Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Impacts of Chemicals Upon Ecological Systems, Third Edition

The rapidly evolving field of environmental toxicology involves the study of toxic compounds and their effect on living organisms, as well as their fate within the natural environment. Since publication of the first edition, Introduction to Environmental Toxicology has found a secure place among the major texts and references in this field. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology, Third Edition seamlessly covers processes and impacts from the molecular level all the way up to population levels. While retaining the strengths of previous editions, the third edition includes a new chapter on fluoride, an update on endocrine disruption, a discussion of the use of models to reconstruct concentration-response curves, expansion of the metals chapter, and new developments in ecological risk assessment for management decisions at site to regional scales. It is an ideal text for introducing students to the fields of ecotoxicology and risk assessment.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND ITS ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING Environmental Toxicology as an Interdisciplinary Science A Brief History of and Organizations in Environmental Toxicology Interactions and Connections of Environmental Toxicology to the Management of Ecological Systems Legislation Use of Models in Environmental Science Introduction to the Textbook References Study Questions A FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY Classical Viewpoint for Classifying Toxicological Effects Alternative Framework Incorporating Complexity Theory Spatial and Temporal Scales Combining Scale and Ecological Dynamics:The Hierarchical Patch Dynamic Paradigm References and Suggested Readings Study Questions 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 Study Questions SURVEY AND REVIEW OF TYPICAL TOXICITY TEST METHODS Single Species Toxicity Tests Animal Care and Use Considerations Multispecies Toxicity Tests Summary References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Appendix: The Natural History and Utilization of Test Species ROUTES OF EXPOSURE AND MODES OF ACTION The Damage Process Atmospheric Pollutants and Plants 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 FACTORS MODIFYING THE ACTIVITY OF TOXICANTS Introduction Physicochemical Properties of Pollutants Environmental Factors Interaction of Pollutants Toxicity of Mixtures Mixture Estimation System 11 Estimating the Toxicity of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons Biological Factors Affecting Toxicity References and Suggested Readings Study Questions INORGANIC GASEOUS POLLUTANTS Sulfur Oxides Nitrogen Oxides Ozone Carbon Monoxide References and Suggested Readings FLUORIDE AS A CONTAMINANT OF DEVELOPING ECONOMIES Environmental Sources and Forms Of Fluoride Industrial Sources of Fluoride Pollution Effects On Plants Effects on Animals Effects On Human Health Biochemical Effect References and Suggested Readings Study Questions HEAVY METALS Lead Cadmium Mercury Study Questions References and Suggested Readings BIOTRANSFORMATION, DETOXIFICATION, AND BIODEGRADATION Introduction Metabolism of Environmental Chemicals: Biotransformation Microbial Degradation Bioremediation Isolation and Engineering of Degradative Organisms The Genetics of Degradative Elements An Example of a Detoxification Enzyme-the OPA Anhydrolases References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Measuring and Predicting the Responses of Ecological Systems to 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 Pollution-Induced Community Tolerance Interpretation of Ecosystem Level Impacts An Alternative Model: The Community Conditioning Hypothesis The Problem of the Reference Site References and Suggested Readings Study Questions 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 A General Model For Regional Risk Assessment - The Ten Steps Life Cycle Assessment as a Decision Making Tool References and Suggested Readings Study Questions Appendices Index

Review :
About the second edition: "Buy the book, read it, and learn from it. This book genuinely helps to unify and clarify the ecotoxicology field, and as such joins a select few titles bringing coherence to a complex scientific arena. I hope that the authors will keep carefully revised and updated editions in circulation for many years to come." - P.G. Wells, Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada, in Ecotoxicology, Vol. 9, No.3