This activity helps students gain an appreciation for how scientists determine the human health effects of hazardous substances.
Students also demonstrate how hazardous substances can affect the health of test animals.
Some students may object to this on ethical or moral grounds. Background Toxicology is the study of the effects of poisons on living organisms. Scientists conduct a variety of studies to discover toxicological information about hazardous substances. Well-designed, properly controlled epidemiological studies conducted at or near hazardous waste sites can provide information important in making cleanup decisions. On their own, these studies are not always conclusive.