Ecogenetics: Genetic predisposition to toxic effects of chemicals - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0412392909 ISBN 13: 9780412392900

Publisher: Chapman and Hall, 1991

Synopsis

Protection of human health by prevention of environmental hazards has become a major concern in all European countries. This concern is reflected in the regional strategy of Health for All by the Year 2000, as developed in 1984, and in the 1989 European Charter on Environment and Health. However, despite considerable progress, most efforts are related to single sources of exposure and to a small number of 'priority' chemicals. In protecting the population against chemical hazards, attention must also be paid to the fact that subgroups are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of certain chemicals. This hypersusceptibility may be genetically determined. Such individual predisposition to toxic effects must be taken into account in the efforts to prevent adverse effects of environmental exposures to toxic chemicals. To help address these problems the Regional Office, in co-operation with the Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology of the Univer­ sity of Dusseldorf and with financial support from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, organized a consultation in Krefeld in October 1989. The meeting was attended by 17 experts from 12 coun­ tries, three representatives of the host government, two representatives of other organizations and five staff members from the WHO Regional Office for Europe and WHO Headquarters. The list of participants is included as an appendix to the present volume.

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Review

Written and edited by an international team of experts, Ecogenetics is a vital reference source...Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy; The book provides a wealth of data which contain interesting and important information to both the toxicologist and molecular biologist - Chemistry and Industry; ...this is a useful and comprehensive volume...for students or those with broad interests, this volume presents an ideal lead into the diverse areas of ecogenetics... - Animals of Human Biology; For those generally unfamiliar with this field, this is a useful and comprehensive volume - Annals of Human Biology

Synopsis

Human beings vary in their sensitivity to environmental chemicals. Some people are particularly sensitive to certain chemical compounds and may, therefore, develop adverse effects as a result of exposures that are otherwise considered safe. Considerable variation in susceptibility may be determined by inherited patterns of metabolism. Research in several fields is now beginning to uncover the mechanisms and the significance of such inherited hypersusceptibility to environmental chemicals. This evidence will be of crucial importance for successful protection of all individuals against toxic chemicals. This book, which is based on a WHO consultation, provides an overview of current knowledge on genetic predisposition to chemical toxicity. It reviews the experimental, pharmacological, toxicogenetic and epidemiological evidence and considers the implications for preventative action and future research. The important ethical and legal aspects are covered, as is the importance of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of ischaemic heart disease and major types of cancer.

Written and edited by an international team of experts, this book should be a vital reference source for industrial and environmental health officers, health care planners and physicians and researchers in toxicology, pharmacology, genetics, clinical chemistry, epidemiology and occupational health.

Edition details

• Publisher: Chapman and Hall
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0412392909
• ISBN 13: 9780412392900
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 302
• Editor: Grandjean P.