The present book discusses basics of toxicology, briefly touching the sources of toxic compounds, classification of toxicants, factors affecting toxicity, and elaborates on heavy metal toxicity.

Pankaj Gupta, a Faculty Member in the School of Environmental Studies, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, completed his doctorate in Life Sciences at the Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University. He has completed more than 12 research projects and eight consultancies. He is a Consultant of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. for conducting Environment & Social Impact Assessment Studies and baseline studies. Dr. Gupta is a member of various academic and professional bodies: he is a Life Member, Society for Environment and Development; Member, Ethnobotanical Society, Lucknow; and Member, International Society for Ethnopharmacology. He contributed to the design of the Course Curriculum for the M.Sc. (Environment Science). He is a content writer of IGNOU for various units of learning material of M.Sc. (Environmental Sciences). He has published more than 20 books, and more than 45 research papers in journals of repute besides 23 chapters in various national and international books.

Amit Chanjta, Gold Medalist in M.Sc. Environmental Sciences, has worked on the Community-Biodiversity Inventory for developing a database of Bioresources and Ethno-Medicinal Wisdom of Communities Living around the Sacred Groves of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He is working as a Project Fellow in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He has worked in various assignments for the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd., Tribal Development Department, and NABARD. He has actively participated in various conferences and presented his research papers. He has published his work in journals of repute.

Yogesh Mehta, M.Sc. Environmental Sciences, has worked on Traditional Natural Resource Management practices among the mountain communities of Shimla district. He works as a Project Fellow in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He has worked on diverse themes pertaining to the environment and social impact assessment and impact analysis of government-funded projects, such as HPPCL, Tribal Development Department, and NABARD. He has presented papers in various conferences and published his work in reputable journals.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Fact File

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Historical Background

1.3 Sub-Disciplines of Toxicology

1.4 Relationship with Other Disciplines

1.5 Scope of Toxicology

Chapter 2 Basics of Eco-Toxicology

Fact File

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Sources of Toxic Compounds

2.3 Classification of Toxicants

2.4 Types of Toxicity

2.5 Factors Affecting Toxicity

2.6 Dose-Response Relationship

2.7 Environmental Persistence

2.8 Toxicity Testing

Chapter 3 Heavy Metal Toxicity: An Overview

Fact File

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Sources of HMs

3.3 Basic Mechanism of Heavy Metal Contamination

3.4 Thermodynamics of HMs

3.5 HM Toxicity

Chapter 4 Heavy Metal Toxicity: Lead

Fact File

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Sources and Route of Exposure

4.3 Aetiology

4.4 Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

4.5 Mechanism of Lead Toxicity

4.6 Toxicological Effects of Lead

4.7 Diagnosis

4.8 Treatment and Management of Lead Poisoning

4.9 Impact of Lead on the Environment

Chapter 5 Heavy Metal Toxicity: Arsenic

Fact File

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Sources and Routes of Exposure

5.3 Aetiology

5.4 Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

5.5 Mechanism of Arsenic Toxicity

5.6 Toxicological Effects of Arsenic

5.7 Diagnosis

5.8 Impact of Arsenic on the Environment

Chapter 6 Heavy Metal Toxicity: Chromium

Fact File

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Sources and Routes of Exposure

6.3 Aetiology

6.4 Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

6.5 Mechanism of Chromium Toxicity

6.6 Toxicological Effects of Chromium

6.7 Diagnosis

6.8 Treatment and Management of Chromium Poisoning

6.8 Impact of Chromium on the Environment

Chapter 7 Heavy Metal Toxicity: Mercury

Fact File

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Sources and Routes of Exposure

7.3 Aetiology

7.4 Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

7.5 Mechanisms of Mercury Toxicity

7.6 Toxicological Effects of Mercury

7.7 Diagnosis

7.8 Treatment and Management of Mercury Poisoning

7.9 Impact of Mercury on the Environment

Chapter 8 Heavy Metal Toxicity: Cadmium

Fact File

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Sources and Routes of Exposure

8.3 Aetiology

8.4 Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

8.5 Mechanisms of Cadmium Toxicity

8.6 Diagnosis

8.7 Treatment and Management

8.9 Impact of Cadmium on the Environment

Chapter 9 Radioactive Metals and Radiation Toxicity

Fact File

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Radioactive Elements

9.3 Sources of Radioactive Metals

9.4 Routes of Exposure of Radioactive Metals

9.5 Aetiology

9.6 Nuclear Disasters in History

9.7 Pathophysiological and Clinical Manifestations

9.8 Mechanisms of Toxicity

9.9 Diagnosis

9.10 Treatment and Management of Radioactive Metal Poisoning

9.11 Toxicological Effects of Radioactive Metals on the Environment

Chapter 10 Pesticide Toxicity

Fact File

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Classification

10.3 Toxicity of Pesticides

10.4 Impacts of Pesticides on the Environment

10.5 Diagnosing and Treating Pesticide Poisoning

10.6 Managing Pesticides

Chapter 11 Recent Advances in Remediation of Heavy Metals

Fact File

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Types of Physico-Chemical Remediation Methods

11.3 Chemical Precipitation

11.4 Nanotechnology in the Removal of HMs

11.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Physico-Chemical Methods

Chapter 12 Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

Fact File

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Microbes Used in Bioremediation

12.3 Bioremediation Techniques

12.4 In-situ Bioremediation Techniques

12.5 Advantages and Disadvantages

12.6 Applications of Bioremediation

Chapter 13 Recent Advances in Eco-Toxicology

Fact File

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)

13.3 X- Ray Fluorescence

13.4 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

13.5 Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)

13.6 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

13.7 Green Initiatives for Environment Management