A Small Dose of Toxicology: The Health Effects of Common Chemicals
By Steven G. Gilbert
Publisher: Informa HealthCare
Number Of Pages: 280
Publication Date: 2004-02-25
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0415311683
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780415311687
Binding: Paperback
Everyday, we come into contact with many relatively harmless substances that could, at certain concentrations, be toxic. This applies not only to obvious candidates such as asbestos, lead, and gasoline, but also to compounds such as caffeine and headache tablets. While the field of toxicology has numerous texts devoted to aspects of biology, chemistry, and mechanism of action, the need remains for a book that places toxicology within the framework of our daily lives. A Small Dose of Toxicology presents the principles of toxicology by exploring the effects of common chemical agents such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. It reviews the fundamentals of dose-response and factors of individual sensitivity in regard to these drugs, and then applies this knowledge to environmental contaminates such as lead, arsenic, pesticides, mercury, and radiation. Chapters discuss neurotoxicology, risk assessment, carcinogenicity, and with a variety of specific toxic agents, with each chapter designed as a self-contained module to allow for flexibility in the selection of personal or academic material. Exploring current toxicology concerns within a human context, this text discusses how toxicology affects our everyday lives while providing insight into the broader issues of public health and disease prevention. Environmental and public health professionals, as well as novices and students requiring a basic foundation in toxicology will find this resource incredibly useful.
Summary: Small Dose- but large information
Rating: 5
Steven Gilbert, Ph.D., DABT has compiled a user-friendly book of toxicology that has utility in beginner and advanced courses of the toxicology field. It is layman friendly and selectively includes toxic product hazards of everyday life. The common chemicals include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, pesticides, lead, mercury, arsenic, heavy metals, solvents and radiation for starters; all products of human ingestion, inhalation or dermal absorption in everyday life. In simple terms and understandable paragraphs that are digestible, one learns of the dangers to human exposure. The additional reference lists at the end of each subject enhances the ability of one to research issues further. Government agencies that can assist the reader are also presented. Toxicology is literally “the science of poisons” and is often one of the “heaviest” curriculum/ biological subjects. “A Small Dose” allows the reader to enjoy the subject matter and still learn the issues at hand in the new millennium. Dr. Gilbert makes it palatable…Thank you! He was awarded a commendation in 2004 from the British Medical Association Library book competition- a most prestigious award.
