Introduction to Environmental Toxicology

The rapidly evolving field of environmental toxicology involves the study of toxic compounds and their effect on living organisms, as well as their chemical and physical behavior and fate within the natural environment. Since publication of the first edition in December 1994, Introduction to Environmental Toxicology has found a secure place among the major texts and references in this field. The rapidly expanding base of knowledge regarding this discipline has made it necessary to update and revise this informative text. The second edition contains much of the information from the first edition, though the chapters have been enhanced and expanded. Critical new chapters concerning the latest issues in metal toxicity and the newly emerging area of multispecies toxicity tests have also been added. Also new to this second edition are sections describing new research being done on estrogen-like environmental toxins and endocrine disrupters, along with up-to-the-minute research findings on biomarkers, community conditioning, and biomonitoring assays. This comprehensive guide is an excellent reference for anyone involved in the field of environmental toxicology.

Chapter 1
Introduction to Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology as an Interdisciplinary Science
A Brief History and Organizations in Environmental Toxicology
Legislation
Introduction to the Textbook
References
Chapter 2
A Framework for Environmental Toxicology
The Classical Viewpoint for Classifying Toxicological Effects
An Alternative Framework Incorporating Complexity Theory
Spatial and Temporal Scales
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 3
An Introduction to Toxicity Testing
The Dose-Response Curve
Standard Methods
Classification of Toxicity Tests
Design Parameters for Single Species Toxicity Tests
Overview of Available Statistical Methods for the Evaluation of Single Species Toxicity Tests
The Design of Multispecies Toxicity Tests
Summary of Design Guidelines for Multispecies Toxicity Tests
References and Suggested Readings
Chapter 4
Survey and Review of Typical Toxicity Test Methods
Single Species Toxicity Tests
Animal Care and Use Considerations
Multispecies Toxicity Tests
Summary
Appendix
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 5
Routes of Exposure and Modes of Action
The Damage Process
Atmospheric Pollutants and Plants
Vertebrates
Mechanisms of Action
Common Modes of Action in Detail
Introduction to QSAR
Receptor Mediated Toxicity, Endocrine Disruption, and a Mechanistic SAR Analysis of PCB Toxicity
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 6
Factors Modifying the Activity of Toxicants
Physicochemical Properties of Pollutants
Time and Mode of Exposure
Environmental Factors
Interaction of Pollutants
Toxicity of Mixtures
Mixture Estimation System
Estimating the Toxicity of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Biological Factors Affecting Toxicity
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 7
Inorganic Gaseous Pollutants
Sulfur Oxides
Nitrogen Oxides
Ozone
Carbon Monoxide
Fluoride
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 8
Heavy Metals
Lead
Cadmium
Mercury
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 9
Biotransformation, Detoxification, and Biodegradation
Introduction
Metabolism of Environmental Chemicals: Biotransformation
Microbial Degradation
Bioremediation
Isolation and Engineering of Degradative Organisms
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 10
Measurement and Interpretation of the Ecological Effects of Toxicants
Introduction
Measurement of Ecological Effects at Various Levels of Biological Organization
Molecular and Physiological Indicators of Chemical Stress-Biomarkers
Population Parameters
Assemblage and Community Parameters
Interpretation of Effects at the Population, Community, and Ecosystem Levels of Organization
Community and Ecosystem Effects
Application of Multivariate Techniques
Interpretation of Ecosystem Level Impacts
Appendix
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions
Chapter 11
Ecological Risk Assessment
Introduction
Basics of Risk Assessment
Ecological Risk Assessment
Ecological Risk Assessment Framework
Risk Characterization
Developments in Ecological Risk Assessment
A Ranking Approach to Multiple Stressor, Wide Area Ecological Risk Assessment
References and Suggested Readings
Study Questions