Should Hormesis Be The Default Model In Risk Assessment

Hormesis is a poorly understood phenomenon affecting all forms of life on earth. This groundbreaking book summarizes and analyzes the various positives of hormesis in an attempt to reveal hormesis as a fundamental principle of biomedical sciences as a whole.

Some mild stresses have positive effects on survival and aging as shown in animal models. There is also a large body of research that demonstrates these hormetic effects on aging, health, and resistance to severe stresses and diseases in human beings. However, the data are dispersed in the literature and are not always interpreted as hormetic effects. Hormesis in Health and Disease reviews the evidence for hormesis in humans as achieved through a variety of stresses or stimuli, and discusses mechanisms of hormesis and its ethical and legal issues. Divided into four sections, this book presents the current state of research, including questions, debates, doubts, and controversies in hormesis. Section I covers the history and terminology of hormesis, describing its main features and providing necessary background information. Section II shows that hormetic effects can be caused by various stresses—including physical exercise, nutritional components, fasting, micronutrients, irradiation, heat, ischemia, and mental challenge—and can be observed both in organs and at the organism level. Section III reviews possible mechanisms of hormesis that have been elucidated at this point. Section IV discusses the wider consequences hormesis may have for everyone. This book demonstrates that health beneficial hormetic effects do exist in human beings. It offers information to inspire key players to initiate new strategies to elucidate the strengths and limits of the dual nature of stress.

Written by internationally recognized scientists from academic, industrial, and governmental sectors, Inhalation Toxicology, Second Edition details the methods and materials used in the theoretical and applied aspects of inhalation toxicology. The editors emphasize the relationship between the respiratory system and toxicology of inhaled substances and examine methods and measurements for improving our understanding of the basic mechanisms of effects. The book delineates key issues in the field such as regulatory aspects of exposure and testing, testing equipment and methods, biomarkers, pathology, allergies and immunology, irritation of the respiratory tract, and risk assessment. It covers the inhalation of bioaerosols and toxins, ranging from anthrax to household molds as well as genomics, proteomics, and low-level exposure toxicants such as tobacco smoke and chemical warfare agents. Highlights include coverage of the Acute Exposure Guidelines and Emergence Response Guidelines and recent changes in the European and American guidelines for testing procedures. The book focuses on key issues associated with airborne substances and provides critical reviews of the latest advances. Presenting sophisticated concepts in a readable, accessible format, the book distills the latest information into practical knowledge.

Examines factors such as the role of certain nutrients in prevention and promotion of chronic disease, and health benefits of bioactive compounds in plants. This title covers the prevalence of food-borne pesticides and pathogens and how local and global environmental factors may affect differences between organic and conventionally produced food.

Could low-level exposure to polluting chemicals be analogous to exercise -- a beneficial source of stress that strengthens the body? Some scientists studying the phenomenon of hormesis (beneficial or stimulatory effects caused by low-dose exposure to toxic substances) claim that that this may be the case. Is A Little Pollution Good For You? critically examines the current evidence for hormesis. In the process, it highlights the range of methodological and interpretive judgments involved in environmental research: choices about what questions to ask and how to study them, decisions about how to categorize and describe new information, judgments about how to interpret and evaluate ambiguous evidence, and questions about how to formulate public policy in response to debated scientific findings. The book also uncovers the ways that interest groups with deep pockets attempt to influence these scientific judgments for their benefit. Several chapters suggest ways to counter these influences and incorporate a broader array of societal values in environmental research: (1) moving beyond conflict-of-interest policies to develop new ways of safeguarding academic research from potential biases; (2) creating deliberative forums in which multiple stakeholders can discuss the judgments involved in policy-relevant research; and (3) developing ethical guidelines that can assist scientific experts in disseminating debated and controversial phenomena to the public. Kevin C. Elliott illustrates these strategies in the hormesis case, as well as in two additional case studies involving contemporary environmental research: endocrine disruption and multiple chemical sensitivity. This book should be of interest to a wide variety of readers, including scientists, philosophers, policy makers, environmental ethicists and activists, research ethicists, industry leaders, and concerned citizens.

This new edition is revised throughout and includes new and expanded information on natural resource damage assessment, the latest emerging contaminants and issues, and adds new international coverage, including case studies and rules and regulations. The text details key environmental contaminants, explores their fates in the biosphere, and discusses bioaccumulation and the effects of contaminants at increasing levels of ecological organization. Vignettes written by experts illustrate key themes or highlight especially pertinent examples. This edition offers an instructors' solution manual, PowerPoint slides, and supplemental images. Features: Adds all new discussions of natural resource damage assessment concepts and approaches Includes new vignettes written by leading guest authors Draws on materials from 2,500 cited sources, including 400+ new to this edition Adds numerous new entries to a useful glossary of 800+ terms Includes a new appendix discussing Brazilian environmental laws and regulations added to existing appendices outlining U.S., E.U., Chinese, Australian, and Indian environmental laws Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology: The Science of Pollution, Fifth Edition contains a broad overview of ecotoxicology and provides a basic understanding of the field. Designed as a textbook for use in introductory graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses in ecotoxicology, applied ecology, environmental pollution, and environmental science, it can also be used as a general reference for practicing environmental toxicologists.