A comprehensive history, full of delightful anecdotes, of the types, uses, and abuses of poison. Illustrated with photographs. Sample contents: Poisons used by ancient and primitive races; Superstitions connected with poisonous plants; Some classical poisons and their histories; The Italian school of poisoners; The mystery of Amy Robsart's death; Poisons in fiction; and poison mysteries, which are details of 23 criminal poisonings.

Zinc is a common element in the natural environment. Apart from artificially reduced zinc metal, it exists in the divalent state Zn (II) in the environment and it is an essential element for most organisms. It is well known that zinc deficiency causes numerous effects in humans, including neurosensory changes, growth retardation and delayed wound healing, but most people obtain sufficient amounts of zinc from their diet to avoid these effects. On the other hand, it is reported that high doses of zinc cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea and diarrhoea.This book evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposures to zinc. Overall evaluation suggests that normal healthy individuals not exposed to zinc in the workplace are at potentially greater risk from the adverse effects associated with zinc deficiency than from those associated with normal environmental exposure to zinc because of its relatively low toxicity in humans and the limited sources of human exposure.

This publication seeks to provide a framework for selecting and validating biomarkers for risk assessment. Initial chapters consider the role of biomarkers in risk assessment and their validity. A biomarker is any substance, structure or process that can be measured in the body or its products, and influence or predict the incidence of outcome or disease. Biomarkers can be classified into markers of exposure, effect and susceptibility. If biomarkers are to contribute to environmental and occupational health risk assessments, they have to be relevant and valid. Relevance refers to the appropriateness of biomarkers to provide information on questions of interest and importance to public and environmental health authorities and other decision-makers. The validity of a biomarker is a function of intrinsic qualities of the biomarker and characteristics of the analytic procedures. Additionally, three broad categories of validity can be distinguished: measurement validity, internal study validity and external validity. Measurement validity is the degree to which a biomarker indicates what it purports to indicate. Internal study validity is the degree to which inferences drawn from a study actually pertain to study subjects and are true. External validity is the extent to which findings of a study can be generalized to apply to other populations. Subsequent chapters examine the validation of specific types of biomarkers and cross-species comparability. Supporting the main text are four extensive appendices covering the following subjects: 1. Biomarkers of exposure and effect for carcinogenicity 2. Biomarkers of exposure and effect for non-carcinogenic end-points 3. Measurement of drug metabolizing enzyme polymorphisms as indicators of susceptibility 4. Validation of biomarkers for environmental health research and risk assessment

This book evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by arsenic and arsenic compounds. Arsenic is widely distributed in the earth's crust and is emitted into the atmosphere by coal-fired power generation plants and volcanic activity. Inorganic arsenic of geological origin is found in groundwater, which is used as drinking-water in several parts of the world, e.g. Bangladesh. In these areas, drinking-water is the main source of arsenic intake, but elsewhere food is the principal source.

Intended as a tool for use by public health officials, research and regulatory scientists and risk managers, this publication seeks to provide a scientific framework for the use and interpretation of reproductive toxicity data from human and animal studies. It also discusses emerging methodology and testing strategy in reproductive toxicity. The text focuses on approaches to assessing reproductive toxicity in males and females, including sexual dysfunction and infertility, and many aspects of developmental toxicity (following both prenatal and postnatal exposure), from conception to sexual maturation. It is an overview of the major scientific principles underlying hazard identification, testing methods and risk assessment strategies in human reproductive toxicity. It also discusses the evaluation of reproductive toxicity data in the context of the extensive risk assessment methodology that has emerged over the past 10-15 years.

Evaluates the carcinogenic risks to humans posed by the use of four antiretroviral agents, four DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors used in the treatment of cancer, and an additional three pharmaceutical agents (hydroxyures, phenolphthalein, and vitamin K substances). The volume marks the first IARC evaluation of nucleoside analogs that act as antiviral agents. The evaluation responds in part to recent findings that zidovudine (AZT), an effective antiretroviral agent now being given to pregnant HIV-infected women to prevent maternal-to-fetal transmission of the virus, is a transplacental carcinogen in mice. The opening monograph evaluates the carcinogenicity to humans of the antiretroviral nucleoside analogs zidovudine (AZT), zalcitabine (ddC), and didanosine (ddI), and the antiherpesvirus drug aciclovir. Of these, aciclovir and didanosine could not be classified on the basis of available data. For zidovudine, transplacental administration to mice resulted in an increased incidence and multiplicity of lung and liver tumours and in an increased incidence of female reproductive tract tumours in one study, but not in another involving treatment at a lower dose.Despite observation of toxic effects in some studies of humans, human carcinogenicity data were judged to provide inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. Zidovudine was classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Similar weaknesses in human carcinogenicity data for zalcitabine, which consistently induces thymic lymphomas in mice, resulted in its classification as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The second monograph evaluates four DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors: etoposide, teniposide, mitoxantrone, and amsacrine. Of these, etoposide - one of the most widely used and effective cytotoxic drugs in combination therapy - was classified as probably carcinogenic to humans, and etoposide in combination with cisplatin and bleomycin was judged to be carcinogenic to humans. Teniposide was classified as probably carcinogenic to humans, and mitoxantrone and amsacrine were classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Of the three pharmaceutical agents evaluated in the final monograph, hydroxyurea, which is widely used in cancer treatment and, increasingly, in combination with didanosine in HIV infection, could not be classified.Phenolphthalein, a widely used laxative now being withdrawn from the market in many countries because of toxicological concerns, was classified as possibly carcinogenic. Vitamin K substances could not be classified on the basis of available evidence.

Evaluates the carcinogenic risks to humans posed by exposure to X- and g-radiation and to neutrons from external sources. The book opens with a general introduction to nomenclature, dosimetric methods and models in the occupational and environmental settings, the behaviour of radiation in biological tissues, and sources of human exposure. Natural background radiation is identified as by far the largest source of exposure for the world's population. The medical use of X-rays and radiopharmaceuticals constitutes the next most significant source, followed by exposure from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. The collective doses from other sources of radiation are considered much less important. The first and most monograph, on X- and g-radiation, reviews the large body of evidence arising from the extensive investigation of carcinogenic effects in humans, mainly in survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan and patients exposed to radiation for medical reasons. In both groups, an excess number of cases of leukaemia and other cancers have been observed.Irradiation during childhood increases the risk of thyroid cancer, while an increase in breast cancer risk has been observed after irradiation of pre-menopausal women. X-rays and g-rays have also been tested for carcinogenicity at various doses and under various conditions in a range of animal species. In adult animals, the incidences of leukaemia and of mammary, lung, and thyroid tumours were increased in a dose-dependent manner with both types of radiation. Prenatal exposure also gave rise to increased incidences of various types of tumours. On the basis of this evidence, the monograph concludes that X-radiation and g-radiation are carcinogenic to humans. The carcinogenic risk to humans posed by exposure to neutrons is evaluated in the second monograph, which concentrates on risks associated with the exposure of patients to neutron radiotherapy beams and exposures of aircraft passengers and crew. In high-altitude cities, neutrons can constitute as much as 25% of background radiation. Neutrons from various sources with wide ranges of mean energy have been tested for carcinogenicity in different animal species, and at various doses and dose rates.In adult animals, the incidences of leukaemia and ovarian, mammary, lung, and liver cancer were increased in a dose-related manner. Prenatal and parental exposure resulted in increased incidences of liver tumours in the offspring. In virtually all studies, neutrons were more effective in inducing tumours than were X-rays and g-rays when compared on the basis of absorbed dose. Although no adequate human carcinogenicity data were available for assessment, the monograph used other relevant data, including evidence of DNA damage, to reach the conclusion that neutrons are carcinogenic to humans.

Evaluates or re-evaluates the carcinogenic risks to humans posed by exposure to sixteen organic industrial chemicals. These included some aromatic amines (ortho-toluidine, 4-chloro-ortho-toluidine, and 5-chloro-ortho-toluidine), some ethanolamines (di- and triethanolamine and N-nitrosodiethanolamine), and three esters [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, and cinnamyl anthranilate]. Seven of the sixteen compounds were evaluated in previous IARC Monographs and are reconsidered here in the light of new evidence. Three chemicals were classified or reclassified as probably carcinogenic to humans: ortho-toluidine, 4-chloro-ortho-toluidine, and glycidol. Four compounds, evaluated here for the first time, namely 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)propane-1,3-diol, 2,3-dibromopropan-1-ol, ethylbenzene, and nitromethane, were classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. N-Nitrosodiethanolamine, which can readily be formed from either di- or triethanolamine in the presence of inorganic nitrite, remained classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans.For eight compounds, including 5-chloro-ortho-toluidine, coumarin, pyridine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, and cinnamyl anthranilate, evidence was judged inadequate to classify these compounds according to their carcinogenicity in humans. The most extensive monograph is devoted to an evaluation of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which had previously been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Using assessment criteria recently established for compounds that induce peroxisome proliferation in the liver, the evaluation downgraded DEHP to the group of compounds that cannot be classified. Two other compounds that cause peroxisome proliferation, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate and cinnamyl anthranilate, were also evaluated as not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans.

These attractive educational books address students' questions in areas ranging from health and well-being to responsibility.

This title is a must for every library. The no-nonsense text contains detailed information on the major types of viruses and bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Also included are detailed and easy-to-follow explanations of how to prepare and store foods, what kind of symptoms you may have, and what kind of treatments are available.

Evaluates the findings of close to 600 studies aimed at determining whether the health risks associated with tobacco use are enhanced by co-exposure to numerous chemical, biological, and physical agents commonly found in the workplace. Co-exposures in the domestic and general environment, which are especially important in newly industrializing countries, are also considered in this comprehensive review. Although all forms of tobacco use are covered, particular attention is given to risks arising from exposure to mainstream and sidestream smoke from cigarettes. The book has four chapters. The first summarizes what is known about the health risks caused by tobacco use. A brief overview of the history of tobacco use is followed by a detailed explanation of the chemistry of processed tobacco and the many toxic compounds found in tobacco and in mainstream and sidestream smoke. The chapter also includes an overview of all documented acute and chronic adverse effects of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco. The second and most extensive chapter evaluates the evidence on health effects caused by interactions between tobacco smoke and asbestos, non-asbestos fibres, seven inorganic chemicals, five organic chemical agents, including ethanol, four physical agents, and seven biological agents, including two widespread infectious agents. The chapter also includes an explanation of the concept of interaction and how it can be measured, a discussion of vector effects, whereby cigarettes become contaminated with toxic chemicals in the workplace, and a review of data indicating that tobacco smoking can alter the metabolism of therapeutic drugs and other chemicals. Chapter three considers whether adverseeffects following co-exposure to tobacco smoke and other agents are separate effects or possible interactions. The report found evidence for synergism in the production of adverse effects, including cancer, between tobacco smoking and exposure to asbestos, ethanol, silica, and radiation. The report also found evidence that tobacco smoking affects the health risks of exposure in coal mining, pesticide handling, and in the rubber and petroleum industries. In addition, tobacco smoking can increase the risk of byssinosis produced by exposure to cotton dust, and nasal cancer caused by exposure to wood dusts. On the basis of this evaluation, the final chapter concludes that all possible measures should be taken to eliminate tobacco use, particularly smoking. To avoid interaction with occupational exposure and to eliminate hazards arising from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, the report concludes that smoking in the workplace should be prohibited.

Toxicology is an integral part of the risk assessment process.
In this book, investigators from the scientific and regulatory communities describe recent technical developments in risk assessment embracing toxicology and its allied sciences, risk qualification and characterisation, risk management, and risk communication.
Case studies pertaining to current issues involving chemical and environmental risks, including military and industrial scenarios, are presented.
Chapters describe value and ethical choices underlying toxicological decisions, economic and legal implications of regulations, understanding risk, and recommendations of the commission on risk assessment and risk management.

This book evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to three flame retardants: tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris(1 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). In view of their many similarities, TCPP and TDCPP are covered together. Data on all three flame retardants are extremely limited and largely confined to studies of environmental levels and adverse effects detected in experimental animals and in vitro test systems. The monograph on TCPP and TDCPP describes manufacturing processes and summarizes current uses. The vast majority of TCPP is used in rigid polyurethane foams, with main applications in insulation for buildings and in refrigerator casings. TDCPP is likewise added as a flame retardant to polyurethane foam and has some additional applications as a flame retardant for non-woven fabrics. For both chemicals, studies show that residues are found infrequently and at low concentrations in food items. For TCPP, traces have been detected in industrial and domestic effluents but not in surface water or drinking water. Traces of TDCPP have been detected in sewage effluent, river water, seawater, drinking water, and water sediment and in fish. In view of the low volatility of both chemicals, the report concludes that human exposure from these sources will be very low and will not present an acute health hazard for the general population. Likewise, no adverse effects on the environment are anticipated from the use of either of these flame retardants.Experimental studies of TCPP in laboratory animals demonstrate low to moderate toxicity by the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. Tests indicate that the chemical is neither a skin nor an eye irritant. No studies were available to evaluate reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, or carcinogenic potential. In vitro and in vivo mutagenicity studies produced negative results.Toxicity studies of TDCPP show low to moderate acute toxicity by the oral route and low acute toxicity by the dermal route. The report found no evidence of teratogenicity or mutagenicity. A single carcinogenicity study found an increased occurrence of several tumors at all exposure levels tested in both male and female rats. In the absence of data on the mechanisms of carcinogenic action, the relevance of these findings to humans could not be assessed. The limited studies of occupationally exposed workers were judged inadequate for evaluation.The second monograph evaluates TCEP, a flame retardant with declining uses in the production of liquid polyester resins and in textile back-coating formulations. Traces have been detected in river water, seawater, drinking water, sediment, fish and shellfish, and a few food items. Experimental studies show low to moderate acute oral toxicity. In repeat dose experiments, TCEP caused adverse effects on the brain, liver and kidneys. The report concludes that TCEP is not an irritant to the eye or skin and is not teratogenic, although some adverse effects on the fertility of male rats and mice have been demonstrated. Data indicating low environmental exposures support the conclusion that TCEP poses a very low risk of adverse health effects for the general population. Use of TCEP is not expected to cause any adverse effects on the environment.

Provides authoritative guidelines for the establishment or improvement of national programmes for poison control. Addressed to policy-makers and the administrators of specialized facilities, the book responds to the need for comprehensive advice on the most rationale and effective ways to manage the greatly increased number of poisoned patients seen throughout the world. Strategies for the prevention of poisoning are also described. The guidelines draw on the practical experiences of numerous well-established poison centres in different parts of the world. Although recommended lines of action have universal relevance, the book gives particular attention to the situation in developing countries, where a basic infrastructure for the care of poisoned patients is often absent and special problems arise from the lack of adequate communications, transportation, drugs, and support services. Throughout, emphasis is placed on the role and functions of a poison information centre as a crucial component of any national programme for poison control. The book has nine chapters presented in two parts. Part one provides an overview of the policy issues surrounding decisions to introduce measures, including specialized facilities, for the prevention and management of poisoning. Arguing that a poison information centre should be available in every country, part one also describes the benefits of such centres, outlines their principal functions, and suggests various options for their logical and cost-effective operation. Against this background, part two provides detailed technical advice on how to organize and operate the various facilities and services that make up a comprehensive system for poisoncontrol. Separate chapters describe the functions and requirements of information services, clinical services, and analytical toxicological and other laboratory services, and discuss the importance of toxicovigilance as a strategy for prevention. Subsequent chapters explain how to deal with major emergencies involving toxic chemicals, and outline solutions to the problem, encountered in most developing countries, of obtaining essential antidotes. Part two concludes with advice on the design and content of forms for collecting, storing, and reporting data, followed by a detailed list of the main literature required in a poisons information centre. Additional practical information is provided in a series of annexes, which describe a computer software system for the management of poisons data, reproduce several model record and reporting forms, and classify a large number of antidotes and related agents according to their proven effectiveness and urgency of availability. ..." For those involved in improving safety, this book is a bible... It is very difficult to be critical of this outstanding work ... an essential reference for all those involved in the use and handling of chemicals. For regulators and those concerned with government policy issues, it should be compulsory reading..." - Chemistry and Industry

This book evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to copper, a malleable metal found naturally in a wide variety of mineral salts and organic compounds, and in the metallic form. Copper is an essential element for all biota. It is widely used in cooking utensils and water distribution systems, in fertilizers, bactericides, fungicides, algicides, and antifouling paints, and in animal feed additives and growth promoters. Industrial applications include use as an activator in froth flotation and sulfide ores, in the production of wood preservatives, in electroplating, and in the manufacturing of azo-dyes.

A practical guide to the laboratory analysis of over 100 substances frequently involved in episodes of acute poisoning. Noting that many hospitals, especially in developing countries, lack the support of analytical toxicology services, the book aims to help laboratory staff perform a range of simple tests known to produce rapid and reliable results for the management of poisoning emergencies. All tests described can be performed without the need for sophisticated equipment, expensive reagents, or a continuous supply of electricity. The manual opens with general information about the organization and functions of an analytical toxicology laboratory, the principles of safe laboratory practice, and the essentials of emergency medicine and intensive care that will influence the laboratory's work. Two chapters, which constitute the core of the manual, describe the many simple analytical tests that can be used to detect and identify poisons, whether in biological fluids or in powders, tablets, or other items found near the patient. The first chapter, on qualitative tests for poisons, sets out a three-part series of tests designed for use as a routine, rapid screen, especially appropriate in the many cases where the identity of the poison is unknown. The second and most extensive chapter provides step-by-step instructions for the performance of qualitative tests and some quantitative methods for 113 specific poisons or groups of poisons. Substances covered range from pesticides and other industrial chemicals, through compounds contained in household products, to pharmaceuticals, plant toxins, and drugs commonly abused.

In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in the use of "antioxidant" nutritional supplements. Epidemiological evidence suggests that maintaining high intakes of vitamins, minerals, and certain other food constituents may help to protect against life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Is this effect due to antioxidant properties or to something else? Can nutritional supplements hope to cure or prevent many diseases? Should we all be taking vitamin E, vitamin C, or more of certain polyunsaturated fats?
This is the first book to take a critical and informed look at the merits and limitations of nutritional antioxidant supplementation in the general population. It summarizes concisely current thoughts about free radicals and antioxidants, and is intended for non-specialists in the field who require clarification about nutrition-related issues. The book is written by two leading experts in the field of free radicals in biology and medicine, and will be useful to nutritionists, physicians, medical students, nurses, and biologists, as well as to informed members of the general public interested in nutrition.

The contributors provide a rich overview of the strengths and limitations of using risk assessment methods in the occupational health arena. This book brings together a distinguished group of experts in occupational health and risk assessment who express diverse views on the usefulness of risk assessment in the protection of worker health. Representatives from regulatory agencies, labor, industry, and academia consider both policy and technical issues, providing a rich overview of the strengths and limitations of using risk assessment methods in the occupational health arena. Both policy and technical issues are explored. Several contributors focus on the policy implications of regulatory agencies' increasing reliance on risk assessment to guide occupational and environmental risk reduction strategies. Others consider specific methodological issues relating to the application of state-of-the-art scientific developments to the evaluation of occupational risks. Chapters are organized to consider specific aspects of the field including current applications of risk assessment methods by federal regulatory agencies; approaches to improving the use of epidemiological data in risk assessment; the use of animal bioassay data to predict occupational risks; potential uses of cutting-edge scientific data on toxicological mechanisms, toxicokinetics, and biomarkers in risk assessment; specific issues including ethics, values, and sociopolitical aspects of the process, and a concluding chapter discussing future directions to the evaluation and regulation of risks to worker health and safety. Given the range of policy and technical issues explored, this collection will be invaluable to professionals as well as academics in the fields of occupational health and environmental risk assessment.

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to alpha- and beta-hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH). These two isomers are by-products in the manufacturing of lindane, and may be present in this pesticide as impurities. Alpha- and beta-HCH are also present in technical-grade HCH, which is used in agriculture and wood protection. Most environmental releases are linked to the use of technical-grade HCH and to the inappropriate disposal of residues produced when lindane is purified.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the use of beryllium, a brittle metal having major applications in the electronics and micro-electronics industries, in nuclear energy, and in the production of military devices, including satellites, missiles, atomic bombs, and other weapons. Beryllium has also proved its superiority as a structural material for aircraft and spacecraft.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the production and use of tricresyl phosphate. Tricresyl phosphate is used in industry as a plasticizer in vinyl plastic manufacture, as a flame-retardant, as a solvent for nitrocellulose, in cellulosic molding compositions, and in the manufacture of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids and lubricants. Because of the physico-chemical properties of tricresyl phosphate and its rapid biodegradation, the report concludes that use of the compound does not threaten the environment, though there is some evidence that crop plants can be affected by tri-o-cresyl phosphate released from plastic coverings. A section devoted to kinetics and metabolism concentrates on mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination that can help explain the well-documented neuropathic actions of tricresyl phosphate and, most notably, its highly toxic isomer, tri-o-cresyl phosphate. The most extensive section assesses findings from toxicity studies, emphasizing the large number of studies documenting neurotoxic effects, often at very low doses. These effects are further characterized through a review of the numerous reported cases of large-scale human poisoning following the ingestion of accidentally or deliberately contaminated medicines and foodstuffs. Readers are given detailed information on the clinical symptoms of poisoning, the characteristics of delayed neuropathy, long-term prognosis, and advice on the first-aid treatment of victims. While the concluding section notes that use of tricresyl phosphate poses very little risk to either the environment or the general population, the report underscores the severity and long-duration of the neuropathology caused by accidental poisoning, noting that some victims never recover.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the widespread production and use of methyl isobutyl ketone as a solvent, with major applications in the production of lacquers and paint solvents, including car and industrial spray paints. Methyl isobutyl ketone also occurs naturally in food, is a permitted flavouring agent, and is used in food contact packaging materials. Sections concerned with the behaviour of methyl isobutyl ketone in the environment note its rapid evaporation into the atmosphere, rapid photo-transformation, ready biodegradation, and low potential for bioaccumulation. A review of data on metabolic pathways and toxicity to organisms concludes that production and use of this chemical pose no threat to wildlife or the environment, except in the case of accidental spills or inappropriate disposal of wastes.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the production and use of dimethylformamide, an organic solvent produced in large quantities throughout the world. Dimethylformamide is widely used in the chemical industry as a solvent, an intermediate, and an additive, with the largest quantities used in the production of acrylic fibres and polyurethanes. Dimethylformamide is also used in the production of pharmaceutical products.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the production, use, and disposal of hexachlorocyclopentadiene (HEX). HEX is a chemical used in the production of several pesticides, including heptachlor, chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, mirex, pentac, and endosulfan. The compound is also used as an intermediate in the manufacturing of flame retardants and dyes.

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by n-hexane, a chemical isolated from natural gas and crude oil and used in food processing to extract vegetable oil from beans, nuts, and seeds. n-Hexane is also used as a solvent, a cleaning agent, in the rubber industry, and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

Evaluates risks to human health and the environment posed by the production and use of triphenyl phosphate, a compound widely used as a flame retardant in phenolic and phenylene-oxide-based resins for the manufacture of electrical and automobile components. Triphenyl phosphate is also used as a non-flammable plasticizer in cellulose acetate for photographic films, and as a component of hydraulic fluids and lubricant oils.