A Practical Approach to Toxicological Investigations

First published in 1989, this book acknowledges that new drugs, food additives and other compounds need to be carefully screened for toxic side-effects. The bulk of this study is devoted to the practical questions of 'what toxicological studies should we perform?' and 'how should we perform them?' Compounds which undergo toxicity testing may be conveniently categorised as those which are intended for administration to man and those which are not. The former include pharmaceuticals to be used medicinally or prophylactically and chemicals which are added to our food, drinks or medicine to improve their stability, appearance or palatability. Since it is on pharmaceuticals that the most comprehensive toxicological evaluations are generally performed, this book has been directed primarily towards to toxicological evaluation of potential new drugs. The principles and methodology of toxicological evaluation of other types of compounds are essentially similar.