Understanding Toxicology is a comprehensive study of toxicants and their impact on all levels of biology--from cell, to complex organism, to ecosystem. Unlike other texts of its kind, this text is uniquely structured by biological system, making it easy for readers to understand the impact of toxins on each system. Common mechanisms are explored in the cellular and complex organ system chapters to approach a systems biology perspective that is more applicable to modern computational toxicology risk assessment.

Understanding Toxicology begins with three research questions that challenge the reader to discover what information is needed to solve controversies at the level of the cell, the complex organism, and the ecosystem. The book continues with a cellular, complex organism, and ecosystem analysis of toxicology principles including risk assessment. The cellular section follows common mechanisms from the outside to the inside of cells and individual organelles. A forensic approach analyzes complex organisms from outside to inside. The ecosystem section starts with a dispersion approach to determine environmental concentration and addresses toxicants in divisions similar to how the EPA determines impacts.

Key Features

• Uses lively, engaging examples making the text fun and easy to read and understand
• Allows the reader to approach the subject from a research perspective as well as a public policy perspective
• Covers biological toxicants including venoms, poisons, as well as microbial and fungal toxins, and plant toxins
• Thoroughly covers all organisms including fish, plants, and microbes
• Includes outlines and review questions in each chapter

Preface
Part I Introduction
Chapter 1 Biological Research in Toxicology
Chapter 2 Development of the Field of Toxicology
Chapter 3 Toxicology Terms and How They Relate to Organisms
Chapter 4 Hazard, Exposure, and Risk Modeling
Part II Toxic of Reactions of Cells
Chapter 5 Absorption and Transport of Toxicants through Membranes - Toxic Damage to Membranes
Chapter 6 Receptor-Mediated Toxicities on the Outside of Cells
Chapter 7 Detoxication and Activation by Cells - Metabolism of the Original Toxicant
Chapter 8 Damage to Cytosolic and Endoplasmic Reticulum Activities
Chapter 9 Damage to Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Activities
Chapter 10 Damage to Nuclear Structures/DNA - Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis
Chapter 11 Selective Genetic Sensitivity of Cells to Toxicants
Chapter 12 Nutritional Toxicity and Sensitivity
Part III Toxic Reactions of Tissues/Organs
Chapter 13 Routes of Administration and Which Organs are most likely Impacted Based on Route and Toxicokinetic Models
Chapter 14 Forensic Toxicity Testing
Chapter 15 The Skin and Eye: Most Likely Exposure Routes and Toxicities Due to Contact Exposure and Dose Toxicities
Chapter 16 The G.I. System Toxicity and Oral Exposure (GI tract, pancreas, liver)
Chapter 17 The Lung and Gill Exposures Representing Toxic Concentrations - Model for Environmental Toxicology
Chapter 18 The Cardiovascular System as Conduit for a Dose Becoming a Dosage: Exposure and Toxicities
Chapter 19 Bone Marrow and Immune Organ Toxicity via Lymphatic and Blood Transport
Chapter 20 The Nervous System and Exposure to Lipophilic Toxicants or Transported Neurotoxic Agents
Chapter 21 Toxicity to Neuroendocrine Organs and Endocrine Disruption
Chapter 22 Toxicity to Reproductive Organs and Developmental Toxicity
Chapter 23 Excretion of Hydrophilic Toxicants and Metabolites and Kidney Toxicity
Part IV Toxic Reactions of Ecosystems
Chapter 24 Dispersion Modeling in Air, Water and Soil. Likely Route of Exposure and Most Sensitive Organism Based on Dispersion and Concentration
Chapter 25 Agricultural Chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) Exposure and Impacts
Chapter 26 Industrial Chemicals that Biodegrade: Organic Chemical Exposures and Impacts
Chapter 27 Industrial Chemicals that Change Lipophilicity but Don’t Biodegrade: Metal Impacts
Chapter 28 Industrial Chemicals that Cause Atmospheric Changes and Direct versus Indirect Toxicity: Gases, Vapors, Aerosols, and Radiation
Chapter 29 Toxicity of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) into Water
Part V Biological Toxicants
Chapter 30 Venoms and Injection Toxicity versus Poisonous Animals or Cells and Ingestion or Contact Toxicity
Chapter 31 Poisonous Plants or Plant Cells and Ingestion or Contact Toxicity

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