generated from improper recycling and disposal practices of electronic waste (e-waste). This book highlights hazardous inorganic chemicals found in e-waste, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, gallium, iridium, and nanomaterials, also focusing on health issues related to the presence of BPA, styrene, and other plastic components and combustion products, while also identifying populations at special risk. To provide readers with potential solutions to this global problem, Dr. Fowler presents risk assessment approaches using chemicals, mixtures, biomarkers, susceptibility factors, and computational toxicology. He discusses how to translate the information gathered through risk assessment into safe and effective international policies. The final chapter is devoted to future research directions. This is a timely and useful resource for all those concerned with the health issues surrounding e-waste management and proper disposal, including toxicologists, public health and policy officials, environmental scientists, and risk assessors. Offers a well-researched, single authored book and draws attention to the need for better and more informed risk assessment and policymaking in this area Emphasizes the transference of electronic waste (e-waste) to developing countries where populations of concern include children working in recycling activities and impoverished groups with poor nutritional status and limited access to medical resources Reviews, in detail, the issue of exposure to chemical mixtures as a central feature of e-waste due to the presence of a number of organic and inorganic chemicals in modern electronic devices




Chemical Exposure and Toxic Responses


Book Description

Providing material for practitioners and students alike, Chemical Exposure and Toxic Responses is a clear and straightforward presentation of industrial toxicology. Exposure to toxic chemicals is of major concern to health professionals. In recent years, the scope and importance of hazardous materials toxicology has expanded and now impacts financial institutions, government, private corporations, and many other organizations as well. Chemical Exposure and Toxic Responses presents the myriad health implications of hazardous chemicals in a single source. This book is organized so that readers can proceed from a general perspective on the problem of chemical exposure and toxic responses to an understanding of toxicology and a method of inquiry. Written for anyone who needs practical toxicological information, the book compactly and efficiently presents the scientific basis of toxicology as it applies to the workplace. It covers the diverse chemical hazards encountered in the work environment and provides a practical understanding of these hazards for those charged with protecting the health and well being of people at work. Chemical Exposure and Toxic Responses consists of three parts: Part I establishes the general principles of industrial toxicology; Part II addresses specific effects of toxic agents on specific physiological organs and systems; and Part III is devoted to the evaluation of hazards in the workplace.




Hygiene and Epidemiology


Book Description

Hygiene, together with epidemiology, represent the integral, biomedical fundaments of public health. The threat of epidemics depopulating both rural population and expanding urban centres, compelled medicine to develop these two new disciplines in the 19th century. Hygiene is the science of health preservation. Originally, it dealt with all factors affecting the physical and mental health and well-being of the population; it was rooted in the medical knowledge of disease incidence and disease prevention. The firm link between hygienic theories and practice with that of health status promote the prevention and control over infectious diseases. Initially, epidemiological focus was on communicable diseases, later it expanded to non-communicable ones. This text will support the preparation for a state exam at a pre-graduate level, providing thus a starting point for acquiring the desirable knowledge. Second revised edition




Contamination of Water


Book Description

Water containing significant amounts of inorganic and organic contaminants can have serious environmental consequences and serious health implications when ingested. Contamination of Water: Health Risk Assessment and Treatment Strategies takes an interconnected look at the various pollutants, the source of contamination, the effects of contamination on aquatic ecosystems and human health, and what the potential mitigation strategies are. This book is organized into three sections. The first section examines the sources of potential contamination. This includes considering the current scenario of heavy metal and pesticide contamination in water as well as the regions impacted due to industrialization, mining, or urbanization. The second section goes on to discuss water contamination and health risks caused by toxic elements, radiological contaminants, microplastics and nanoparticles, and pharmaceutical and personal care products. This book concludes with a section exploring efficient low-cost treatment technologies and remediation strategies that remove toxic pollutants from water. Contamination of Water incorporates both theoretical and practical information that will be useful for researchers, professors, graduate students, and professionals working on water contamination, environmental and health impacts, and the management and treatment of water resources. - Provides practical case studies of various types and sources of contamination - Discusses inorganic and organic contaminants and their impact on human health - Evaluates effective water treatment and remediation technologies to remove toxins from water and minimize risk