An Introduction to Toxicology

This book provides a readable introduction to modern toxicology with a particular focus on the mechanisms underlying the induction of toxicity by foreign substances. Since bioactivation is central to many toxic syndromes, special interest is devoted to chemicals that undergo conversion to toxic metabolites that induce toxic effects as diverse as cancer, birth defects and organ injury. The molecular consequences accompanying damage to cellular DNA and proteins is explored together with the relevance of toxicological paradigms to human diseases caused by alcohol and tobacco. The discipline of toxicology has developed rapidly since the thalidomide disaster in the 1960's as scientists worldwide seek to understand the adverse health effects of human medicines, environmental pollutants, consumer chemicals and industrial reagents. An Introduction to Toxicology is intended to supplement the recommended reading list of undergraduate and graduate programs in toxicology and pharmacology as an enjoyable, accessible primer with illustrations that “unpack” the concepts being discussed in the text. ?

After undergraduate majors in chemistry and pharmacology, Phil Burcham completed a PhD in biochemical toxicology in 1990 under the supervision of Dr Andrew W Harman at the University of Western Australia. He then completed postdoctoral training in molecular toxicology under Lawrence J Marnett at Vanderbilt University. After teaching pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Adelaide for 12 years he returned to Perth to establish a research group focused on studying noxious smoke constituents. His research efforts have led to 55 scientific publications. He has over 20 years experience in teaching toxicology, pharmacology and drug metabolism to science, medicine, pharmacy, podiatry and dentistry students. His popular team-taught freshers course, Drugs that Changed the World, attracts over 400 enrolments. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory board of Chemical Research in Toxicology and the Editorial Board of Toxicological Sciences. He is also a member of the toxicology subsection of the Faculty of 1000 (Biology).