Biomonitoring—a method for measuring amounts of toxic chemicals in human tissues—is a valuable tool for studying potentially harmful environmental chemicals. Biomonitoring data have been used to confirm exposures to chemicals and validate public health policies. For example, population biomonitoring data showing high blood lead concentrations resulted in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory reduction of lead in gasoline; biomonitoring data confirmed a resultant drop in blood lead concentrations. Despite recent advances, the science needed to understand the implications of the biomonitoring data for human health is still in its nascent stages. Use of the data also raises communication and ethical challenges. In response to a congressional request, EPA asked the National Research Council to address those challenges in an independent study. Human Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals provides a framework for improving the use of biomonitoring data including developing and using biomarkers (measures of exposure), research to improve the interpretation of data, ways to communicate findings to the public, and a review of ethical issues.

Many previous studies and books have been dedicated to fundamental and developmental aspects of biomarkers. The purpose of this book is to provide, through various case studies, an overview of the practical use of biological markers in marine animals to evaluate the health effects of environmental contamination in marine ecosystems. More precisely, the book presents the results obtained during the development and application of biological markers as indicators of exposure/effect to toxic chemicals in marine environments, using diverse sentinel species such as fish, bivalves and crustaceans. An important aspect is also the publication of technical annexes that describe in detail the experimental procedures developed for both chemical and biochemical measurement.

Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants represents the state-of-the-art in environmental forensics in relation to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The book is a complete reference for practitioners and students, covering a range of topics from new analytical techniques to regulatory and legal status in the global community. Through case studies from leading international experts, real-world issues — including the allocation of responsibility for release into the environment — are resolved through the application of advanced analytical and scientific techniques. This book introduces and assesses the development of new techniques and technologies to trace the source and fate of newly emerging and classic POPs (perfluoroalkyl substances, brominated flame retardants, organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls) in environmental media, including atmospheric, marine, freshwater, and urban environments. - Real-world case studies show the application of advanced analytical and scientific techniques - Discussion of GC*GC provides an introduction and assessment of a novel technique from leaders in the field - Introduces the development of new analytical techniques (such as 2-D GC*HC and LC*LC) to trace the source and fate - Raises awareness about the health and environmental impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) - Outlines the development of international measures to control POPs so that chemists can understand the legal issues

The aim of this book is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the use of bioindicators both in assessing environmental quality and as a means of support in environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures.

This book will be written by experts for professionals, scientists and all those involved in toxicological data generation and decision-making. It is the updated and expanded version of a monograph published in German in 2004. Chemical safety is regulated on various levels including production, storage, transport, handling, disposal or labelling. This book deals comprehensively with the safety-ensuring methods and concepts employed by regulatory agencies, industry and academics. Toxicologists use experimental and scientific approaches for data collection, e.g. about chemical hazards, physicochemical features or toxicokinetics. The respective experimental methods are described in the book. Toxicologists also deal with much insecurity in the exposure and effect scenarios during risk assessment. To overcome these, they have different extrapolation methods and estimation procedures at their disposal. The book describes these methods in an accessible manner. Differing concepts from one regulation area to another are also covered. Reasons and consequences become evident when reading the book. Altogether, the book Regulatory Toxicology will serve as an excellent reference.

Table of contents

Volume 17, entitled Lead: Its Effects on Environment and Health of the series Metal Ions in Life Sciences centers on the interrelations between biosystems and lead. The book provides an up-to-date review of the bioinorganic chemistry of this metal and its ions; it covers the biogeochemistry of lead, its use (not only as gasoline additive) and anthropogenic release into the environment, its cycling and speciation in the atmosphere, in waters, soils, and sediments, and also in mammalian organs. The analytical tools to determine and to quantify this toxic element in blood, saliva, urine, hair, etc. are described. The properties of lead(II) complexes formed with amino acids, peptides, proteins (including metallothioneins), nucleobases, nucleotides, nucleic acids, and other ligands of biological relevance are summarized for the solid state and for aqueous solutions as well. All this is important for obtaining a coherent picture on the properties of lead, its effects on plants and toxic actions on mammalian organs. This and more is treated in an authoritative and timely manner in the 16 stimulating chapters of Volume 17, which are written by 36 internationally recognized experts from 13 nations. The impact of this recently again vibrant research area is manifested in nearly 2000 references, over 50 tables and more than 100 illustrations (half in color). Lead: Its Effects on Environment and Health is an essential resource for scientists working in the wide range from material sciences, inorganic biochemistry all the way through to medicine including the clinic ... not forgetting that it also provides excellent information for teaching.

Biomarkers in Environmental and Human Health Biomonitoring: An Integrated Perspective provides a holistic view of the biomonitoring of environmental degradation, accumulated toxicity, and associated human health concerns. The book incorporates theoretical and practical aspects of the biomonitoring of environmental pollution and the health surveillance of ecological communities using samples from living organisms which are analyzed for contaminants and toxin levels. In the first half, the book provides a general overview if the different types of biomarkers, their significance as bioindicators for contaminants and detection of toxicity, as well as how they can be utilized in the restoration of degraded ecosystems. The second half of the book discusses molecular biomarkers and how they are used as diagnostic and prognostic tools for pollution monitoring. It also reviews analytical tools used to validate the biomarkers in the detection and monitoring of pollution and disease. Finally, the book delves into how novel approaches like genetic ecotoxicology; Big Data, and artificial intelligence calculates the potential consequences of environmental pollution on the ecosystems and on human health. - Covers the fundamentals, types, significance, and limitations of biomarkers - Examines various types of plants, animals, and secondary metabolites in identifying and monitoring toxicity in different ecosystems and potential impacts on health - Reviews biomarker-based and bioinformatic tools in the detection and monitoring of environmental pollution and associated human health

The tropical zone contains the highest diversity of fish species on the planet. Many of these species are being continuously exposed to pollutants that pose serious hazards to fish health thereby posing serious risks for entire fish populations. This book presents information about the different responses of fish to pollutants from the molecular le

Public health officials have the traditional responsibilities of protecting the food supply, safeguarding against communicable disease, and ensuring safe and healthful conditions for the population. Beyond this, public health today is challenged in a way that it has never been before. Starting with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, public health officers have had to spend significant amounts of time addressing the threat of terrorism to human health. Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented disaster for the United States. During the first weeks, the enormity of the event and the sheer response needs for public health became apparent. The tragic loss of human life overshadowed the ongoing social and economic disruption in a region that was already economically depressed. Hurricane Katrina reemphasized to the public and to policy makers the importance of addressing long-term needs after a disaster. On October 20, 2005, the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine held a workshop which convened members of the scientific community to highlight the status of the recovery effort, consider the ongoing challenges in the midst of a disaster, and facilitate scientific dialogue about the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on people's health. Environmental Public Health Impacts of Disasters: Hurricane Katrina is the summary of this workshop. This report will inform the public health, first responder, and scientific communities on how the affected community can be helped in both the midterm and the near future. In addition, the report can provide guidance on how to use the information gathered about environmental health during a disaster to prepare for future events.