Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
Environmental toxicology deals with the effects of environmental toxicants on
health and the environment. Environmental toxicants are agents released into
the general environment that can cause adverse effects on the health of living
organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. The study of environmental
toxicology stems from the recognition that (a) human survival depends on the
well-being of other species and on the availability of clean air, water, and food;
and (b) anthropogenic chemicals as well as naturally occurring chemicals can
cause detrimental effects on living organisms and ecological processes. The
study of environmental toxicology is thus concerned with how environmental
toxicants, through their interaction with humans, animals, and plants,
influence the health and welfare of these organisms.
1.2 WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENT IN RECENT DECADES
Enormous industrial and economic development has taken place since World
War II. An example of such development is related to the chemicals industry,
leading to the manufacture of a large number of chemical products. A
worldwide use of many of these products, particularly fertilizers (Figure 1.1),
insecticides, and herbicides then followed. This, together with the development
of new high-yield grains, led to dramatic increases in world food production.
Many food-deficient countries, including China and India, became capable of
producing sufficient quantities of grain food to meet their domestic needs.
Several traditionally food-importing countries even became food exporters.
This remarkable achievement is widely known as the Green Revolution. Dr.
Norman Borlaug, recognized by many as the Father of the Green Revolution,
received a Nobel Prize in 1972 for his contribution to world grain production.
The dramatic increase in food production, coupled with technological
advancement and rise in industrial output, led to an overall global economic
expansion. Significant increases in gross national product (GNP) were
witnessed in many countries. These developments, concomitant with improved
medicine and medical science and technology, helped improve general public
health. For example, life expectancy and infant mortality, which are measures
often used to gauge the overall health of a population, have improved. Over the
past 50 years, overall mortality has declined substantially among Americans of
all ages. In 2001, life expectancy at birth for the total population reached a
[16:55 26/8/04 P:/CRC PRESS/4365 MING-HO.751 (1670)/4365-001.3d]
Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-001 Page: 1 1-12
1
Introduction
1.1 STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
Environmental toxicology deals with the effects of environmental toxicants on
health and the environment. Environmental toxicants are agents released into
the general environment that can cause adverse effects on the health of living
organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. The study of environmental
toxicology stems from the recognition that (a) human survival depends on the
well-being of other species and on the availability of clean air, water, and food;
and (b) anthropogenic chemicals as well as naturally occurring chemicals can
cause detrimental effects on living organisms and ecological processes. The
study of environmental toxicology is thus concerned with how environmental
toxicants, through their interaction with humans, animals, and plants,
influence the health and welfare of these organisms.
1.2 WORLDWIDE DEVELOPMENT IN RECENT DECADES
Enormous industrial and economic development has taken place since World
War II. An example of such development is related to the chemicals industry,
leading to the manufacture of a large number of chemical products. A
worldwide use of many of these products, particularly fertilizers (Figure 1.1),
insecticides, and herbicides then followed. This, together with the development
of new high-yield grains, led to dramatic increases in world food production.
Many food-deficient countries, including China and India, became capable of
producing sufficient quantities of grain food to meet their domestic needs.
Several traditionally food-importing countries even became food exporters.
This remarkable achievement is widely known as the Green Revolution. Dr.
Norman Borlaug, recognized by many as the Father of the Green Revolution,
received a Nobel Prize in 1972 for his contribution to world grain production.
The dramatic increase in food production, coupled with technological
advancement and rise in industrial output, led to an overall global economic
expansion. Significant increases in gross national product (GNP) were
witnessed in many countries. These developments, concomitant with improved
medicine and medical science and technology, helped improve general public
health. For example, life expectancy and infant mortality, which are measures
often used to gauge the overall health of a population, have improved. Over the
past 50 years, overall mortality has declined substantially among Americans of
all ages. In 2001, life expectancy at birth for the total population reached a
[16:55 26/8/04 P:/CRC PRESS/4365 MING-HO.751 (1670)/4365-001.3d]
Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-001 Page: 1 1-12
1