Types of Toxicologist: regulatory, food and clinical
This post will describe about three types of toxicologists which are regulatory, food and clinical toxicologist. Basically, these three types of toxicologist are working on the same objective, establishing safety value of toxic substaces exposed to human beings. The only differences are the method and location they are in dedication.
Regulatory Toxicologist
As mentioned already in the name, this type toxicologis use information of toxic substances to establish regulation concerning human health if get exposed by particular substance. So the main work are compiling and evaluating existing of toxic substances. As it has already been stated, main toxicology is to determine safety value in which adverse effect has not been observed. So, maximum concentration set for regulation is one that observed has not caused any adverse effect. There are several variables used for regulating these values and issuing the regulation, they are such as duration of exposure, age, the health of an individual.
These base information are usually used by government agencies such as EPA, OSHA and FDA to establish regulation on their particular subject. For example EPA, once toxix substance has been identified and known for its safety threshold value (NOAEL: No observable adverse effect level), they may issue related regulation for water, surface water or drinking water, chemicals in the air etc which are beyond production, distribution and the use. While on other side, FDA will use the information to set up acceptable level in the workplace, and OSHA regulate the amount of chemical substances in food as well as the production and use of drugs.
Food Toxicologist
This type of toxicologists are involved in supplying safe food to the consumers, that is the key. As we may aware, many additional products are added to our food to produce better taste, shape or even smell. These products are studied and determined value at what quantities they will produce adverse effects.
We eat food that most of them are planted in the food field. As in natural, several toxic substances are present such as lead, cadmium and arsenic and entering our food crop field, thus the toxicologists are concerned to determine the acceptable daily intake levels for these substances. Food toxicologists are also dealt with microorganisms in the food supply and their possible effects.
Clinical Toxicologist
Clinical toxicogists are concerned with diseases and illnesses associated with acute or chronic exposure to toxic chemicals. This type of toxicologist includes a doctor or emergency-rooms physicians. When they are first stage dealing with patient, they ought to be able in identifying symptoms of what toxic substances the patients. Thus, from that information, they can act according to the information they have, suited with the condition of the patient. Why do they have to know the symptomps associated with particular toxic substances? the only answer is to do appropriate treatment for the victims.
Clinical toxiclogists rely on various laboratory tests to identify the causative agent and determine whether the treatment is successful or not. In some extends, clinicila toxiclogists contribute to the development of the treatment methods used for individuals exposed to toxic substances.
