About this item
Traditional toxicology textbooks tend to be doorstops: tomes filled with important but seemingly abstract chemistry and biology. Meanwhile, magazine and journal articles introduce students to timely topics such as BPA and endocrine disruption or the carcinogenic effects of pesticides, but dont provide the fundamentals needed to understand the science of toxicity. Written by a longtime professor of toxicology, Modern Poisons bridges this gap.. This accessible book explains basic principles in plain language while illuminating the most important issues in contemporary toxicology. Kolok begins by exploring age-old precepts of the field such as the dose-response relationship and the concept, first introduced by Ambroise Paré in the sixteenth century, that a chemicals particular action depends on its inherent chemical nature. The author goes on to show exactly how chemicals enter the body and elicit their toxic effect, as well as the bodys methods of defense.. With the fundamentals established, Kolok digs into advances in toxicology, tracing the fields development from World War II to the present day. The book examines both technical discoveries and their impacts on public policy. Highlights include studies of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in toiletries and prescriptions, the emerging science on prions, and our growing understanding of epigenetics.. Readers learn not only how toxic exposure affects people and wildlife, but about the long-term social and environmental consequences of our chemicals. Whether studying toxicology itself, public health, or environmental science, readers will develop a core understanding of - and curiosity about - this fast-changing field.
About the Author
Alan S. Kolok has always loved the natural sciences. From his childhood fishing and exploring, to his academic career as a environmental scientist, he has always been fascinated with the natural world and its interplay with the human condition. His first book, "Modern Poisons," explored the world of Toxicology, and how chemicals, released into the environment, are acting in unusual and unexpected ways. His research on prions for the book so piqued his interest that he wrote a hard science fiction novel about it, "Twist". Kolok continues to write books that cover the area between science related non-fiction for the lay audience, and hard science fiction.
