Environmental Toxicology

Eco-toxicology, an offshoot of toxicology, is a multidisciplinary science that integrates toxicology and ecology by drawing knowledge and procedures from both fields. It analyses the effects of toxic chemicals or biological agents on living organisms at different levels of organization. Eco-toxicology classifies different contaminants, their characteristics, release and ecological fate, and predicts their effects so that timely action can be taken to prevent or minimize any detrimental effects.

Environmental Toxicology starts with the basics of toxicology, briefly touching on the sources of toxic compounds, classification of toxicants, and factors affecting toxicity, and then elaborates on heavy metal toxicity. The individual chapters on various heavy metals and radioactive metals discuss the sources and routes of exposure, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and mechanisms of toxicity, toxicological effects, diagnosis, treatment, management, and ecological impact. The book covers the field in its greatest width and provides an insight into pesticide and radiation toxicity, and recent advances in eco-toxicology, with special focus on the removal of HMs and the latest bioremediation techniques.

This book serves as a reference work for advanced students pursuing degrees in environmental toxicology and across various disciplines, such as biomedical and environmental sciences, toxicology, eco-toxicology, pharmacology, public health, etc. and all interested in learning the concepts of eco-toxicology.

Features:

• A systematic overview of the key concepts of eco-toxicology, its relationship with other disciplines, and recent advances in the area
• Detailed classification of toxicants, types of toxicity, and mechanism of the action of toxicants
• An in-depth coverage of topics on the mechanism toxicity of HMs, in addition to exclusive sections on pesticide and radiation toxicity
• A fact file in each chapter, highlighting its key points
  
• Flow charts, tables, diagrams, and illustrations in easily understandable language

Dr. Pankaj Gupta, a Faculty Member in the School of Environmental Studies, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, has completed his doctorate in Life Sciences from the Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University. He has completed more than twelve research projects and eight consultancies. He is a Consultant of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. for conducting Environment & Social Impact Assessment Studies and baseline studies. He is also an empaneled Consultant of NABARD. Dr. Gupta is a member of various academic and professional bodies, viz., Life Member, Society for Environment and Development; Member, Ethnobotanical Society, Lucknow and Member, International Society for Ethnopharmacology. He is associated with the designing of Course Curriculum for M. Sc. (Environment Science). He is a content writer of IGNOU for various units of learning material of M.Sc. (Environmental Sciences). He has published more than twenty books, and more than 45 research papers in journals of repute besides 23 chapters in various national and international books.

Amit Chanjta, Gold Medalist in M.Sc. Environmental Sciences has worked on Community-Biodiversity Inventory for developing a database of Bioresources and Ethno-Medicinal Wisdom of Communities Living around the Sacred Groves of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He is working as a Project Fellow in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He has worked in various assignments of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, Ltd., Tribal Development Department and NABARD. He has actively participated in various conferences and presented his research papers. He has published his work in journals of repute.

Yogesh Mehta, M.Sc. Environmental Sciences has worked on Traditional Natural Resource Management practices among the mountain communities of Shimla district. He is working as a Project Fellow in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He has worked on diverse themes pertaining to environment and social impact assessment and impact analysis of government funded projects, viz. HPPCL, Tribal Development Department and NABARD. He has presented papers in various conferences and published his work in reputed journals.