Ecogenetics: Genetic Predisposition to the Toxic Effects of Chemicals

About this book

Human beings vary in their sensitivity to environmental chemicals. Some people are particularly sensitive to certain chemical compounds and may, therefore, develop adverse effects as a result of exposures that are otherwise considered safe. Considerable variation in susceptibility may be determined by inherited patterns of metabolism. Research in several fields is now beginning to uncover the mechanisms and the significance of such inherited hypersusceptibility to environmental chemicals. This evidence will be of crucial importance for successful protection of all individuals against toxic chemicals. This book, which is based on a WHO consultation, provides an overview of current knowledge on genetic predisposition to chemical toxicity. It reviews the experimental, pharmacological, toxicogenetic and epidemiological evidence and considers the implications for preventative action and future research. The important ethical and legal aspects are covered, as is the importance of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of ischaemic heart disease and major types of cancer. Written and edited by an international team of experts, this book should be a vital reference source for industrial and environmental health officers, health care planners and physicians and researchers in toxicology, pharmacology, genetics, clinical chemistry, epidemiology and occupational health.

Contents

Part 1 Significance for public health and research: meeting report. Part 2 Perspectives of genetic predisposition: genetic predisposition to occupationally related diseases - current status and future directions, E.J.Calabrese; genetic predisposition to environmental toxic agents - detection by distribution of ecogenetic markers, N.P.Bochkov and N.V. Titenko; genetic predisposition to common diseases, K.Berg. Part 3 Experimental evidence: evidence in laboratory animal studies of genetic predisposition to effects of toxic chemicals, M.A.Mehlman and G.Witz; animal models for studies of genetic predisposition to adverse effects of chemical exposure, S.R.Kleeberger and R.C.Levitt; sex-related differences in genetic susceptibility to toxic chemicals, K.Kostial et al. Part 4 Pharmacogenetic evidence: lessons from pharmacogenetics, W.Kalow; human variability in alcohol and aldehyde metabolism - vulnerability to toxic effects, D.P.Agarwal and H.W.Goedde; detection of unsuspected non-fava bean sensitive G6PD deficiency in semi-conductor fabrication workers in Israel, D.T.Teitelbaum and B.Raikhlin. Part 5 Toxicogenetic evidence: Prevalence of important polymorphisms in Poland, J.Z.Hanke; phenotypes of human serum esterases reacting with organophosphates, carbamates, and other esters, V.Simeon and E.Reiner; predisposition in exposure to carbon disulfide, D.Djuric; ecogenetic aspects in neoplasia, I.Roots; genetic susceptibility to DNA-methylating agents, H.W.Rudiger. Part 6 Epidemiological evidence: individual variation in the level of DNA and protein adducts in humans, K.Hemminki. Part 7 Ethical and regulatory aspects: ethical aspects of genetic predisposition to diease, P.Grandjean; health policy, ethics and human values, Z.Bankowski; significance of hypersusceptibility for risk assessment, C.Sonich-Mulin; examples of regulatory practices to protect hypersusceptible groups of workers, F.Kaloyanova.

Customer Reviews