Numerous reports demonstrate that the reproductive system could be affected by multiple potential toxicological agents. The volume includes different aspects of the development of new approaches to in vitro testing using sperm cells and systems involved on reproduction in mammals. Comparative analysis of in vivo and in vitro methods has been included to take steps towards the further development of and applications of new systems for germline toxicology.

Spatiotemporal Environmental Health Modelling: A Tractatus Stochasticus provides a holistic, conceptual and quantitative framework for Environmental Health Modelling in space-time. The holistic framework integrates two aspects of Environmental Health Science that have been previously treated separately: the environmental aspect, which involves the natural processes that bring about human exposure to harmful substances; and the health aspect, which focuses on the interactions of these substances with the human body. Some of the fundamental issues addressed in this work include variability, scale, uncertainty, and space-time connectivity. These topics are important in the characterization of natural systems and health processes. Spatiotemporal Environmental Health Modelling: A Tractatus Stochasticus explains why modern stochastics is the appropriate mechanical vehicle for addressing such issues in a rigorous way. In particular, modern stochastics incorporates concepts and methods from probability, classical statistics, geostatistics, statistical mechanics and field theory. The authors present a synthetic view of environmental health that embraces all of the various components and focuses on their mutual interactions. Spatiotemporal Environmental Health Modeling: A Tractatus Stochasticus includes new material on Bayesian maximum entropy estimation techniques and space-time random field estimation methods. The authors show why these methods have clear advantages over the classical geostatistical estimation procedures and how they can be used to provide accurate space-time maps of environmental health processes. Also included are expositions of diagrammatic perturbation and renormalization group analysis, which have not been previously discussed within the context of Environmental Health. Finally, the authors present stochastic indicators that can be used for large-scale characterization of contamination and investigations of health effects at the microscopic level. This book will be a useful reference to both researchers and practitioners of Environmental Health Sciences. It will appeal specifically to environmental engineers, geographers, geostatisticians, earth scientists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, pharmacologists, applied mathematicians, physicists and biologists.

How to protect against ischemia/reperfusion damage is one of the most urgent problems in medicine. It is known that ischemic damage can be attenuated by improving the oxygen balance of the ischemic heart, but the damage-producing mechanism is not yet fully understood. This book provides the latest information on the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion damage and presents new ideas for more effective methods for protection. In the first two sections, the roles of such factors as various ions and phospholipids that modulate ischemia/reperfusion damage are explored, providing a clear and updated explanation of the mechanisms involved. In the third section, the myocardial and vascular remodeling procedure in hearts that have undergone ischemia/reperfusion is explained in terms of signal transduction, enabling a new understanding of the remodeling process. In the final section, a new approach to protection against ischemia/reperfusion damage is presented.

Considerable investment has been made by both pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in pharmaceutical products of biotechnology. However, because relatively few of these products have been marketed, lack of relevant experience means that uncertainty still surrounds the most appropriate strategy for their safety evaluation. The 13th CMR International Workshop, held in February 1997, provided the opportunity for regulatory authority and industry experts from Europe, Japan and the USA to share their experiences of designing safety evaluation programmes for specific product classes: colony stimulating factors, growth factors, hormones, interferons, interleukins, monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use, and gene therapy products. Participants worked together to recommend those studies that should be considered for such safety evaluation, and those that may be unnecessary. These recommendations subsequently made a valuable contribution to the ICH guideline Safety Studies for Biotechnological Products', which was finalised at ICH 4 in Brussels in July 1997. The Workshop proceedings not only describe the recommendations but also provide the reader with an appreciation of the science behind safety evaluation strategies used by experts, the influence of different regulatory systems on these strategies, and the type of data required by both toxicologists and clinicians before they have sufficient confidence to administer pharmaceutical products of biotechnology to humans.

Antisense technology may result in dramatic changes in the therapy of many diseases and may provide tools to dissect pharmacological processes and to confirm the roles of various genes. In this volume, progress in the understanding of antisense technology and its use in creating new drugs is discussed. Potential caveats, pitfalls and limitations of the technology are also presented. In the next few years the pace at which new molecular targets will be identified will increase exponentially as the sequencing of the human genome and of other genomes proceeds.

Structure-Activity Relationships in Environmental Science is the first book of its kind that brings together information from a variety of sources into one document. It provides a comprehensive overview of the entire field of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) as well as being a reference for SAR experts. The book comprises three parts. Part One covers the theoretical background of structure-activity studies and Part Two deals with the practical applications of such methods in the environmental sciences. Part Three critically discusses SAR models with respect to their reliability and their aptness in environmental hazard and risk assessment. Recommendations are made as to which model to use and the case is presented for using QSARs in hazard assessment. The use of QSARs is becoming increasingly important since there is little experimental data available on environmentally relevant chemicals. Structure-Activity Relationships in Environmental Sciences will thus serve as an invaluable guide to both postgraduate and research scientists as well as professional ecologists.

The Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH) Second International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects was held June 12-14, 1995 in San Diego, California. The conference was at tended by 152 people who heard 41 presentations on all aspects of arsenic research. The speakers represented 14 countries. Approximately 40 of the participants and speakers were from countries other than the US. The participants represented government, academia, industry and the interested public. The sponsorship ofthe conference is a good indicationofthe wide spread interest in the subject and the meeting. The sponsors, in addition to SEGH, were the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF), Kennecott Corporation, the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), and the International Council on Metals in the Environment (ICME). The funding was split approximately equally between industry (including industrial organizations such as EPRI) and government. In addition to the many fine presentations, the meeting provided a forum for scientists from different countries to compare experiences and share information. It also provided a forum for the discussion of both scientific and policy issues between representatives of various governmental bodies (at the local, state, and federal level) and representatives of various indus trial organizations. These discussions occurred both in the formal meetings and informal settings during the meeting.

Ecotoxicology is a relatively new scientific discipline. Indeed, it might be argued that it is only during the last 5-10 years that it has come to merit being regarded as a true science, rather than a collection of procedures for protecting the environment through management and monitoring of pollutant discharges into the environment. The term 'ecotoxicology' was first coined in the late sixties by Prof. Truhaut, a toxicologist who had the vision to recognize the importance of investigating the fate and effects of chemicals in ecosystems. At that time, ecotoxicology was considered a sub-discipline of medical toxicology. Subsequently, several attempts have been made to portray ecotoxicology in a more realistic light. Notably, both Moriarty (1988) and F. Ramade (1987) emphasized in their books the broad basis of ecotoxicology, encompassing chemical and radiation effects on all components of ecosystems. In doing so, they and others have shifted concern from direct chemical toxicity to humans, to the far more subtle effects that pollutant chemicals exert on natural biota. Such effects potentially threaten the existence of all life on earth. Although I have identified the sixties as the era when ecotoxicology was first conceived as a coherent subject area, it is important to acknowledge that studies that would now be regarded as ecotoxicological are much older.

This volume represents the proceedings of the Fifth Congress of the International Society of Ocular Toxicology (ISOT), which was held at the Grove Park Inn and Resort in Asheville, North Carolina, October 13-17, 1996. We are delighted to present this volume to the ophthalmic community, especially those with a significant interest in ocular toxicol ogy. The Fifth Congress was developed around themes relating to ocular drug metabolism, the ocular pathophysiological effects of nitric oxide, government issues relating to the use of alternative methods for toxicity testing, and a workshop that encompassed comparisons of both in vitro versus in vivo models as well as different animal models. The outcome of this congress, embodied in this volume, is a contribution to the methodologies currently employed or under development and to various drug or physical effects on different ocular tissues. While the focus of this proceedings is on ocular effects of drugs or other materials, many of the contributions deal with topics that have a much broader interest. The workshop concerning the use of different model systems and the choice of the best animal model for drug testing covers a wide range of interests that ex tends far beyond specific ocular effects. This is especially true in the area of alternative methods and in the choice of the best animal model for examination of different disease entities.

Ecotoxicology is a relatively new scientific discipline. Indeed, it might be argued that it is only during the last 5-10 years that it has come to merit being regarded as a true science, rather than a collection of procedures for protecting the environment through management and monitoring of pollutant discharges into the environment. The term 'ecotoxicology' was first coined in the late sixties by Prof. Truhaut, a toxicologist who had the vision to recognize the importance of investigating the fate and effects of chemicals in ecosystems. At that time, ecotoxicology was considered a sub-discipline of medical toxicology. Subsequently, several attempts have been made to portray ecotoxicology in a more realistic light. Notably, both Moriarty (1988) and F. Ramade (1987) emphasized in their books the broad basis of ecotoxicology, encompassing chemical and radiation effects on all components of ecosystems. In doing so, they and others have shifted concern from direct chemical toxicity to humans, to the far more subtle effects that pollutant chemicals exert on natural biota. Such effects potentially threaten the existence of all life on earth. Although I have identified the sixties as the era when ecotoxicology was first conceived as a coherent subject area, it is important to acknowledge that studies that would now be regarded as ecotoxicological are much older.

The incidence of food poisoning continues to rise and now there is even greater interest in the subject of microbial food poisoning and food safety, than when the first edition of this popular book was published. As in the first edition of his book, Adrian Eley summarizes information on the principal agents that cause food poisoning and emphasizes their mode of action. Also discussed in chapters written by specially selected expert in the area are epidemilogical features of food poisoning, microbiological control of food production, mycoticoxic fungi and food safety legislation. Each chapter has been comprehensively updated to include any changes in for example laboratory practice, legislation, etc. Also included in this edition is a new chapter on food hygiene. Microbial Food Poisoning, Second Edition, appeals to students studying a wide range of courses, including medical microbiology, food science, and technology, nutrition, general microbiology and environmental health. This book will also be of use to professionals in a range of disciplines including food science, medicine, health sciences and environmental and public health.

This introduction to the mechanisms by which the body metabolizes and excretes administered drugs is directed at advanced undergraduate biochemists, pharmacologists, pre-clinical medical strudents and advanced undergraduate/postgraduate toxicologists. The subject is approached from both biochemical and physiological angles. The examples of drug metabolism have been kept clinically relevant, so that the practical importance of the subject can be easily appreciated. The book contains a section of experimental procedures for setting up student practicals in drug metabolism.

The last few years have brought about many changes in the field of marine and freshwater toxins, with advances in analytical technology and the realization that these toxins are a global issue. Offering a complete reference guide, Seafood and Freshwater Toxins: Pharmacology, Physiology, and Detection, Third Edition addresses all aspects of the social and scientific influence of phytotoxins, from legislation and monitoring to new drug development. Covering many new topics, the book examines three main aspects: monitoring of toxins; chemical, mechanistic, and toxicological diversity; and detection technologies. New to this edition: 35 new chapters and 5 updated chapters A focus on state-of-the-art methodology Coverage of new technologies to cultivate algae and to identify, isolate, and quantify toxins Regulatory changes Climate change evidence Expanded information on toxicology Part I of the book includes an overview and reviews general issues related to toxin detection, ecology, and diversity, and effects of climate change. Part II covers impacts of toxins regarding epidemiology, toxicology, economics, and surveillance. Part III explores available detection technologies, such as functional assays, biosensors, mass spectrometry, nanotechnology, and more. In addition, standard reference materials for toxins are discussed. Parts IV to VI provide detailed descriptions of toxin chemical diversity, biological sources, and modes of action. Part VII addresses the use of toxins as starting points for therapeutic drugs for cancer, neurological disorders, and for novel antibiotics.

This collection of abstractions contains, in condensed form, research results in the field of nicotine research presented at the satellite symposium of the 12th International Congress of Pharmacology held in Montreal in July 1994. All the abstracts have been reviewed by the editors and conference organizers. This volume should be of interest to pharmacologists, toxicologists, researching clinicians and behavioural scientists.

Presenting all preclinical and clinical information available on genetically engineered toxins, this unique, single-source reference provides the most up-to-date methods and practical examples for conducting clinical studies in toxin molecular biology.;Reviewing difficult problems and their solutions, Genetically Engineered Toxins discusses techniques for clo;ning, expressing, and purifying recombinant toxins and genetically modified recombinant toxins; documents structure-function relationships in toxins, including comparative information; supplies theory and illustrations of chimeric toxins; delineates the preclinical assessments of new reagents; and summarizes approaches to drug design.;With over 1100 literature citations, Genetically Engineered Toxins is an invaluable resource for biochemists, molecular biologists, biotechnologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, X-ray crystallographers, enzymologists, oncologists, hematologists, immunologists, rheumatologists, botanists, and graduate-level students in molecular biology, biotechnology, and clinical oncology courses.

Following the overwhelmingly successful response to the first printing in hardcover, the hottest topics in Selective Neurotoxicity are now available in this special softcover edition."
Researchers are provided with well-grounded information on the cellular and subcellular targets of neurotoxins and their mode of action at the level of ion-channels, receptors and neurotransmitters. The use of bacterial toxins as a tool in neuroscientific research is an important aspect in this context. The chapters that interest clinicians as well deal with protective barriers in the peripheral and central nervous system and metabolic disorders that cause neurotoxins to be built up in the human body. The induction of tumors by neuroptropic carcinogens is included.

This work stems from the activities carried out under the European Science Foundation's Environmental Toxicology Programme and its daughter programme, Environmental Damage and its Assessment. The work served also as a pilot study for the ESF Scientific programme on Environment, Science and Society (ESS), thus demonstrating the interdependence of the natural and social sciences with respect to environmental issues. The book is unique in the sense that it records the results of a four year collaboration between environmental toxicologists, economists and institutionalists. Its objective was to achieve better characterized or even novel insights into the theory and practice of water resource management, quality assurance and chemical safety regulation.

This new edition focuses on a variety of techniques available for the analysis of drugs in biological fluids. Over 150 figures and tables help to describe the latest advances and give examples of their applications. Current chiral analysis methods as well as discussions on the impact of chirality are described. Practical aspects of bioanalytical work, including many examples of laboratory problems not often reported in the scientific literature, are examined in depth.

These acclaimed volumes provide a firm methodological foundation for the evaluation of neural and behavioral toxicology, and address emerging hypotheses about the actions of pollutants on brain function. In Volume 3 distinguished contributors discuss the difficulties of assessing the effects of pervasive toxins in air and water.

International concern in scientific, industrial, and governmental communi ties over traces of xenobiotics in foods and in both abiotic and biotic envi ronments has justified the present triumvirate of specialized publications in this field: comprehensive reviews, rapidly published research papers and progress reports, and archival documentations. These three international publications are integrated and scheduled to provide the coherency essential for nonduplicative and current progress in a field as dynamic and complex as environmental contamination and toxicology. This series is reserved ex clusively for the diversified literature on "toxic" chemicals in our food, our feeds, our homes, recreational and working surroundings, our domestic animals, our wildlife and ourselves. Tremendous efforts worldwide have been mobilized to evaluate the nature, presence, magnitude, fate, and toxi cology of the chemicals loosed upon the earth. Among the sequelae of this broad new emphasis is an undeniable need for an articulated set of authoritative publications, where one can find the latest important world literature produced by these emerging areas of science together with docu mentation of pertinent ancillary legislation. Research directors and legislative or administrative advisers do not have the time to scan the escalating number of technical publications that may contain articles important to current responsibility. Rather, these individu als need the background provided by detailed reviews and the assurance that the latest information is made available to them, all with minimal literature searching."

The dramatic development of chromatographic techniques, specially high per formance or high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) has made possible the easy analysis of organic compounds, including drugs and drug components, for last two decades. This rapid increase and improvement of analytical methodology with HPLC has enabled researchers and scientists to cope with other scientific and instru mental developments in their fields of work. Thousands of impressive and original scientific publications, text books and monographs describe the techniques for drug analysis with high performance liquid chromatography. However, no concise presentation of the general proper ties of the drugs and their HPLC methodology exists together in the market. This work contains the general properties necessary for the analysis of 232 drugs as well as the HPLC methods for many other drugs and drug components. It is hoped that it will fill a gap and provide a precise survey of the HPLC methods for drug analysis. It is intended as an immediate guide in the laboratory and will be of help to the scientists, researchers and technicians in the field of analysis.

The annual cost of medical care in the U niled States is rapidly approaching a trillion dollars. Without doubt, much of the rise in costs is due to our health industry's concentration on high technology remediation and risk avoidance measures. From recent public discussions it is becoming in creasingly evident that to contain the costs and at the same time extend the benefits of health care without national bankruptcy will necessitate much greater attention to preventative medicine. The total cost of waste disposal by our health industry is well over a billion dollars. It is rising rapidly as we increasingly rely on high technol ogy remediation measures. Here, too, in the opinion of the authors of this work, it would be prudent to give much greater attention to preventative approaches. Incineration technology has largely been developed for disposing mu nicipal solid waste (MSW) and hazardous waste (HW). As a result of the multibillion dollar funding for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), most experts believe that pollution control is the key to minimizing toxic emissions from incinerators. This view is now beginning to take hold in medical waste (MW) incineration as well. However, the authors contributing to this book have concluded that precombustion measures can be most effective in reducing the toxic products of medical waste incineration."

This proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology Meeting held in Leipzig, September 12 - 14, 1990 deals with the following topics; - Neurotoxicology of different noxious compounds, - New aspects and methods intoxicopathology, - Cardiovascular toxicology, - Toxic effects on haemostasis, - Toxic effects on liver and kidney, - Miscellaneous toxic effects.

The essays in this book discuss the role that chemical agents in the environment play in the development of cancer. Thus, it gives information toimprove our understanding of carcinogenesis and how to prevent it. The essays were originally presented at an international symposium.

This book is based on an international meeting organized by the University of Tokyo and the University of Rochester, and is published as one belonging to the series of Rochester International Conferences in Environmental Toxicity. The meeting on "Advances in Mercury Toxicology" was held at the University of Tokyo on August 1 to 3, 1990. The invited papers are published in this book along with an "Overview" chapter that was written by the editors at a meeting held at the University of Rochester on August 1 to 2, 1991. The purpose of the meeting was to assemble leading scientists to discuss their most recent findings on the toxicology of mercury. The time was opportune. Considerable progress has been made on the environmental fate and toxicology of mercury. Recent findings have given new insight into the global model for mercury. Transport in the atmosphere extends great distances resulting in pollution of lakes and rivers far distant from the source of mercury release. The process of methylation leads to accumulation of methylmercury in fish and thus in the human diet. New evidence indicates that acid rain and the impoundment of water for hydroelectric purposes affects the methylation and bioaccumulation processes resulting in higher levels of methylmercury in fish.