Toxicology of the Immune System: A Human Approach

Due to increased awareness of the AIDS crisis as well as concern about environmental chemicals, immunotoxicology has quickly become one of the most important and controversial topics in occupational medicine and toxicology. This insightful reference/text clarifies the subject by exploring the basic environmental, occupational, and therapeutic agents that can suppress or strengthen the immune system. The authors provide a necessary bridge between immunology and toxicology to explain the various products and processes that may change immune parameters, affect host resistance to infections and tumors, and alter a system's future reaction to exposure. They assess the damage done not only to the immune system, but also damage by the immune system as a result of altered functioning. Throughout the book, emphasis is placed on the relevance to existing clinical health and possible future adverse effects. Even the more common immunotoxic conditions, such as food and drug intolerance, cigarette smoking, and occupational asthma, are put into perspective, with straightforward information on possible genetic, environmental, and pharmacological risk factors. Detailed sections are included on:

• Organ systems and target cells most often affected
• Types of damage and injury resulting from immunotoxic reactions
• Clinical populations in which immune system damage occurs
• Methods for investigating the etiology of agents and risk assessment
• Relevance of laboratory data to human risk
• Strategies for achieving standard practices to prevent the disparity in results that characterizes many immune system studies
• Regulatory affairs related to immunotoxicology

Laboratory and experimental findings are probed to determine how and to what degree different immunotoxicants have induced clinical disease. Citations of animal research are restricted to those studies that point the way for future human studies, or have direct relevance to human situations. To further the reader’s understanding of xenobiotics, the authors treat the subject of purposeful immunomodulation, achieved by administering immunosuppressive or immunopotentiating drugs. Despite increasing public awareness, there remains an inaccurate perception of what chemicals can and cannot do. This important reference sets the record straight, making it an essential source for toxicologists, immunologists, industrial hygienists, microbiologists, allergists, as well as all professionals in the agricultural and cosmetic industries, and those involved in chemical and biological regulation.