Open AccessForeword
Author(s) -
McClellan Roger O.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
current protocols in toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.449
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1934-9262
pISSN - 1934-9254
DOI - 10.1002/0471140856.txfores00
Subject(s) - harm , risk analysis (engineering) , computer science , human health , sociology of scientific knowledge , stressor , data science , management science , engineering ethics , business , psychology , medicine , engineering , sociology , neuroscience , environmental health , social psychology , social science
Toxicological research is driven by the need to understand and assess the human and ecological risks of exposure to chemicals and other toxicants as well as by interest in using toxic agents to elucidate basic biological and pathobiological processes. The level of research activity in this field is higher, the rate of change in knowledge more rapid, and interest in applying scientific information to societally important issues is greater than ever before. These are exciting and challenging times to be working in toxicology. The ongoing ferment builds on the extraordinary advances being made in the understanding of biological systems at the molecular level. This fundamental knowledge provides the opportunity for greatly enhanced insight into how chemicals and other stressors may damage biological structures and processes, influence the rate of biological repair, and lead to reversible or irreversible diseases or to a return to health.