Assessing Risks

Toxicology and risk assessment. A comprehensive introduction

Helmut Greim and Robert Snyder (eds) 

Weinheim, Germany: Wiley VCH 2008 | 698pp | ?75.00 (HB) ISBN 9780470868935 

Reviewed by Joachim Gartzke  

This book is a clear and well-written introduction to chemical toxicology and risk assessment, especially for biochemistry, biology, medicine and chemistry students; toxicologists in hospitals, universities and in industry; 
and technical staff in the areas of occupational and environmental science. 

After some basic introductory chapters the book is divided into sections dealing with the principles in toxicology, organ toxicology, methods in toxicology, risk assessment, risk management, and toxicity of chemicals. 

The chapters on ecotoxicology and biomonitoring could have been written in more detail, for example more on the elimination kinetics of biomarkers, since these areas are essential for purposes of classical/epidemiological evaluation. There could also have been more in-depth discussion of hormesis, analytical methods/principles 
and quality management in toxicology. 

Since occupational toxicology is the main thrust of this book, a glossary of such terms as biomonitoring, external/internal exposure, biological half-life, excretion kinetics etc. would have been useful.  

Overall this book provides a valuable introduction to the principles of hazard identification and risk assessment of toxicants, though, as with most multi-authored books, there is an unevenness of treatment.