As a toxicologist, you are tasked with the vital scientific study of the effects of substances and chemicals to recommend safe exposure limits for humans or animals. Here, we look at the role a toxicologist could take when it comes to different types of industries.
What is toxicology?
Toxicology is the study of adverse effects of chemicals on humans or the environment. This is particularly important when creating new drugs, medical treatments, cosmetics, and industrial and agricultural products to ensure that when they come into contact with living organisms, informed decisions of benefits and risks are made. Toxicologists can work in predictive toxicology roles for contract research organisations such as Gentronix, a leading company tasked with regulatory and genetic toxicology studies to detect and contextualise the genotoxic liability of chemicals early in development. Here, predictive toxicologists work to reduce or remove the need for animal-based testing.
What do I need to know to be a toxicologist?
Toxicologists use a full range of scientific knowledge, including environmental science, medicine, chemistry and biology, to understand how chemicals affect living organisms, whether by ingestion, vaccination or skin contact. They use a multi-disciplined approach to evaluate biological systems to evaluate carcinogenic liability and chemical toxicity. Using a range of tests, they provide evidence that enables organisations to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate chemical safety. The work is critical to pharmaceutical, agrochemical, cosmetic, and general chemical product development to ensure that any chemicals and substances used are safe and do not have harmful side effects or cancer-causing properties.
The various roles of a toxicologist
There are several toxicology roles, including:
Forensic toxicologists
Some toxicologists work in forensics. Some of this work involves determining the presence of a substance in a person’s body, primarily to ascertain whether it was a cause of death, impaired judgement or altered behaviour.
Predictive toxicologists
Predictive toxicologists provide the evidence used to control chemicals and substance use to prevent side effects and disease through understanding the mechanics of the product or its components under test conditions. They are looking for links between chemicals (and their impurities or metabolites), to determine whether there is a mutation risk that can cause cancer on ingestion or contact. They can study the effect of chemicals in the ground and groundwater to influence the use and control of pesticides. The role is to evaluate the risks and benefits of the substance, find strategies for managing identified risks, and to guide early development decisions. Predictive toxicologists work to identify how a chemical will behave with regard to absorption, biotransformation, distribution and excretion and DNA reactivity, which need to be understood to understand the mutagenic properties of substances. Key events of peptide reactivity , keratinocyte activation, and haptentation are assessed in in vitro tests, including OECD guideline and screening options from early development to market approval.
Reducing animal testing
The requirement to reduce animal testing has been the focus of the UK Government for many years and yet still ensures that new products are safe. The use of GLP Ames, mouse lymphoma and in vitro micronucleus studies are at the forefront of this shift. They use low-test item quantities and offer fast turnaround and low-cost, reproducible test results without animal testing. Flow cytometry services enable a range of endpoint assessments through assay testing, which can, in conjunction with experts in the field, help clients understand and interpret results to manage adverse toxicology findings and navigate the regulatory path.
As you can see, the role of a toxicologist is essential, protecting living organisms from the potential adverse effects of the food, cosmetics, household and industrial products, medications and medical treatments we may be exposed to in some cases, while helping solve crime in others. It is undoubtedly an exciting field to work in.