Types of Toxicologist: forensic and environmental
The post will continue the discussion about the role and type of toxicologyst. Previous post already mention about mechanistic and descriptive toxicology.
Just like any other type of toxicologyst, forensic toxicologysts are involved in providing toxicological information in support of legal activities, criminals, laws. Drug testing and blood alcohol determinations, in support of DUI (driving under the influence) cases, are the areas this type of toxiclogysts are often get involved. More advanced situation, forensic toxicologists are involved in determining whether a toxic chemical played a part in the injury or death of an individual. Thys tupe of work not only requires a knowledge of the effects associated with the parent compound, but it also requires an understanding of how the substances is metabolized and of the toxic effects associated with the metabolites.
Environmental toxicologists are concerned with the interaction between toxic chemicals or substances and the environment, or ecosystem. The three previous type such mechanistic, descriptive and forensic toxicology are used to understand how living things such as plants, animals and humans are affected by exposure to toxic substances. One well known example of environmental toxicology was observed in 1960 when there was a decline in bald eagle population. It was then discovered that the cause was due to the widespread of DDT during World War II. DDT bioaccumulates in the food chain. Pyramid schemes work, when from low organisms such as plankton or larvae, contain DDT, and then they are eaten by higher degree of predator, such as insects, or fish, that eventually fish are eaten by bald eagle.
The position of bald eagle is on top chain. Thus the concentration was found to be the highest as a result of bioaccumulation of DDT in fish. The direct effect of DDT was on the eggshell of the eagle. DDT correlated with a decreasi in the thickness of the eggshell resulting in eggs that broke more readily during incubation. DDT interacts with an enzyme involved with calcium deposition in the eggshell. As a result, the eggshell was thinner, more fragile, and easier to break. Because of that, DDT was banned of the use in US. 20 years later, the bald eagle population has rebounded.
