Security sensitive microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites) and toxins, which are often referred to as the select agents and toxins, have the capacity to cause serious illness and death in humans, animals, and plants. Throughout history, these microbes and toxins have been exploited in one form or another as biowarfare and bioterror agents that create fear and panic well beyond any actual physical damages they might cause. Manual of Security Sensitive Microbes and Toxins provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art coverage of microbes and toxins of biosecurity concern. The ultimate goal is to increase our awareness of these agents and enhance our preparedness against any future bio-emergencies. The book begins with an introduction containing a brief overview of the historical aspects of security sensitive microbes and toxins. This is followed by a concise summary of the current status in relation to the regulation of security sensitive microbes and toxins and a discussion of future development trends. The book is divided into seven parts: Microbes and Toxins Affecting Humans and Animals: Viruses Microbes and Toxins Affecting Human and Animals: Bacteria Microbes and Toxins Affecting Human and Animals: Fungus and Parasite Microbes and Toxins Affecting Human and Animals: Toxins Microbes Affecting Animals: Viruses Microbes Affecting Animals: Bacteria Microbes Affecting Plants Written by experts in the relevant areas of research, the chapters are authoritative reviews, each one covering a single microbe or toxin with respect to its classification, biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, identification, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The chapters also discuss the limitations of our current knowledge and challenges relating to improved detection and control of the microbe or toxin.

"Reviews a wide range of methods for soil physical analysis. Considers applications, accuracy, measurement time, and cost of equipment. Provides examples of applications."

Comprehensive coverage of the field of toxicology which illustrates its importance to and impact on society; Uses pertinent examples, tables and diagrams to aid understanding with learning objectives, and summaries, questions and answers for each chapter; Clearly and concisely written and presented concepts for easy comprehension by toxicology, biomedical, and health science students; Examines the complex interactions associated with toxicological events; Covers effect of toxins on biological and physiological systems;

Brainstorming Questions in Toxicology is designed to serve as a comprehensive, quick reference supplement for various examinations that include sections on toxicology. It reflects the breadth and multidisciplinary nature of toxicology with an objective approach to the subject. With 3500 short questions and answers, multiple choice questions, true/false or correct/incorrect statements, fill in the blanks, and matching the statements, this book is a helpful tool for students, teachers and toxicologists preparing for licensure and certification exams. It is also a resource or refresher for toxicologists working in pharmacy, medical, clinical and forensic toxicology, veterinary, and other related fields such as environment and eco-toxicology. Key Features: Serves as a refresher for academicians and professionals in the field of toxicology Provides an essential guide for the student who needs a study aid for toxicology and the teacher of toxicology who needs inspiration when composing questions for their students Supplements in-house training courses in toxicology that exist in some pharmaceutical and chemical industries

presents a history of radioecology, from World War II through to the critical years of the Cold War reviews, synthesizes and discusses the implications of the ecological research supported by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of the United States government, from World War II to the early 1970s. will be of great interest to students and scholars of radioecology, environmental pollution, environmental technology, bioscience and environmental history.

Managing sites contaminated with munitions constituents is an international challenge. Although the choice of approach and the use of Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) tools may vary from country to country, the assurance of quality and the direction of ecotoxicological research are universally recognized as shared concerns. Drawing on a multidisciplinary team of contributors, Ecotoxicology of Explosives provides comprehenisve and critical reviews available to date on fate, transport, and effects of explosives. The book delineates the state of the science of the ecotoxicology of explosives, past, present, and recently developed. It reviews the accessible fate and ecotoxicological data for energetic materials (EMs) and the methods for their development. The chapters characterize the fate of explosives in the environment, then provide information on their ecological effects in key environmental media, including aquatic, sedimentary, and terrestrial habitats. The book also discusses approaches for assembling these lines of evidence for risk assessment purposes. The chapter authors have critically examined the peer-reviewed literature to identify and prioritize the knowledge gaps and to recommend future areas of research. The editors include a review of the genotoxic effects of the EMs and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of these chemicals. They also discuss the transport, transformation, and degradation pathways of these chemicals in the environment that underlie the potential hazardous impact and bioaccumulation of EMs in different terrestrial and aquatic ecologiocal receptors. This information translates into practical applications for the environmental risk assessment of EM-contaminated sites and into recommendations for the sustainable use of defense installations.

Among the vast array of methods available for biochemical analysis, chromatography occupies a venerable station. Few analytical methods have had such vital impact on the development of clinical chemistry and toxicology. In this book, the editors have assembled a cross-section of contemporary applications of chromatographic methods used in clinical chemistry and toxicology. The opening chapter focuses on QA and QC, emphasizing the importance of validating analytical methods that are used for clinical and forensic purposes Chapters 2 to 6 discuss applications of chromatographic methods in the detection of anabolic steroids in urine; the detection and measurement of popular nutritional supplements; measurement of L-dopa and L-tyrosine as markers of malignant melanoma; capillary zone electrophoresis combined with LC and MS to measure proteins in plasma; use of HPLC to detect abnormally glycosolated transferrin; and the measurement of catecholamines, which are specific markers of neuroendocrine tumors. Chapters 7 to 11 focus on toxicology applications, including a description of the analysis of alcohols and inhalants; LC methods for measuring organophosphate pesticides, and the detection and identification of neurotoxins used as biochemical weapons; and a GC/MS method for measuring g-hydroxybutyrate and analogues. The final two chapters present chromatographic methods adapted to the analysis of heavy metals in biological specimens: LC and ICP to measure arsenic, mercury, selenium, and platinum in a variety of biological matrices; and measurement of heavy metals by generating volatile chelates that are separated by GC and detected by MS.

The twelve applications described in this bookillustrate the versatility of chromatographic methods, and the range of applications to clinical chemistry and toxicology available with this powerful analytical technique. The book provides an overview of useful methods, while emphasizing the contributions that chromatography continues to make in clinical laboratory medicine.

Since the second edition of this text was published, many new environmental incidents have occurred, including another nuclear disaster, a mine disaster in the United States, and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Updated throughout the text, Ecosystems and Human Health: Toxicology and Environmental Hazards, Third Edition explores the broad range of environmental and human health aspects of chemical and biological hazards-from natural toxins and disasters to man-made pollutants and environmental crises. The book begins with the basic principles of pharmacology and toxicology, risk analysis, and air, water, and soil pollution. It then examines various toxicants and hazards, such as airborne hazards, halogenated hydrocarbons, metals, and organic solvents. Chapters also discuss food additives and contaminants, pesticides, hormone disrupters, radiation hazards, and natural environmental hazards such as venomous and toxic animals. The text reviews the Chernobyl nuclear crisis and the Walkerton drinking water tragedy, as well as other disasters, assessing some of their long-term effects, now that sufficient time has elapsed since their occurrence. With updates in every chapter, this third edition contains significant expansion of information on the genetics of chemical carcinogenesis, global warming, food additives, invasive species in the Great Lakes, nuclear accidents, and more. The book describes how chemical toxins and biological hazards can impact the environment and the people who live in it. The author presents numerous examples of the relationship between ecosystem health and human health. He emphasizes the need to consider the environmental impact of human activities and includes many real-world examples and new case studies.

Environmental Behaviour of Agrochemicals deals with a major area of concern regarding the use of agrochemicals - the potential for contamination of soil, air and water. This ninth volume in the Progress in Pesticide Biochemistry and Toxicology series, provides an international outlook on the impact of the production and use of agrochemicals on the environment, In Environmental Behaviour of Agrochemicals emphasis is placed on the methods for assessing the movement of pesticides into ground water from a variety of perspectives, and run-off of agrochemicals from soil into surface water. In addition to detailed accounts of recommended analytical methodologies for environmental samples, an in-depth overview is given of recent developments in the use of computer simulation models for assessing environmental fate. Coverage also includes the current status of biosensors for in vitro measurements for environmental analysis, volatization of agrochemicals and estimation of physico-chemical properties. Environmental Behaviour of Agrochemicals brings together contributions from internationally renowned experts to discuss a developing topic which is of vital importance to both producers and users of agrochemicals.

Cutting across traditional subject boundaries, Principles of Ecotoxicology, Fourth Edition gives readers an integrated view of ecotoxicology, from molecules to ecosystems. This new edition of a bestselling textbook continues to emphasize principles rather than practice, providing the interdisciplinary perspective and grounding required for research. Organized into three sections, the book first describes the molecular structures, properties, and environmental fate of pollutants. It then deals with the effects of pollutants on living organisms at the molecular, cellular, and individual levels. Moving into population biology and population genetics, the third part of the book addresses a question of great interest to ecologists: What effects do pollutants have at the levels of population, community, and the whole ecosystem? The book also looks at how ecotoxicology is used in the biomonitoring of environmental pollution, the investigation of pollution problems, the conducting of field trials, the study of the development of resistance, and the growing area of environmental risk assessments. Throughout, examples and case studies illustrate the principles. This updated fourth edition includes new material on nanoparticle pollution, bioaccumulation, biomarkers, and chemical warfare in nature, as well as a new chapter on the future directions of ecotoxicology. A concise textbook that will also appeal to practicing ecotoxicologists, it provides a solid basis for understanding what happens to chemicals in the real world, where they go, how they ultimately degrade, and how they affect the individuals and populations that encounter them. What's New in This Edition Revised and updated material throughout A chapter on future directions of ecotoxicology New material on nanoparticle pollution and chemical warfare in nature Ex

While not all metals in Soil----plant systems are inherently toxic, particularly in low concentrations, there is an increasing incidence of metal pollution from aerial fallout, spoils, wastes and agricultural amendments including sewage sludge. Toxic Metals in Soil----Plant Systems discusses the processes of trace--metal cycling in contaminated ecosystems under conditions where their concentrations become toxic through high loading rates, long--term exposure or altered environmental conditions. Other environmental and pedological concentration mechanisms are discussed, including cation exchange and anion adsorption onto different soil materials. The book is divided into two sections; the first part discusses the sources and fates of metals in ecosystems, with an up--to--date review of the processes which control metal speciation in soils, metal uptake mechanisms, and plant responses to toxic metal concentrations in soils. A clear understanding of these processes and their interactions in soil is necessary before it is possible to instigate amelioration and restoration programmes for metal--contaminated land. In the second part of the book, a selection of case studies are presented which discuss metal toxicities and metal cycling in a range of different ecosystems, including managed agricultural systems, deciduous woodland, upland heather moorland, and tropical wetlands. In these studies a number of current issues are addressed, including the setting of toxicity thresholds for safe sewage sludge application to agricultural land, the accumulation of soil metals over time in aerially impacted systems, and metal transfers between ecosystem compartments, which are of particular concern in food crops. Providing an integrated view of toxic metals both in the soil and associated growing plants, this book covers a wide range of topics including agriculture, soil science, ecology and forestry and will be of use to researchers and environmental consultants working in these fields.

Named after Selene, Greek goddess of the moon, selenium (Se) has moved has moved from being thought of as a toxicant to being considered an essential nutrient with the potential to reduce cancer risk in the span of seven decades. Diversity of Selenium Functions in Health and Disease focuses on current knowledge of aspects of Se research relevant to its medical use, and particularly to chemoprevention of cancer. It covers how Se is integrated into selenoproteins, selenium compounds with individual functions and dual functions, and unexpected links to Se such as with diabetes. The text ends with a discussion of polymorphisms and mutations in genes of selenoproteins. The chapters elucidate why studies undertaken to prevent diseases with selenium ended with disappointing outcomes and often with the opposite result, i.e. disease promotion. They show that benefit, failure, or side effects depend on: The chemical form and dose of selenium The selenium status of the individual ingesting selenium The capacity of selenium form to serve as a source for selenoprotein biosynthesis The function of selenoproteins reacting to a change in the selenium status The stage of the disease (mainly cancer) at the time point of intervention The genetic background of individuals to be treated Bringing together the accumulated evidence regarding selenium biochemistry, the book covers aspects not found in available general monographs. The narrow focus on medical uses of Se helps resolve the present confusion about potential benefits and hazards of selenium in human health. The book gives you a solid scientific basis for optimum use of selenium in preventing or treating human diseases and answering the questions: Why is selenium essential? How much is required? What are the health consequences of low selenium and can selenium reduce cancer risk?

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

Mycotoxins are made by different biosynthetic pathways, and they have an extremely wide range of pharmacological effects. This book will update readers on several cutting-edge aspects of mycotoxin research, including topics such as: new analytical methods for detection; the adoption of an ancient Mexican process for detoxification of aflatoxins; mycotoxin management in Ireland, Lithuania and South America; mycotoxin reduction through plant breeding and integrated management practices; and natural aflatoxin inhibitors from medicinal plants. Further contributions examine ochratoxins, selected trichothecenes, zearalenone, and aflatoxin-like gene clusters, as well as sclerotial development in Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Of particular interest are the chapters on the potential use of mycotoxins as bioweapons. This book will stimulate new thinking on the need to develop therapeutic as well as preventative interventions to reduce the toxicological threat of mycotoxins.

Innate immunity is a new branch of immunology, confirmed by three Nobel Prize winners in 2011. It is the first line of defense against pathogens and is in a way the preliminary step of adaptive immunity which occurs later, and only present in vertebrates. This book examines the way in which innate immunity was discovered in invertebrates. As a starting point, it looks at the work of Louis Pasteur on silkworm disease and the findings of Ilya Metchnikov, discoverer of phagocytosis. It also investigates Andre Paillot, who in 1920 demonstrated the existence of humoral immunity in insects, unrelated to the type of immunity that was initially thought to be present in all vertebrates. Finally, Innate Immunity shows how the group directed by Jules Hoffmann found strong similarities between the innate immunity response of insects and mammals. The discovery of a receptor protein in Drosophila, which is also found in humans, was what led to Jules Hoffmann being awarded the Nobel Prize in 2011.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

This book provides an overview of Asphyxial Deaths which includes hanging, strangulation, choking, smothering, gagging, drowning, aspiration, mechanical and chemical asphyxiants, etc. Postmortem examination often leads to doubts as a clear distinction between the different type of asphyxia cannot be made easily. Forensic and physiological aspects are discussed with the help of illustrative cases. The author discusses the different aspects of asphyxia deaths and substantiates multiple case studies to establish a scientific approach that can act as a guideline to the autopsy surgeon in providing a precise opinion and clarify doubts for the judiciary involved in such criminal justice cases. Key Features * Presents individual case studies of Asphyxial deaths. * Covers the guidelines to be followed by the autopsy surgeons in different cases. * Discusses the physiological aspects of Asphyxial deaths in detail. * Illustrates the cases in a stepwise manner with more than 350 colored photographs of postmortem examination.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolic pathways during oncogenesis. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on the clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. The book presents recent findings on the regulation of cell growth in normal and neoplastic tissues by growth factors including hormones, and by the activation and inactivation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. It also offers a survey of the molecular and cell biochemistry of retinoids. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology and cell biology as well as clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, and clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. The chapters, organized in six sections, are contributed by leading scientists who have been working in the retinoid field for decades. Their experience and competence is aknowledged worldwide.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

Chemical defence by means of toxins poisonous to other organisms, be they animals or plants, is widespread amongst the plant kingdom - including microorganisms as well. This book embraces the analysis of a wide range of plant toxins and this fills a gap in the plant pathology and ecological biochemistry fields. The topics covered include toxic extracellular enzymes, host selective toxins, elicitors, phototoxins, aflatoxins, mycotoxins, and ecotoxic substance tests by pollen germination and growth. The analytical procedures, which are used to evaluate the toxins, are covered in such a way that the reader is able to carry them out mostly solely by following the detailed descriptions.

Environmental issues such as ozone layer depletion, overpopulation, biodiversity loss, global warming, natural resource depletion, and so on affect every organism on the planet somehow. Environmental biotechnology applications can help to protect and restore the quality of the environment. The goal is to use biotechnology with other technologies and safety procedures to prevent, arrest, and reverse environmental degradation. Environmental biotechnology is one of the most rapidly expanding and practically useful scientific fields. Biochemistry, physiology and genetic research of microorganisms can be converted into commercially available technologies for reversing and preventing further deterioration of the earth's environment. Solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes can be altered either by recycling new by-products or by purifying to make the end product less harmful to the environment. Biotechnology for Toxic Remediation and Environmental Sustainability discusses the removal of pollutants by absorption techniques and recycling wastewater into valuable by-products and biofuels by microorganisms. Moreover, this book also addresses corrosion prevention by green inhibitors, uses electrochemical systems for renewable energy and waste recycling using microbes, and recent food safety and security trends in the food microbiome. On the other hand, this book also discusses therapy and treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, anti-cancer and pharmacological properties of thymoquinone and preventive properties of zinc nanoparticles against stress-mediated apoptosis in epithelial cells. Features Covers all aspects of Biotechnological application in the environment Discusses sustainable technology for the wastewater treatment and value-added products from wastewater Focuses on research activities Green corrosion inhibitors, bio-electrochemical systems, food safety and security, and antimicrobial resistance The book is a valuable resource for the undergrad and graduate students, doctoral and post-doctoral scholars, industrial personnel, academicians, scientists, researchers, and policymakers involved in understanding and implementing applications of biotechnology for environmental toxic remediation.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

Since the 1930s and the work of Hale and Warkany on birth defects produced by variations in dietary vitamin A, it has been recognised that the developing fetus is particularly vulnerable to adverse influences in the environment. . Studies of malformations at birth remained largely in the hands of paediatricians who, for instance, quickly established the con nection between rubella infection in early pregnancy and the birth of severely affected infants. However, it was through the tragic events of 1962, when dramatic increases in the incidence of phocomelia in newborn infants in Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries were traced to the use of the apparently non-toxic sedative thalidomide by pregnant women, that toxicologists were brought face to face with the devastating possibility of chemically-induced developmental abnormalities. It had been shown earlier that chemotherapeutic agents could cause damage to the developing organism, but the absence of any known examples of drug-induced birth defects had produced an air of complacency which was reinforced by the lack of any specific regulatory requirements for safety evaluation in this area. The magnitude of the thalidomide tragedy, affecting some 10000 malformed children, was sufficient to cause an immediate, and some would say hasty, reaction by government drug regulatory agencies throughout the world to construct a test protocol which would detect potential teratogenic substances that might give rise to anatomical malformations.

This book presents a review of the existing literature on natural mycotoxins to create a comprehensive reference for mycotoxin levels. Each entry includes contamination, concentration rate, mostly mean mycotoxin concentration of organs (human and animal) and country of origin of the sample. Due to the serious spoilage and health issues the presence of mycotoxins can cause, it is imperative that corresponding scientists, health institutions and the food and feed industries have a more qualified understanding of mycotoxins in living things. To this end, Natural Mycotoxin Contamination in Humans and Animals provides an excellent resource. The present book complements the series of the author's previous books, Mycotoxins in Feedstuffs and Mycotoxins in Foodstuffs, in that it is a review of the literature to create a comprehensive reference for mycotoxin levels. As with Mycotoxins and their Metabolites in Humans and Animals, the focus remains the same, but the scope now covers natural mycotoxins only. Comprehensive reference of natural mycotoxin levels in humans and animals Easy-to-use database of mycotoxins Each entry is comprehensive