Provides consultation to other state and federal agencies, local health agencies, private health care providers and other on the design of new or emerging disease detection, prevention, and control programs. Employes in this allocation design and conduct toxicological studies for chemical-induced injuries or illnesses that are of public health concern. Toxicologists review the occurrence of and potential for human exposure to chemicals, and study and describe the resultant or potential risks. Toxicologists review chemical exposure data from environmental, residential or occupational settings to assess risk to human health, and perform multimedia exposure modeling. Responsibilities include investigating and characterizing human injuries and illnesses that result from exposure to toxic chemicals, formulating recommendations on safe levels of human exposure to harmful chemicals, and conducting statewide toxicologic surveillance activities relating to health outcomes and chemical exposure.
Work is performed under general supervision.
Advanced principles of toxicology, human pathology, physiologic and environmental chemistry, biostatistics, risk assessment, and public health have been learned prior to entrance into this classification. Advanced principles of toxicology include physiologically based pharmacokinetics, tissue dosimetry, molecular mechanisms of toxicity, and evaluation of human biomarkers of exposure. These positions also prepare risk assessments to support and evaluate regulatory programs administered by other departments, such as Natural Resources and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. In addition, they prepare detailed scientific, toxicological reports and back ground document that summarize their major findings and recommendations. Serves as Lead Toxicologist Consultant on epidemiological investigations of chemically induced human illness, including exposure assessment, dose vs. response analysis, and risk characterization.