The Poison Paradox: Chemicals As Friends and Foes

By John Timbrell
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Pages: 370
Publication Date: 2005-07-29
Sales Rank: 538167
ISBN / ASIN: 0192804952
EAN: 9780192804952
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description:
Every day we are surrounded by chemicals that are potentially harmful. Some of these we take intentionally in the form of drugs; some we take unknowingly through the food we eat, and the environment around us. John Timbrell explores what makes particular chemicals harmful, what their effects are, and how we can test for them. He examines drugs such as Paracetamol and what it does to the body; Ricin, the most toxic substance known to man; Paraquat, a widely available weedkiller; and how the puffer fish, eaten as a delicacy in Japan, can kill. Using case studies from all around the world, such as the Spanish Oil syndrome which made over 20,000 people ill in Madrid, Timbrell uncovers the facts behind chemical scares. He shows how, with a rational, scientific, and balanced approach, risks can be assessed and managed safely.
Toxicology