Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology

Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes. By controlling information flow through biochemical signalling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism, biochemical processes give rise to the incredible complexity of life. Much of biochemistry deals with the structures and functions of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules although increasingly processes rather than individual molecules are the main focus. As an interdisciplinary science studying every aspect of the biosphere, environmental toxicology has focused on the effect of man-made pollutants on our atmosphere for the past 40 years. The traditional definition of toxicology is ';the science of poisons.' As our understanding of how various agents can cause harm to humans and other organisms, a more descriptive definition of toxicology is ';the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms'. Toxicology is an evolving medical science and so is toxicology terminology. The book will be of immense value to the students of environment, botany, zoology, biology, agriculture, biochemistry and medicine.