Preface

This fourth edition of Essentials of Toxicology condenses the principles and concepts of toxicology that were described in the ninth edition of Casarett & Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. Essentials of Toxicology succinctly defines the expansive science of toxicology, and includes important concepts from anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry to facilitate the understanding of the principles and mechanisms of toxicant action.

We greatly appreciate the authors who contributed to the ninth edition of Casarett & Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons because their chapters in the parent text provided the foundation for this edition of Essentials of Toxicology.

The book is organized into seven units: (1) General Principles of Toxicology, (2) Disposition of Toxicants, (3) Non-organ-directed Toxicity, (4) Target Organ Toxicity, (5) Toxic Agents, (6) Environmental Toxicology, and (7) Applications of Toxicology. Key points and review questions are provided for each chapter.

We trust that this book will assist students in undergraduate and graduate courses in toxicology, as well as students from other disciplines, to develop a strong foundation in the concepts and principles of toxicology. We invite readers to send us suggestions of ways to improve this text and we appreciate the thoughtful recommendations that we received on the last edition.

We particularly give a heartfelt and sincere thanks to our families for their love, patience, and support during the preparation of this book. The capable guidance and assistance of the McGraw-Hill staff are gratefully acknowledged. Finally, we thank our students for their enthusiasm for learning and what they have taught us during their time with us.