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Occupational toxicology is the application of the principles and methodology of toxicology toward chemical and biologic hazards encountered at work.
In occupational environments, exposure is often used as a surrogate for dose.
Occupational exposure limits do not correspond to the level of exposure below which the probability of impairing the health of the exposed workers is acceptable.
Diseases arising in occupational environments involve exposure primarily through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption.
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The work environment with its chemical and biologic hazards plays a role in the occurrence of adverse human health effects. Occupational toxicology is the application of the principles and methodology of toxicology toward chemical and biologic hazards encountered at work. The objective of the occupational toxicologist is to prevent adverse health effects in workers that result from their work environment. Because the work environment often presents exposures to complex mixtures, the occupational toxicologist must also recognize exposure combinations that are particularly hazardous.
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It is often difficult to establish a causal link between a worker’s illness and job. First, the clinical expressions of occupationally induced diseases are often indistinguishable from those arising from nonoccupational causes. Second, there may be a long interval between exposure and the expression of disease. Third, diseases of occupational origin may be multifactorial with personal or other environmental factors contributing to the disease process. Ongoing assessments of occupational risk must occur as new hazards arise with the emergence of new technologies.
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WORKPLACES, EXPOSURES, AND STANDARDS
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Approximately 40% of the global work force works in agricultural production. The demographics of laborers in industrial nations has shifted away from jobs in heavy industry toward jobs in the service sector and high-technology industries.
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Dose is defined as the amount of toxicant that reaches the target tissue over a defined time span. In occupational environments, exposure is often used as a surrogate for dose. The response to a toxic agent is dependent on both host factors and dose. Figure 34–1 illustrates the pathway from exposure to subclinical disease or adverse health effect and suggests that there are important modifying factors: contemporaneous exposures, genetic susceptibility, age, gender, nutritional status, and behavioral factors. These modifying factors can influence whether a worker remains healthy, develops subclinical disease that is repaired, or progresses to illness. As illustrated in Figure 34–1, the dose is a function of exposure concentration, exposure duration, and exposure frequency. Individual and environmental characteristics also can affect dose. Table 34–1 indicates determinants of dose for exposure via the inhalation and dermal routes. Personal protective equipment must be used properly to maximize effectiveness.
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