Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Molecular Substructures to Ecological Landscapes, Second Edition

The rapidly evolving field of environmental toxicology involves the study of toxic compounds and their effect on living organisms, as well as their chemical and physical behavior and fate within the natural environment. Since publication of the first edition in December 1994, Introduction to Environmental Toxicology has found a secure place among the major texts and references in this field. The rapidly expanding base of knowledge regarding this discipline has made it necessary to update and revise this informative text. The second edition contains much of the information from the first edition, though the chapters have been enhanced and expanded. Critical new chapters concerning the latest issues in metal toxicity and the newly emerging area of multispecies toxicity tests have also been added. Also new to this second edition are sections describing new research being done on estrogen-like environmental toxins and endocrine disrupters, along with up-to-the-minute research findings on biomarkers, community conditioning, and biomonitoring assays. This comprehensive guide is an excellent reference for anyone involved in the field of environmental toxicology.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Introduction to Environmental Toxicology Environmental Toxicology as an Interdisciplinary Science A Brief History and Organizations in Environmental Toxicology Legislation Introduction to the Textbook References Chapter 2 A Framework for Environmental Toxicology The Classical Viewpoint for Classifying Toxicological Effects An Alternative Framework Incorporating Complexity Theory Spatial and Temporal Scales References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 3 An Introduction to Toxicity Testing The Dose-Response Curve Standard Methods Classification of Toxicity Tests Design Parameters for Single Species Toxicity Tests Overview of Available Statistical Methods for the Evaluation of Single Species Toxicity Tests The Design of Multispecies Toxicity Tests Summary of Design Guidelines for Multispecies Toxicity Tests References and Suggested Readings Chapter 4 Survey and Review of Typical Toxicity Test Methods Single Species Toxicity Tests Animal Care and Use Considerations Multispecies Toxicity Tests Summary Appendix References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 5 Routes of Exposure and Modes of Action The Damage Process Atmospheric Pollutants and Plants Vertebrates Mechanisms of Action Common Modes of Action in Detail Introduction to QSAR Receptor Mediated Toxicity, Endocrine Disruption, and a Mechanistic SAR Analysis of PCB Toxicity References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 6 Factors Modifying the Activity of Toxicants Physicochemical Properties of Pollutants Time and Mode of Exposure Environmental Factors Interaction of Pollutants Toxicity of Mixtures Mixture Estimation System Estimating the Toxicity of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons Biological Factors Affecting Toxicity References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 7 Inorganic Gaseous Pollutants Sulfur Oxides Nitrogen Oxides Ozone Carbon Monoxide Fluoride References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 8 Heavy Metals Lead Cadmium Mercury References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 9 Biotransformation, Detoxification, and Biodegradation Introduction Metabolism of Environmental Chemicals: Biotransformation Microbial Degradation Bioremediation Isolation and Engineering of Degradative Organisms References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 10 Measurement and Interpretation of the Ecological Effects of Toxicants Introduction Measurement of Ecological Effects at Various Levels of Biological Organization Molecular and Physiological Indicators of Chemical Stress-Biomarkers Population Parameters Assemblage and Community Parameters Interpretation of Effects at the Population, Community, and Ecosystem Levels of Organization Community and Ecosystem Effects Application of Multivariate Techniques Interpretation of Ecosystem Level Impacts Appendix References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Chapter 11 Ecological Risk Assessment Introduction Basics of Risk Assessment Ecological Risk Assessment Ecological Risk Assessment Framework Risk Characterization Developments in Ecological Risk Assessment A Ranking Approach to Multiple Stressor, Wide Area Ecological Risk Assessment References and Suggested Readings Study Questions