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What is Toxicology?
What is Toxicology?
"Toxicology is a field of science that helps us understand the harmful effects that chemicals, substances, or situations, can have on people, animals, and the environment. Some refer to toxicology as the “Science of Safety” because as a field it has evolved from a science focused on studying poisons and adverse effects of chemical exposures, to a science devoted to studying safety. Toxicology uses the power of science to predict what, and how chemicals may cause harm and then shares that information to protect public health."
-From the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Toxicology Resources
Toxicology Resources
These are the ones you should keep up front.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) characterizes harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and man-made hazardous substances. They have the very awesome sub-sites:
ATSDR Toxicology Profiles - Get the details on all sorts of hazardous substances
ATSDR Toxic Substance Portal - More details based on chemical classification
International Agency on the Research of Cancer (IARC)
International Agency on the Research of Cancer (IARC)
IARC Website: https://www.iarc.fr/
Interested in knowing what is carcinogenic? This agency summarizes levels of evidence into five groups, ranging from "probably not carcinogenic" (group 4) to "carcinogenic to humans" (group 1).
Toxicology Impacts (Why it Matters)
Toxicology Impacts (Why it Matters)
Pollution impacts on health
Pollution impacts on health
Read:
Erickson, B.E. (2019). Linking pollution and infectious disease. Chemical and Engineering News, American Chemical Society, March 18, 2019 (via American Chemical Society)
Secret Life of Fat
Secret Life of Fat
The Secret Life of Fat, with Michele La Merrill. 8 min Podcast
Great for understanding how fat can interact with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to be a target for toxicity
Gardening & Contaminated Soil
Gardening & Contaminated Soil
R Kessler, Urban Gardening: Managing the Risks of Contaminated Soil, 2013.
Read via NIH
Great for the gardeners out there especially when “OK, we’re contaminated, how do we fix it?”
Mixed Metal Exposure in Kids
Mixed Metal Exposure in Kids
Mixed Metals Exposures in Children, with Robert O. Wright. 7 min Podcast
Great for understanding that heavy metals can work in synergy to affect health – and unless you’re measuring them together in a person, you’ll have no idea that the person is risk-exposed
How does it work? More about mechanisms
How does it work? More about mechanisms
A Deeper Look: Dose and Poison
A Deeper Look: Dose and Poison
Watch:
Toxicology & Dose Response (16 min video)
Read:
Frumkin 3rd edition (2016); Chapter 06 - Toxicology, starting on page 123 – Great for a solid understanding of toxicology principles.
Optional Reading:
Frumkin Chapter 08 Exposure Science, Industrial Hygiene, and Exposure Assessment starting on p181 – a lot of this has been on the CPH exams I’ve seen. Reinforces toxicology principles needed when we discuss Risk Assessment.
Grandjean, P. (2016). Paracelsus revisited: the dose concept in a complex world. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology, 119(2), 126-132. (via Google Scholar)
Watch List
Watch List
Keep an eye out for these general classes of chemicals.
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Forever chemicals. Highly soluble in fats.
Includes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (like DDT), PBDEs, and dioxins. Look for benzene ring structures.
Learn more about POPs via EPA
See the "Dirty Dozen" list identified by the Stockholm Convention (2001)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
These also bioaccumulate. One of the earliest was Scotch Guard, which we sprayed on everything. Also, think Teflon.
PFAS found in breast milk.
Review:
2022 ray of light: New way to degrade PFAS!
Learn about PFAS (via ATSDR)
Image via SE Alaska Conservation Council
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Carcinogenic combustion byproducts. They also have a benzene ring structure, so think soluble in fats.
Released via Deepwater Horizon Oil spill in 2010.
Source: Berenshtein I, Paris CB, Perlin N, Alloy MM, Joye SB, Murawski S. Invisible oil beyond the Deepwater Horizon satellite footprint. Science advances. 2020 Feb 1;6(7):eaaw8863.Learn about PAH (via ATSDR)
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)
Think flame retardants. There are more than 200 varieties. They are considered POPs and have ring structures. Since they bioaccumulate, you can expect to find them in tissue.
Sadly, they have already been found in Inuit diets.
Cite: Schæbel LK, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Vestergaard H, Andersen S. The influence of persistent organic pollutants in the traditional Inuit diet on markers of inflammation. PLOS One. 2017 May 19;12(5): e0177781.
Image of bioaccumulation via Wikimedia. Look for increasing concentrations as it makes its way up the food chain.
Persistent Toxic Substances
Persistent Toxic Substances
Similar to POPs, but different:
Like POPs, they can be transported long distances
Like POPs, they can bioaccumulate in organisms and enter the food chain
Not "POPs" – not originally listed in the Stockholm Convention
Typically, PTS include natural and manmade chemicals. They typically don’t have to include phenolic ring structures like the POPs above (organic = ring structure).
Could include: mercury, cadmium, lead, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE – flame retardants), others
Heavy Metals
Heavy Metals
The Oregonian did a feature on heavy metals in Portland. Explore the site. And the original story. Amazingly, they were able to measure via moss.
Lead
Read: Lead FAQ via ATSDR
Or the longer ATSDR Lead Profile
Know lead. Super important.
Image via DC water
Arsenic
Read: Arsenic FAQ via ATSDR
Or the longer ATSDR Arsenic Profile
Also, image above via All about Arsenic
Cadmium
Read: Cadmium FAQ via ATSDR
Or the longer ATSDR Cadmium ProfileUsage trends of cadmium in picture via OSHA
Nickel
Read: Nickel FAQ via ATSDR
Or the longer ATSDR Nickel ProfileImage above via NIOSH's nickel page
What I'm most excited about in environmental toxicology
What I'm most excited about in environmental toxicology
Microbiome as a pollutant metabolizer
Microbiome as a pollutant metabolizer
Claus, S.P., Guillou, H., Ellero-Simatos, S. (2016). The gut microbiota: a major player in the toxicity of environmental pollutants? Nature Biofilms and Microbiomes, 2, 16003. doi:10.1038/npjbiofilms.2016.3
NEW SCIENCE - Fascinating Reading! Full text via Nature
What is the microbiome?
What is the microbiome?
The microbiome describes all of the bacteria that live in our bodies. They influence our decisions, what we eat, and how our bodies process medicine. It sounds like science fiction, but it's new science that is having big implications.
American Museum of Natural History's Health and our Microbiome
and their companion Meet your Microbiome
And remember that whole fungi kingdom? Well, it turns out that they're looking to be involved, too. Keep your eye out for mycobiome research!
Student Recommended Resources
Student Recommended Resources
This Podcast Will Kill You
This Podcast Will Kill You
Toxicology Podcasts from This Podcast Will Kill You
Toxicology Podcasts from This Podcast Will Kill You
Episode 38: Lead poisoning: Heavy metal episode. November 26, 2019. (1:11:59 min)
Episode 22: Belladona will dilate your mind: Crossover w/ IDOP. March 19, 2019. (1:04:43 min)
Inspired Toxicology Infographics
Inspired Toxicology Infographics
Compound Interest
Compound Interest
A high school chemistry teacher in the U.K. amazes me time and time again with his colorful infographics describing important principles in toxicology and chemistry.
Visit Compound Interest
Play
Play
After toxicology week, do you remember how that metal is measured? Take this quick 4 question mix and match about how each metal exposure is measured - https://quizlet.com/join/4vwZqQyEV (Play using the "match" function)
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