Calculated Risks: The Toxicity and Human Health Risks of Chemicals in our Environment

Safeguarding economic prosperity, whilst protecting human health and the environment, is at the forefront of scientific and public interest. This book provides a practical and balanced view on toxicology, control, risk assessment and risk management, addressing the interplay between science and public health policy. This revised edition provides a detailed analysis on chemical and by-product exposure, how they enter the body and the suitability of imposed safety limits. Chapters on dose, with particular emphasis on children and vulnerable subpopulations, reproductive and developmental toxicants and toxicity testing are included. With updated and comprehensive coverage of international developments of risk management and safety, this will have broad appeal to researchers and professionals involved in chemical safety and regulation as well as the general reader interested in environmental pollution and public health.

Table of Contents:
Prologue; 1. Chemicals and chemical exposures; 2. From exposure to dose; 3. From dose to toxic response; 4. Some toxic agents and their targets; 5. Carcinogens; 6. Identifying carcinogens; 7. Risk assessment I. some concepts and principles; 8. Risk assessment II. applications; 9. Risk assessment III. new approaches, new problems; 10. Risk assessment IV. the courtroom; 11. The management of risk; 12. A look ahead.

About the Author :
Dr. Joseph V. Rodricks was a Founding Principal of ENVIRON International Corporation, a consultancy firm on environmental and health issues. Since 1980 he has consulted for the World Health Organisation and in 2005, Dr Rodricks received the Outstanding Practitioner Award from the Society for Risk Analysis. The first edition of Calculated Risks won an 'Honourable Mentions' award from the American Medical Writers Association.

Review :
'Calculated Risks demystifies the science and policies of risk assessment. It has become a staple in risk education, and is essential reading for students and professionals in public health, environmental protection, and public policy.' Thomas A. Burke, Professor and Associate Chair, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University ' ... Rodricks has made the difficult topic of risk assessment accessible to the regulatory, policy and scientific communities. Calculated Risks focuses on the science of assessing health risks and provides a framework for understanding this complex topic. It should be required reading for those concerned about environmental pollution and protection of health and environment. Carol J. Henry, Vice President Science and Research, American Chemistry Council 'Rodricks has written a book with a wealth of technical material that is so easy to read and follow, and which will be a gift to the students and fellow professionals he hopes will use it.' Alastair Hay, Nature Book Reviews 'Rodricks' book needs to be read by every medical scientist with any concern for public health issues as well as by environmental and food safety campaigners. It will sharpen debating skills enormously, broaden understanding of risk through chemicals and reveal not a few idiocies. Rodricks tells the scientists, the campaigners and the concerned citizens what they need to know. And they won't even need a dictionary. Dose-response curves, thresholds, environmental epidemiology and drug metabolism are all covered in simple and, at times, humorous terms. Toxicology is delightful - an art as well as science. Rodricks covers both.' Simon Wolff, New Scientist Review 'It is difficult to praise this book enough. An even-handed text that emphasizes complexity and reveals the gaps in our knowledge rather than oversimplifying the science of toxicology, [this book] belongs on the shelves of every environmental organization. Writing in a manner that neither condescends nor baffles his readers, Joseph V. Rodricks has produced a text that if used as a point of departure in discussing siting, pollution, and similar disputes could save time and effort ... This book is the basic text we all should read.' C. Ian Jackson, Environment ' ... presents a practical and balanced clarification of the scientific basis for our concerns and uncertainties. It should serve to refocus the debate.' Biology Digest ' ... a well-organized and readable text ... The book should be recommended reading for those interested in obtaining an understanding of risk assessment.' M. P. Schellenberg, Canadian Field Naturalist ' ... provides access to the science and uncertainty behind the oft-quoted risks of toxic chemicals ... The reader who completes the book is likely to know much more about the limitations of all assessments of risk.' Resha M. Putzrath, BioScience 'Rather than attempting to expose governmental and corporate ignorance, negligence or corruption, this book explores the underlying scientific issues. It presents a clarification of the scientific basis for our concerns and uncertainties.' The Bulletin of Sci., Tech and Soc. ' ... the best book we have yet seen on the theory of risk assessment - lucidly written, and even-handed ... If you want to understand the theory of risk assessment from the viewpoint of a successful risk assessor, this is the book for you." Rachel's Hazardous Waste News '... interesting and most valuable ... A reader who is already familiar with the first edition of the book will obtain a better and deeper insight into a risk assessment and its role in risk management. ... those who have to apply the results of risk assessment will find that this book provides a wealth of information to improve their understanding.' Angewandte Chemie