Toxicology, also known as the science of poisons, has a long tradition, although it was not considered an independent discipline until quite recently.
The rise of an independent science of toxicology is a twentieth century phenomenon.
It appears to follow the growth of the chemical industry and the concomitant production of synthetic chemicals, compounds which led to somewhat different types of health problems than were previously faced with natural toxicants.
The toxic effects of a substance on a particular individual depend on both the chemical and the individual. However, the variability in the toxic potential of different compounds greatly exceeds the variability in toxic response from individual to individual.
Exposure assessment / indirect environmental measurement.
Exposure assessment / analysis of exposed population.
The science of toxicology is a biological science and, as such, has to deal with living organisms that are continually changing. Knowledge can contribute to the elimination of adversarial interactions and the beginning of a more enlightened and cooperative era in dealing with toxic chemicals.
A greater awareness of these aspects of toxicology is essential today.
General Abilities
