The triple threat of modern toxicology—the global spread of chemicals, the increase in chemical diversity, and the complications presented by enduring toxic responses—requires an understanding of basic toxicology concepts as well as contemporary issues. Written by longtime professor of toxicology Alan Kolok, Modern Poisons explains basic toxicology principles in plain language while illuminating timely topics such as BPA and the carcinogenic effects of pesticides. Highlights include studies of toxic chemicals in toiletries and prescriptions, the toxicology of drug addiction and dependency, and the emerging science on prions, which are known to cause a number of degenerative brain diseases. For scientists, students, and interested layman alike, Modern Poisons offers a core understanding of—and curiosity about—this fast-changing field. Check out an excerpt of the book below.
Alan Kolok is Isaacson Professor of Research, Director of the Center for Environmental Health and Toxicology in the UNMC College of Public Health, and Director of the Nebraska Watershed Network at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is also the author of Modern Poisons.