Issues in Toxicology – serie

The vast number of chemicals existing or being added into the environment, have globally aroused great concern regarding their adverse effects in human population. Development and validation of sensitive and better test systems which can assess the adverse effects of chemicals at an early stage for intervention strategies to be implemented in time is currently in progress. This book documents the latest research and showcases the versatile, state-of-the-art technique - the Comet assay - in the field of modern toxicology. The assay is a simple, sensitive rapid and visual technique for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of DNA damage in single cells. The Comet Assay in Toxicology is the first book of its kind to be devoted exclusively to the Comet assay and its applications as an important tool in modern toxicology. This multi-author book will serve as both a reference and a guide to investigations in the biomedical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences. Written by investigators from the fields of genetic toxicology and human epidemiology, the authors have first-hand knowledge from their chosen sub-specialities and are active contributors to the peer-reviewed scientific literature. The book is divided into five major sections, reflecting the range of interest in the exploitation of this assay. The book's scope begins with an introduction section reviewing its genesis for those new to the technique and the current knowledge of the various fields in which it finds wide acceptance. This section sets the scene by explaining why the assay has become the most sensitive and sought after assay in modern toxicology. Next is a whole section that considers various procedures being followed to assess different types of DNA damage in various cell types and is contributed by experts in the respective fields. The third section puts together the specific applications of the assay in the diverse fields ranging from genetic toxicity testing to human monitoring, and environmental toxicology. The fourth section consists of the guidelines and recommendations for the conduct of the assay in in vitro and in vivo systems, based on the recommendations of the International Workgroups on genotoxicity test procedures. Finally, the book draws to a close with an assessment of the statistics used for the understanding of the data generated by the assay. This is a unique reference book as it provides the scientific community with the advances in Comet assay as well as its applications. It also incorporates a detailed section with instant and comprehensive information on the procedure of the assay and the latest protocols being used worldwide as well as statistical analyses to be followed. The book is aimed at students as well as scientists in the area of molecular epidemiology and genetic toxicology.

Hair in Toxicology: An Important Biomonitor is the first book of its kind devoted exclusively to in-depth analysis of the hair shaft as an important tool for a diverse range of scientific investigations. This authoritative book combines contributions from experts in academic, governmental and industrial environments, to provide a unique, comprehensive look at: - Why hair can serve as an invaluable bio-resource in toxicology, with up-to-date reviews on hair growth, hair fibre formation and hair pigmentation - Information (including regulatory details) on the exposure of hair (and by extension the body) to drug and non-drug chemicals and pollutants - Toxicological issues relevant to the use of hair products (including colourants, shampoos and depilatories) - The ability of hair to capture information on personal identity, chemical exposure, and environmental interactions - How hair can provide an understanding of human life from archaeological and historical perspectives - Future direction in the use of hair in toxicology Hair in Toxicology: An Important Biomonitor is ideal as a reference and guide to investigations in the biomedical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences at the graduate and post graduate level.

Bile acids are increasingly being seen as extremely important carcinogenic agents in cancers of the bile duct, liver, colon, rectum, and oesophagus. They are essential agents involved in lipid digestion and absorption in mammals, however, they also play wide-ranging roles in a variety of disease states ranging from diabetes to cancer. They have evolved exquisite mechanisms for controlling their own synthesis and to ensure that they are produced at correct concentrations and also kept in the correct anatomical environment. It is only when these fine levels of controls are breached that Bile acids become associated with disease. This breaching of control mechanisms can occur through dietary means (e.g. in obesity) whereby excessive levels of Bile acids are produced and converted (via the bacterial flora) to damaging secondary Bile acids. Furthermore, lack of re-absorption of Bile acids can lead to liver pathologies. The atypical movement of Bile acids into the oesophagus, stimulated by episodes of reflux, is linked to oesophageal cancer. In recent years there have been tremendous advances in the understanding of the mechanisms behind the toxicity and bioactivity of different Bile acids and these are covered at length in this book. Prior to the publication of this book there was no single source of information on the toxicology and bioactivity properties of Bile acids. The book also uniquely collects all the relevant information together regarding the role of Bile acids in human disease and the mechanisms underlying Bile acid induced pathology. Additionally, as Bile acids are synthesised from cholesterol, there is wide recognition of the role for Bile acids in obesity linked diseases and this is also covered in this new publication. The book is edited by two experts in the field who have been involved in Bile acid research for several years and who are closely involved with major research groups in the UK, Europe and the US actively engaged in Bile acid research. The Editors have brought together world experts in their own fields to discuss the contribution of Bile acids to various disease pathologies, as well as discussing the mechanisms behind their activity. The book details the plethora of biological activities of this fascinating group of naturally occurring chemicals and provides a one-stop reference for scientists wishing to gain a fuller understanding of Bile acid activity and function.

The issue of male germ line mutagenesis and the effects on developmental defects in the next generation has become increasingly high profile over recent years. Mutations are thought to be becoming more prevalent as a result of: exposure to chemicals in the environment, anti cancer regimes that use genotoxic agents and assisted conception techniques. In addition to the increasing frequency of mutations in the general population, attention is also being given to the effects of epigenetic events on future generations. Male-mediated Developmental Toxicity discusses these issues comprehensively and includes further analysis on the fundamental mechanisms of mutations. With both clinical and experimental sections, written by leading experts in the field, this book will appeal to both medical practitioners and researchers.

Consumer and environmental protection depend on the careful regulation of all classes of chemicals. Toxicology is the key science used to evaluate safety and so underpins regulatory decisions on chemicals. With the growing body of EU legislation involved in chemical regulation, there is a concomitant need to understand the toxicological principles underlying safety assessmentsRegulatory Toxicology in the European Union is the first book to cover regulatory toxicology specifically in Europe. It addresses the need for a wider understanding of the principles of regulatory toxicology and their application and presents the relationship between toxicology and legislative processes in regulating chemical commodities across Europe. This title has a broad scope, covering historical and current chemical regulation in Europe, the role of European agencies and institutions, and also the use of toxicology data for important classes of chemicals, including human and veterinary medicines, animal feed and food additives, biocides, pesticides and nanomaterials. This book is therefore extremely pertinent and timely in the toxicology field at present.This book is an essential reference for regulatory authorities, industrialists, academics, undergraduates and postgraduates working within safety and hazards, toxicology, the biological sciences, and the medicinal and pharmaceutical sciences across the European Union.

Chemical health threats can have impacts across national borders and so may be more effectively tackled by international cooperation than by individual governments acting alone. As such, in November 2013, the European Union published the EU Decision for Serious Cross Border Threats to Health establishing a number of mechanisms for a coordinated, Europe-wide response with regards to preparedness, risk assessment, risk management, risk communication and international cooperation.Comprising a series of chapters from leading international researchers, this book covers recent developments in the field which support the implementation of these European legal instruments. It begins by contextualising the need for data that surveillance of toxic threats can deliver, before going on to examine some of the tools that have been developed to facilitate toxicosurveillance in Europe as well as current toxicosurveillance networks outside the EU. In addition, this book covers the European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and the work of the Alerting System for Chemical Health Threats (ASHT) project to improve the risk assessment and management of chemical health threats in Europe.The volume provides a vital resource for researchers, educators, policy-makers and practitioners with an interest in key questions facing global hazardous substance control.

The rapid expansion of the nanotechnology field raises concerns, like any new technology, about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials. This book addresses the gaps relating to health and safety issues of this field and aims to bring together fragmented knowledge on nanosafety. Not only do chapters address conventional toxicity issues, but also more recent developments such as food borne nanoparticles, life cycle analysis of nanoparticles and nano ethics. In addition, the authors discuss the environmental impact of nanotechnologies as well as safety guidelines and ethical issues surrounding the use of nanoparticles. In particular this book presents a unique compilation of experimental and computational perspectives and illustrates the use of computational models as a support for experimental work. Nanotoxicology: Experimental and Computational Perspectives is aimed towards postgraduates, academics, and practicing industry professionals. This highly comprehensive review also serves as an excellent foundation for undergraduate students and researchers new to nanotechnology and nanotoxicology. It is of particular value to toxicologists working in nanotechnology, chemical risk assessment, food science, environmental, safety, chemical engineering, the biological sciences and pharmaceutical research.

Research over the past decade has demonstrated that TGx methods of various types can be used to discriminate modes of mutagenesis as a function of dose. TGx can quickly inform safety evaluation regarding potential mechanisms of conventional outcomes and can provide essential dose-response information. This can then be used to ascertain the sequence of key events in a putative mode of action as may apply in quantitative cancer risk assessment. With the increasing complexity of research in mode of action investigations it is important to gain a better understand of approaches to data integration and health risk assessment. Furthermore, it is essential to consider how novel test systems and newer methods and approaches may be used in future to gain a better understanding of mechanisms.Toxicogenomics in Predictive Carcinogenicity describes toxicogenomics methods in predictive carcinogenicity testing, mode of action and safety evaluation, and cancer risk assessment. It illustrates these methods using case studies that have yielded significant new information on compounds and classes of compounds that have proven difficult to evaluate using conventional methods alone. This book additionally covers current and potential toxicogenomic research using stem cells as well as new bioinformatics methods for drug discovery and environmental toxicology.This publication is an indispensable tool for postgraduates, academics and industrialists working in biochemistry, genomics, carcinogenesis, pathology, pharmaceuticals, food technology, bioinformatics, risk assessment and environmental toxicology.

Parkinson's Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. In order to find neuroprotective strategies, a clear understanding of the mechanisms involved in the dopaminergic death of cells that progresses the disease is needed. Oxidative stress can be defined as an imbalance between the production of reactive species and the ability to detoxify them and their intermediates or by-products. Oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA has been detected in autopsies from individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and so links can be made between oxidative stress and Parkinson’s Disease pathogenesis.This book provides a thorough review of the mechanisms by which oxidative stress and redox signalling mediate Parkinson’s Disease. Opening chapters bring readers up to speed on basic knowledge regarding oxidative stress and redox signalling, Parkinson’s Disease, and neurodegeneration before the latest advances in this field are explored in detail. Topics covered in the following chapters include the role of mitochondria, dopamine metabolism, metal homeostasis, inflammation, DNA-damage and thiol-signalling. The role of genetics and gene-environment interactions are also explored before final chapters discuss the identification of potential biomarkers for diagnosis and disease progression and the future of redox/antioxidant based therapeutics.Written by recognized experts in the field, this book will be a valuable source of information for postgraduate students and academics, clinicians, toxicologists and risk assessment groups. Importantly, it presents the current research that might later lead to redox or antioxidant – based therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease.

Concerns about the adverse effects of chemicals present in the environment have created a need for better systems to assess their potential consequences on human health. One potential solution is the versatile and state-of-the-art Comet assay. Simple, sensitive, rapid and visual, this modern toxicological method allows quantitative and qualitative assessment of DNA damage in single cells. This assay is used in diverse fields ranging from clinical applications, human monitoring and environmental toxicology through to genetic toxicity testing.This updated and revised edition of The Comet Assay in Toxicology provides the latest information on this important tool. It addresses, in-depth, the different protocols, statistical analyses and applications used worldwide. It also includes the guidelines recommended by the Working Group on Comet Assay. The book begins with a review of the genesis of the assay for those new to the technique and goes on to explain procedures followed to assess different types of DNA damage, various applications of the assay, and guidelines for the conduct of the assay in in vitro and in vivo systems. New chapters written for this edition will provide information on the most contemporary approaches and applications, including in silico approaches, on meta-analysis of data and on the application of the Comet Assay in nanotoxicology.This book will serve as both a reference and a guide to students as well as investigators in the biomedical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences fields.

The rate at which toxicological data is generated is continually becoming more rapid and the volume of data generated is growing dramatically. This is due in part to advances in software solutions and cheminformatics approaches which increase the availability of open data from chemical, biological and toxicological and high throughput screening resources. However, the amplified pace and capacity of data generation achieved by these novel techniques presents challenges for organising and analysing data output.Big Data in Predictive Toxicology discusses these challenges as well as the opportunities of new techniques encountered in data science. It addresses the nature of toxicological big data, their storage, analysis and interpretation. It also details how these data can be applied in toxicity prediction, modelling and risk assessment. This title is of particular relevance to researchers and postgraduates working and studying in the fields of computational methods, applied and physical chemistry, cheminformatics, biological sciences, predictive toxicology and safety and hazard assessment.

The network approaches of systems pharmacology and toxicology serve as early predictors of the most relevant screening approach to pursue both in drug discovery and development and ecotoxicological assessments. Computational approaches have the potential to improve toxicological experimental design, enable more rapid drug efficacy and safety testing and also reduce the number of animals used in experimentation. Rapid advances in availability of computing technology hold tremendous promise for advancing applied and basic science and increasing the efficiency of risk assessment.This book provides an understanding of the basic principles of computational toxicology and the current methods of predictive toxicology using chemical structures, toxicity-related databases, in silico chemical-protein docking, and biological pathway tools. The book begins with an introduction to systems pharmacology and toxicology and computational tools followed by a section exploring modelling adverse outcomes and events. The second part of the book covers the discovery of protein targets and the characterisation of toxicant-protein interactions. Final chapters include case studies and additionally discuss interactions between phytochemicals and Western therapeutics.This book will be useful for scientists involved in environmental research and risk assessment. It will be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and researchers wishing to learn about key methods used in studying biological targets both from a toxicity and pharmacological activity standpoint.

Toxicity against tissue stem cells (TSCs) is a major problem in drug development and environmental health science. Despite their essential function in all human cellular tissues, the nature of tissue stem cells is not fully understood. The small fraction of stem cells in tissues and the lack of specific biomarkers for their quantification present a formidable challenge to developing tools for their study and assays that can identify stem cell-toxic agents.Human Stem Cell Toxicology reveals TSC toxicity as a biomedical reality that is now well under siege by newly emerging ideas and technologies, despite these challenges. Chapters consider stem cell toxicity by environmental agents, pharmaceutical drug candidates, and marketed therapeutic medicines with adverse side effects. New insights to cellular, molecular, biochemical, and chemical mechanisms of human tissue stem cell toxicity are brought together. Experimental and theoretical treatments are of specific topics, including approaches to monitoring TSC function, newly discovered TSC types and TSC toxicity resistance mechanisms, are covered by expert authors.This book informs and champions the continued development of innovative technologies to predict the TSC toxicity of compounds before their use, whether in patients or the environment, by addressing emerging new cell-based approaches and concepts for technical innovation. This publication will be a useful reference for postgraduate students and researchers working in toxicology, pharmaceutical science, tissue cell biology and stem cell biology.

Despite ongoing efforts to prohibit the production, storage and use of chemical warfare agents recent world events highlight the enduring threat to the population from these agents. Research efforts in various countries have resulted in novel insights into chemical warfare toxicology that has enabled the development of new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of chemical warfare poisoning. This two-volume set provides an up-to-date treatise on the ongoing research into the toxicology of chemical warfare agents, the diagnosis and verification of exposure, and the pre- and post-exposure treatment of poisoning. Focussing on the most important representative nerve and blistering agents, whilst also covering other potential chemical warfare agents, these books will give the reader a comprehensive overview of the many different aspects of chemical warfare agent toxicology. The texts will appeal to toxicologists, biochemists and weapons specialists working in industry and academia, and anyone with an interest in chemical warfare toxicology or exposure.

The potential impact of anthropogenic pollutants such as agrochemicals on the environment is of global concern. Increasing use of certain compounds can result in contamination of food, water and atmospheric systems and in order to combat this pollution it is important to be able to accurately monitor the short and long term effects.This book describes the latest non-traditional terrestrial species models used as indicators of the toxic effects of environmental pollutants. The book enables understanding of the effects of pollutants in non-target species, and therefore enables analysis of the effects on ecosystems.This book will be of interest to anyone interested in developing new biomarker species with high degrees of ecological relevance. It will serve as a useful resource for regulatory and research toxicologists, particularly those interested in soil screening and the effects of pollutants on wildlife and insects and their use as biological indicators.

Formaldehyde is virtually ubiquitous in the modern environment due to its cost-effective nature, its use in resin formation, and its preservative properties. Though formaldehyde is necessary for many products and processes important to the world’s economy, this economic dependence on formaldehyde comes at a cost to public health. Growth and consequent industrialization rely heavily on formaldehyde use. New buildings—residences, public places, and offices—are not only built with timber preserved by formaldehyde, but they are also furnished with wood, wool, and textile products that contain formaldehyde. The general population faces environmental exposure from indoor and outdoor air pollution, food, and even medicine. Scientific inquiry into formaldehyde exposure has grown in response. This book consolidates the new and established body of formaldehyde research in the scholarly community, focusing on exposure, genotoxicity, and adverse health outcomes. Through this resource, we hope to increase awareness of the broad range of health effects posed by formaldehyde exposure, and to encourage interdisciplinary interest, as well as research, into this pervasive compound—especially in the United States and China, where formaldehyde production and usage is high. This book will be useful to researchers of environmental and occupational exposure, students, and government regulators and anyone exposed to formaldehyde in the workplace and/or at home.

Concerns about the adverse health effects of chemicals and radiation present in the environment and at workplaces have created the need for better detection systems to assess their potential to cause DNA damage in humans and other organisms across ecosystems. The Micronucleus Assay in Toxicology is the first comprehensive volume concerning the use of micronucleus assays in genetic toxicology. It succinctly explains the mechanisms by which genotoxins cause micronucleus formation and its relation to diseases. Furthermore, it describes the methods which are currently used for the analyses of micronuclei in different types of cells in human in vivo biomonitoring studies, routine in vivo tests with rodents, in vitro studies with human and mammalian cells, environmental monitoring with invertebrates and vertebrates such as molluscs, fish and, also, in plant bioassays. Moreover, this book also focuses on the use of the micronucleus technique in other research areas, including the detection of DNA damage caused by important groups of genotoxic carcinogens (heavy metals, industrial chemicals, cytotoxic drugs, pesticides, ionising radiation, etc.) as well as study designs, statistical analyses, international regulatory guidelines, and the development of automated scoring devices for this assay. This book will serve as both, a reference and a guide to students, and investigators in biomedical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences interested in gaining a better understanding of the biology of micronuclei and their application in measuring DNA damage caused by natural or man-made genotoxins.

The potential impact of anthropogenic pollutants such as agrochemicals on the environment is of global concern. Increasing use of certain compounds can result in contamination of food, water and atmospheric systems and in order to combat this pollution it is important to be able to accurately monitor the short and long term effects.This two-volume set of books describes the latest non-traditional aquatic and terrestrial species models used as indicators of the toxic effects of environmental pollutants. The set enables understanding of the effects of pollutants in non-target species, and therefore enables analysis of the effects on ecosystems.This book will be of interest to anyone interested in developing new biomarker species with high degrees of ecological relevance. It will serve as a useful resource for regulatory and research toxicologists.

Nanoparticles have numerous biomedical applications including drug delivery, bone implants and imaging. A protein corona is formed when proteins existing in a biological system cover the nanoparticle surface. The formation of a nanoparticle–protein corona, changes the behaviour of the nanoparticle, resulting in new biological characteristics and influencing the circulation lifetime, accumulation, toxicity, cellular uptake and agglomeration.This book provides a detailed understanding of nanoparticle–protein corona formation, its biological significance and the factors that govern the formation of coronas. It also explains the impact of nanoparticle–protein interactions on biological assays, ecotoxicity studies and proteomics research. It will be of interest to researchers studying the application of nanoparticles as well as toxicologists and pharmaceutical chemists.

Insight into the role of hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone, in health and disease etiology – including interactions with other hormone pathways – has dramatically changed. Estrogen and androgen receptors, with their polymorphisms, are key molecules in all tissues and are involved in a number of homeostatic mechanisms but also pathological processes including carcinogenesis and the development of metabolic and neurological disorders such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with the endocrine (hormone) systems at certain dosages and play a key role in the pathology of disease. Most known EDCs are manmade and are therefore an increasing concern given the number commonly found in household products and the environment. This book will cover the mechanisms of EDC pathology across the spectrum of disease, as well as risk assessment and government and legal regulation to provide a holistic view of the current issues and cutting-edge research in the topic. With contributions from global leaders in the field, this book will be an ideal reference for toxicologists, endocrinologists and researchers interested in developmental biology, regulatory toxicology and the interface between environment and human health.

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought about by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of amphibian species has become increasingly of interest to toxicologists involved in environmental research. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in premetamorphic stages and adults of amphibians. Amphibian ecotoxicology is not totally understood in scientific research and as such environmental risk assessment in these vertebrates is an area of rapidly growing interest. It has the potential to answer some of the questions regarding risks to our environment. An ideal companion, this book will be useful to toxicologists and ecologists investigating risk assessment in the environments of amphibians, while also of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol and habitat management.

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of piscine species is becoming increasingly of interest to scientists involved in environmental research and connected disciplines. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in fish species from different zoogeographical regions of the world.Fish Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies is an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of ichthyic fauna, particularly those with an interest in the deleterious impact introduced by human activity. The book is also of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol, habitat management and related disciplines.

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants toxicology and risk assessment of mammal species is becoming increasingly of interest to toxicologists involved in environmental research. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in marsupial and placental mammals. Marsupial ecotoxicology is poorly understood in scientific research and as such environmental risk assessment in marsupials is an area of rapidly growing interest. This book will be an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of mammals. Particularly those with an interest in the impact introduced by human activity. The book will also be of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol and habitat management.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume endocrine-disrupting chemical present in numerous consumer products. Extensive use of BPA has led to wide-spread contamination in the air, soil, and water, leading to ubiquitous human exposure. Research into BPA has grown exponentially over the past ten years, with numerous modes of action being identified that impact human health and disease development. While BPA has estrogenic effects, emerging literature has identified several non-receptor mediated modes of action, such as epigenetic reprogramming, that can affect the long-term health of the population. This book highlights the multiple modes of action BPA can use to reprogram cells genetically and metabolically. By compiling critical studies in BPA and outlining the connections and disparities in the literature to build a broader understanding of this complex endocrine-disrupting chemical and its impact on the environment and human health, this book is an ideal resource for postgraduates and researchers in a range of disciplines from toxicology to epigenetics and cancer epidemiology.

Neurotransmitters are usually considered to be endogenous substances that are released from neurons, act on receptor sites that are typically present on membranes of postsynaptic cells and produce a functional change in the properties of the target cell. They are essential features of the nervous systems of all animals, and numerous chemicals can act as neurotransmitters either intentionally (e.g. pesticides) or unintentionally (neurotoxins). The most common forms of neurotoxicity are the death of neurons, degeneration of axons, damage to glial cells and interference with the axonal membrane or neurotransmission. Important neurotoxins are found among pesticides, metals, solvents, natural substances, and industrial chemicals. Environmental chemicals may also contribute to the pathology of neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Neurotransmitters and Toxicology will be particularly appealing to toxicologists interested in neurotoxicology in various sub-disciplines, as well as neuro-chemists interested in pathology and disease mechanisms associated with neurotoxicants.

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of bird and reptile species is becoming increasingly of interest to toxicologists involved in environmental research. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in non-conventional bird and reptile species.Bird and Reptile Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies will be an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of birds and reptiles, particularly those with an interest in the impact introduced by human activity. The book will also be of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol and habitat management.

Germ cells have a unique and critical role as the conduit for hereditary information. The issue of male germline mutagenesis and the effects on developmental defects in the next generation has become increasingly high profile in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms by which the germline is induced and maintained is one of the effective ways to treat infertility and cancer. Male-mediated Developmental Toxicity discusses these issues and provides analysis of the fundamental mechanisms of mutations covering both clinical and experimental aspects. It helps clarify the data explaining how genotoxicity involves multiple modes of action and highlights novel models and assays being used to assess germ cell genotoxicity.With a clear focus on the various mechanisms that could impact human health, this book is for postgraduate students and researchers in reproductive and developmental toxicology as well as those with an interest in the fields of genetically inherited diseases, developmental biology and, potentially, those with a more clinical background.

Hair analysis is a reliable and widely used tool to evaluate drug exposure in many fields, including workplace testing, drug abuse history and withdrawal control, post-mortem toxicology, doping control, therapeutic drug monitoring of pharmaceuticals and even environmental exposure to toxic agents. Compounds incorporated into the hair structure resist hair growth and regular washing for several months, leading to a potential chronological trace of exposure, with farther periods corresponding to the hair segments more distant from the hair root. The relentless improvement of analytical procedures and instrumental technologies, together with the continuous introduction of new psychoactive substances, have led to an increasing number of studies and practical applications of hair analysis. This book is a comprehensive guide to hair analysis from general concepts, ideal for students and those new to the field, to interpretation and advanced methods for experts working in the area. With contributions from world-leading scientists in each field, this book describes state-of-the-art, emerging issues and recent analytical approaches to hair analysis that will serve as an essential tool to clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories across the globe.

In Silico methods to predict toxicity have become increasingly important recently, particularly in light of European legislation such as REACH and the Cosmetics Regulation. They are also being used extensively worldwide e.g. in the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. In assessing the risk that a chemical may pose to human health or to the environment, focus is now being directed towards exploitation of in silico methods to replace in vivo or in vitro techniques. A prediction of potential toxicity requires several stages: 1) Collation and organisation of data available for the compound, or if this is not available, information for related compounds. 2) An assessment of the quality of the data. 3) Generation of additional information about the compound using computational techniques at various levels of complexity - calculation of physico-chemical properties, 2-D, 3-D / MO descriptors and specific receptor modelling / interaction. 4) Use of an appropriate strategy to predict toxicity - ie a statistically valid method which makes best use of all available information (mechanism of action, activity for related compounds, extrapolation across species and endpoints, likely exposure scenario amounts over time etc). 5) Consideration then needs to be given to how this information is used in the real world ie use of expert systems / tools as relevant to assessors (if sufficiently different to previous) - weight of evidence approaches. 6) Finally evidence should be presented from case studies within this area. No other publication brings together information on all of these areas in one book and this publication is unique in that it provides a logical progression through every one of these key stages and defines the use of computational approaches to predict the environmental toxicity and human health effects of organic chemicals. The volume is aimed at the developers and users of in silico toxicology and provides an analysis of all aspects required for in silico prediction of toxicology, including data collation, quality assessment and computational approaches. The contributions from recognised leaders in each of these areas include evidence of the use and applicability of approaches using real world case studies concerning both environmental and human health effects. The book provides a very useful single source reference for people working in this area including academics, professionals, under- and post-graduate students as well as Governmental Regulatory Scientists involved in chemical risk assessment and REACH.