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Environmental toxicology is a new field that has developed rapidly over the past 40 years. Environmental toxicology involves the studying of sources, pathways, transformations, and effects of chemicals that are harmful in the environment. The study of these harmful effects extends from individuals and populations of organisms to the ecosystem level. The study of the toxic effects of environmental contaminants really began in the 1960’s, evolving from the traditional field of human or classical toxicology. Environmental toxicologists are usually involved in studying how toxic chemicals are metabolized by organisms, how they move through food webs and ecosystems, and the lethal and non-lethal effects they have on species. This book presents the comprehensive effects of toxic chemicals on organisms in their natural environments, as well as the ecosystems they belong to.
