Occupational toxicology is the application of toxicology to chemical hazards in the workplace.   Background As of 1983, around 60,000 chemical compounds were considered to be of occupational consequence. Certain sectors have increased potential for exposure to chemical and biological agents, These include manufacturing, construction, mining, logging, and agriculture, as well as service sector workplaces such as in automobile repair, gasoline stations, pipelines, truck and rail transportation, waste management and remediation, and botanical gardens. Toxicological studies are experimental laboratory studies on the response of organisms and biological pathways to a substance, and can generate data about toxicants that are used for other occupational safety and health activities. Occupational toxicology is complimentary to occupational epidemiology, to a greater degree than toxicology and epidemiology in general. For example, outbreaks identified through epidemiological studies such as exposure assessment case studies or workplace health surveillance may inspire toxicological study of suspected or confirmed causative agents. Conversely, the results of toxicological investigation are important in establishing biomakers for workplace health surveillance to identify overexposure and to test the validity of occupational exposure limits. These biomarkers are intended to aid in prevention by identifying early adverse affects, unlike diagnostics for clinical medicine that are designed to reveal advanced pathologic states. Methods Occupational toxicology uses methods common to other forms of toxicology. Animal testing is used to identify adverse effects and establish acceptable exposure levels, as well as studying the mechanism of action and dose–response relationship. There are a number of in vitro alternatives to animal testing in a number of specific cases such as predicting skin sensitizers and potential for eye injuries, as well as quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Sometimes, controlled human challenge studies are performed in cases where the risk for volunteers is negligible; these are used to verify whether results from animal studies translate to humans. Many types of measurements may be made in occupational toxicology. These include external measurements of exposure, the internal dose measured via tissues and bodily fluids, the "biologically effective dose" measuring the compound that has actually interacted with host biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, and measuring downstream effects of mutations, cytogenetic effects, and aberrant gene expression. Experimentation may focus on the operation and regulation of biotransformation processes that may detoxify or activate toxins. These processes are subject to difference between individuals, which is studied through the field of toxicogenomics. Challenges Occupational toxicology has the challenge of performing studies that mimic actual workplace conditions, for which inhalation exposure and dermal exposure are most important, although in medical industries, injection exposure through needlestick injuries is a hazard. In particular, experimental inhalation exposure studies require more complex methodology and equipment than for oral administration experiments. For example, measurement and control of particle size distribution is important, and the degree and location of particle retention within the respiratory tract. Some inhalation exposure administration methods include intratracheal instillation and pharyngeal aspiration. Inhalation and injection exposure are often more dangerous than dermal exposure, where a major function of skin is to provide a barrier to outside toxins, and ingestion exposure, where toxins may be broken down by the gastrointestinal tract and liver. While the dose of a toxicant is a strong predictor of health outcomes, occupational diseases are often influenced or confounded by other environmental factors, or personal host factors such as preexisting health conditions, host genetics, or patters or worker behavior. These affect the relationship between the concentration, duration, and frequency of the exposure, and the actual toxicant dose that reaches a target tissue and interacts with metabolic processes. For example, the ultimate dose from inhalation exposure depends on respiratory rate and breathing volume, and the dose from dermal exposure depends on the absorption rate through the skin, which is influenced by the chemical properties of the chemical, the thickness of the skin at the exposed location on the body, and whether the skin is intact    .
Occupational toxicology is the application of toxicology to chemical hazards in the workplace. It focuses on substances and conditions that occur in workplaces, where inhalation exposure and dermal exposure are most important, there is often exposure to mixtures of chemicals whose interactions are complex, health effects are influenced or confounded by other environmental and individual factors, and there is a focus on identifying early adverse affects that are more subtle than those presented in clinical medicine. Occupational toxicology interfaces heavily with other subfields of occupational safety and health. Occupational epidemiology studies may inspire toxicological study of causative agents, and toxicological investigation are important in establishing biomarkers for workplace health surveillance. Occupational toxicology studies may also suggest or evaluate hazard controls used by industrial hygienists. Toxicological studies are also an important input for performing occupational risk assessment, and establishing standards and regulation such as occupational exposure limits. Background As of 1983, around 60,000 chemical compounds were considered to be of occupational consequence. Certain sectors have increased potential for exposure to chemical and biological agents, These include manufacturing, construction, mining, logging, and agriculture, as well as service sector workplaces such as in automobile repair, gasoline stations, pipelines, truck and rail transportation, waste management and remediation, and botanical gardens. Toxicological studies are experimental laboratory studies on the response of organisms and biological pathways to a substance, and can generate data about toxicants that are used for other occupational safety and health activities. Occupational toxicology is complimentary to occupational epidemiology, to a greater degree than toxicology and epidemiology in general. For example, outbreaks identified through epidemiological studies such as exposure assessment case studies or workplace health surveillance may inspire toxicological study of suspected or confirmed causative agents. Conversely, the results of toxicological investigation are important in establishing biomrakers for workplace health surveillance to identify overexposure and to test the validity of occupational exposure limits. These biomarkers are intended to aid in prevention by identifying early adverse affects, unlike diagnostics for clinical medicine that are designed to reveal advanced pathologic states. Challenges Occupational toxicology has the challenge of performing studies that mimic actual workplace conditions, for which inhalation exposure and dermal exposure are most important, although in medical industries, injection exposure through needlestick injuries is a hazard. In particular, experimental inhalation exposure studies require more complex methodology and equipment than for oral administration experiments. For example, measurement and control of particle size distribution is important, and the degree and location of particle retention within the respiratory tract. Inhalation and injection exposure are often more dangerous than dermal exposure, where a major function of skin is to provide a barrier to outside toxins, and ingestion exposure, where toxins may be broken down by the gastrointestinal tract and liver. While the dose of a toxicant is a strong predictor of health outcomes, occupational diseases are often influenced or confounded by other environmental factors, or personal host factors such as preexisting health conditions, host genetics, or patters or worker behavior. These affect the relationship between the concentration, duration, and frequency of the exposure, and the actual toxicant dose that reaches a target tissue and interacts with metabolic processes. For example, the ultimate dose from inhalation exposure depends on respiratory rate and breathing volume, and the dose from dermal exposure depends on the absorption rate through the skin, which is influenced by the chemical properties of the chemical, the thickness of the skin at the exposed location on the body, and whether the skin is intact . Methods Occupational toxicology uses methods common to other forms of toxicology. Animal testing is used to identify adverse effects and establish acceptable exposure levels, as well as studying the mechanism of action and dose–response relationship. There are a number of in vitro alternatives to animal testing in a number of specific cases such as predicting skin sensitizers and potential for eye injuries, as well as quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Sometimes, controlled human challenge studies are performed in cases where the risk for volunteers is negligible; these are used to verify whether results from animal studies translate to humans. Many types of measurements may be made in occupational toxicology. These include external measurements of exposure, the internal dose measured via tissues and bodily fluids, the "biologically effective dose" measuring the compound that has actually interacted with host biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, and measuring downstream effects of mutations, cytogenetic effects, and aberrant gene expression. Experimentation may focus on the operation and regulation of biotransformation processes that may detoxify or activate toxins. These processes are subject to difference between individuals, which is studied through the field of toxicogenomics .
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It focuses on substances and conditions that occur in workplaces, where inhalation exposure and dermal exposure are most important, there is often exposure to mixtures of chemicals whose interactions are complex, health effects are influenced or confounded by other environmental and individual factors, and there is a focus on identifying early adverse affects that are more subtle than those presented in clinical medicine.
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Occupational toxicology interfaces heavily with other subfields of occupational safety and health. Occupational epidemiology studies may inspire toxicological study of causative agents, and toxicological investigation are important in establishing biomarkers for workplace health surveillance. Occupational toxicology studies may also suggest or evaluate hazard controls used by industrial hygienists. Toxicological studies are also an important input for performing occupational risk assessment, and establishing standards and regulation such as occupational exposure limits.
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biomakers
biomrakers
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Methods Occupational toxicology uses methods common to other forms of toxicology. Animal testing is used to identify adverse effects and establish acceptable exposure levels, as well as studying the mechanism of action and dose–response relationship. There are a number of in vitro alternatives to animal testing in a number of specific cases such as predicting skin sensitizers and potential for eye injuries, as well as quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Sometimes, controlled human challenge studies are performed in cases where the risk for volunteers is negligible; these are used to verify whether results from animal studies translate to humans.
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Many types of measurements may be made in occupational toxicology. These include external measurements of exposure, the internal dose measured via tissues and bodily fluids, the "biologically effective dose" measuring the compound that has actually interacted with host biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, and measuring downstream effects of mutations, cytogenetic effects, and aberrant gene expression. Experimentation may focus on the operation and regulation of biotransformation processes that may detoxify or activate toxins. These processes are subject to difference between individuals, which is studied through the field of toxicogenomics.
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Some inhalation exposure administration methods include intratracheal instillation and pharyngeal aspiration.
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Methods Occupational toxicology uses methods common to other forms of toxicology. Animal testing is used to identify adverse effects and establish acceptable exposure levels, as well as studying the mechanism of action and dose–response relationship. There are a number of in vitro alternatives to animal testing in a number of specific cases such as predicting skin sensitizers and potential for eye injuries, as well as quantitative structure–activity relationship models. Sometimes, controlled human challenge studies are performed in cases where the risk for volunteers is negligible; these are used to verify whether results from animal studies translate to humans.
A
Many types of measurements may be made in occupational toxicology. These include external measurements of exposure, the internal dose measured via tissues and bodily fluids, the "biologically effective dose" measuring the compound that has actually interacted with host biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, and measuring downstream effects of mutations, cytogenetic effects, and aberrant gene expression. Experimentation may focus on the operation and regulation of biotransformation processes that may detoxify or activate toxins. These processes are subject to difference between individuals, which is studied through the field of toxicogenomics