Includes bibliographical references and index.

From pretaster to toxicologist -- Death by dose: the most toxic compounds -- The coping body: a myriad of exposures -- Nature knows best: chemicals from the geobiological sphere -- From prevention to precaution: valuing risks -- Molecular trepidations: the linear nonthreshold model -- The policy of truth: anchoring toxicology in regulation -- Knowledge vs. insight -- Toxicology in science and society: future challenges.

Toxicology: What Everyone Should Know is an essential reference for anyone looking for an entry into this fascinating field of study. This innovative book describes important discoveries in toxicology through the ages, explores their historical and sociological impacts, and shows how they still influence recent, state-of-the-art developments. In addition, the book shows how these developments are extrapolated into public and political perceptions on risks and the regulatory consequences, emphasizing environmental issues, such as manmade and natural chemicals, their interaction and impact, nutrition, and drugs. Users will find a cutting-edge approach to nutritional and combinatorial toxicology, risk evaluation modeling and the benefits of chemicals exposure (nutrition versus man-made chemicals), environmental health, and legislative frameworks to control the public's chemical exposure. This is an essential reference for those looking for an introduction to toxicology, its past, and exciting future.--