A Taste for Poisons

Everything we eat, drink and breathe comprises chemicals, both natural and synthetic. How do we navigate this? The first principle of toxicology is that every chemical is toxic if the dose and duration of exposure is high enough. This book sets out assessments of situations when human and animal health is affected by drugs, biocides, food additives and cosmetics, based on the author's work as a toxicologist. Key Features - The term toxic evokes mixture of worry and confusion and this book sets the criteria for the effects of exposure to chemicals in everyday life, including drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. - Empowers readers to understand their personal risk of the uses and abuses of chemical uses. - Describes in detail various chemical incidents and their aftermath. - Explores relationships between scientists and politicians in protecting health. - The Author's experience is unique, and he has been researching the effects of toxic chemicals on health for many years.

James Bridges, Emeritus Professor of Toxicology and Environmental Health, University of Surrey BSc in Chemistry and Physiology, PhD in Drug Metabolism and Analytical Chemistry, DSc in Toxicology and Analytical Chemistry, Hon DSc in Environmental Health Fellowships of British Toxicology Society, EUROTOX, Occupational Medicine, Veterinary Science. Published over 500 scientific articles, mostly in European Journals of Toxicology, latest 2024. Chair of EU Health Advisory Committees for seventeen years.

About The Author. Chapter 1: A Life With Chemicals. Chapter 2: Progress In Poisoning (70,000BC-1960 AD). Chapter 3: A Balancing Act. Chapter 4: Destined To Be Toxic?. Chapter 5: Life Depends On Bugs. Chapter 6: A Lot To Digest. Chapter 7: Keeping Up Appearances. Chapter 8: Incidents Will Happen. Chapter 9: Nothing To Do With Me. Chapter 10: Antidotes. Index.