Age and Susceptibility to Toxic Substances

Differential susceptibility to pollutant and drug toxicity is a major area of public health concern today. The US regulatory agencies are well aware of differential susceptibility to toxic substances, and their methodologies for establishing acceptable exposure standards have built-in consideration for the so-called high-risk segments within society. If adverse effects can be prevented from occurring in the high-risk segments, it follows that the general population will also be protected. The causes of differential susceptibility include age, sex, genetic background, nutritional status, the presence of pre- existing diseases, and lifestyle. Previous books by the author have addressed various aspects of these host factors. The present book complements the previous efforts by addressing the age factor in the course of environmental-induced disease.