Molecular, Clinical and Environmental Toxicology (eBook)

Table of Contents 6
List of contributors 8
Preface 11
Toxins from bacteria 14
Introduction 14
Heat-stable enterotoxins 15
Pore forming toxins 16
Superantigens 18
Secretion of toxins from the bacterium 20
References 33
Toxicology of mycotoxins 43
Introduction 43
Effect on humans 47
Effect on animals 53
Mechanisms of toxicity 57
Indoor fungal exposure 68
Combined effects 68
Conclusions 69
References 70
Phycotoxins: chemistry, mechanisms of action and shellfish poisoning 76
Marine biotoxins in a changing environment 76
Chemistry of marine biotoxins 78
Mechanisms of action of phycotoxins 96
Shellfish poisoning 112
Final remarks 118
References 119
Poisonous plants 134
Introduction 134
General categories of plant toxins 162
Incidence of intoxication 163
Plants representative of the various plant toxins 164
Examples of toxic plants with unidentified toxins 179
Diagnosis of intoxication 180
Treatment of intoxication 181
References 182
Toxic plants: a chemist’s perspective 187
Introduction 187
Chemosystematics 189
Chemical synthesis and structural diversity 198
Systems toxicology 207
Concluding remarks 213
References 214
High-molecular weight protein toxins of marine invertebrates and their elaborate modes of action 222
Introduction 222
The pore-forming cytolysins of box jellyfish and sea anemones 224
A membrane disrupting oxidase from the multifunctional ink secretion of sea hares 230
Cytotoxic phospholipases in marine invertebrates 233
A cell-intruding and hepatotoxic DNase from the crown-of-thorns starfish 235
Conclusion 237
References 237
Venomous animals: clinical toxinology 242
Introduction 242
Epidemiology 243
Venomous animals: Taxonomy 244
Venoms: A clinical overview 244
Envenoming: A management overview 250
Specific groups of venomous animals 270
References 290
Mechanistic insights on spider neurotoxins 301
Introduction 301
Widow spiders 303
Funnel-web spiders 309
Conclusion 316
References 317
Analytical toxicology 324
Introduction 324
Biosamples used in analytical toxicology 326
Sample work-up 327
Screening and identification procedures 328
Quantification procedures 331
Quality control 336
Interpretation of the analytical result 336
Conclusions and perspectives 337
References 337
Household chemicals: management of intoxication and antidotes 345
Introduction 345
Detergents 345
Irritants and caustic substances 347
Alcohols and glycols 352
Hydrocarbons 359
Essential oils 363
Cyanoacrylates 364
Batteries 365
Magnets 367
References 367
Heavy metal poisoning: management of intoxication and antidotes 370
Arsenic poisoning 370
Mercury poisoning 375
Thallium poisoning 389
Summary 392
References 393
Drugs and pharmaceuticals: management of intoxication and antidotes 402
Introduction 402
General approach to the poisoned patient 403
Adjuncts to alter toxicant pharmacokinetics 407
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory antidotes 418
Anticholinergic antidotes 420
Anticonvulsant antidotes 421
Antihyperglycemic antidotes 424
Antimicrobial antidotes 428
Antineoplastic antidotes 430
Cardiovascular antidotes 434
Opioid antidotes 443
Sedative-hypnotic antidotes 444
Conclusions 445
References 446
Inhalation toxicology 466
Introduction 466
Air pollutants 467
Airborne chemical exposure 468
Deposition of inhaled chemicals 470
Major responses to inhaled chemicals 472
Setting exposure standards 475
Inhalation toxicology methods 476
Nanotoxicology: An emerging issue of inhalation toxicology 485
Conclusion 487
References 488
Biological testing for drugs of abuse 494
Introduction 494
Testing methods 495
Testing substrates 500
Drugs of abuse 506
Conclusion 517
References 518
Drugs of abuse: management of intoxication and antidotes 523
Introduction 523
Opioids 524
Cocaine 527
Amphetamines 532
Marijuana 534
Phencyclidine 536
References 538
Chemical warfare agents 546
Introduction 546
Nerve agents 547
Vesicants 548
Incapacitating agents 551
Blood agents 552
Lung-damaging agents 554
Riot-control agents 554
Toxins 556
Conclusion 560
References 560
Biological warfare agents 562
Introduction 562
Some historical aspects 562
Handling of BWA 564
Categories of agents 566
Expected impact of biological weapons 568
The most important agents 568
Anthrax letters: A recent example of biological weapons menace 574
Future trends 575
References 576
Forensic toxicology 582
Introduction 582
Applications 583
Specimens and sampling 585
Techniques 589
Screening and confirmation 593
Performance of assays 594
Toxicology testing policies 595
Skills and qualifications 596
Interpretation of toxicology data 597
Artifacts 597
Selected case reports 601
Conclusion 602
References 603
Glossary 607
Index 612