waring - molecules of death 2e [poisons,toxicology] (imperial, 2007)

[...]... University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ United Kingdom xxi 2ndEd_FrontMatter.indd 21 6/27/2007 2:18:10 PM xxii Molecules of Death R M Harris School of Biosciences University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom A Hutt Department of Pharmacy King’s College London Franklin-Wilkins Building Stamford Street London SE1 9NN United Kingdom S C Mitchell Faculty of Medicine... College of Science University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch New Zealand M E Smith Division of Medical Sciences Medical School University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TH United Kingdom G B Steventon Department of Pharmacy King’s College London Franklin-Wilkins Building Stamford Street London SE1 9NN United Kingdom 2ndEd_FrontMatter.indd 23 6/27/2007 2:18:10 PM xxiv Molecules of Death. .. reasons by the hand of man Some of these may be familiar and others not, but all can be potentially lethal, justifiably earning them the appellation, molecules of death Further Reading Mason SF (1990) Chemical Evolution Oxford University Press, Oxford Mitchell SC, Carmichael PL and Waring RH (2004) The three cornerstones of toxicology Biologist 51, 212–215 Timbrell JA (2000) Principles of Biochemical Toxicology,... Tasker Department of Biomedical Sciences Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3 Canada M.-C Tsai Toxicology Unit John Tabor Laboratories University of Essex Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ United Kingdom R H Waring School of Biosciences University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom M Wheatley School of Biosciences... the 8,9-epoxide Following its formation this compound binds very rapidly to protein, DNA and other important constituents of living cells, forming “adducts” Formation of these adducts disrupts the normal working processes of the cell, and in the case of DNA adducts, can ultimately lead to a loss of control over cellular growth and division Humans metabolise aflatoxin B1 to the major aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine... metabolism of food, and possibly death • chronic aflatoxicosis which occurs following the ingestion of low to moderate doses of aflatoxins over a prolonged period The effects may be subclinical or difficult to recognise Some of the more frequently described symptoms include impaired food conversion and slower rates of growth, with or without the 2ndEd_book.indb 10 6/27/2007 4:28:14 PM Aflatoxin 11 occurrence of. .. recharging Routes of Entry Toxins, or poisons, can enter the body by a number of routes The more usual, and perhaps accidental, routes are called the “portals of entry” These comprise those areas of the body that are in constant contact with the external environment and over which we have little obvious control, unless special precautions are taken The skin is the largest organ of the body, composed of approximately... of significance, although the logical extension of dumping waste materials into the vast oceans may not be too wise For a “toxic event” or “toxic episode” to occur, areas of relatively high concentration of the hazardous material are usually required, although, of course, there are exceptions Such factors which bring about high local concentrations within a confined space can again be natural or man-made,... this hinterland is covered with mining spoil tips, composed of rejected material brought up from deep below the surface where it has been adequately hidden for aeons, then leaching of materials, especially heavy metals, will be enhanced and potential endemic problems exacerbated Man- 2ndEd_FrontMatter.indd 15 6/27/2007 2:18:10 PM xvi Molecules of Death made structures, such as mines, quarries, factories... wider economic, toxicological and public health importance of certain mould species For example, it is now known that in some circumstances mould-infected foods can be associated with serious toxicity, and sometimes death In this chapter the toxicity of a group of compounds called aflatoxins are described in order to illustrate the importance of the toxins produced by moulds Description, Occurrence, . from the publisher. ISBN-13 97 8-1 -8 609 4-8 1 4-5 ISBN-10 1-8 609 4-8 1 4-6 ISBN-13 97 8-1 -8 609 4-8 1 5-2 (pbk) ISBN-10 1-8 609 4-8 1 5-4 (pbk) All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced. Press MOLECULES OF DEATH (2nd Edition) JQuek - Molecules of Death (2nd).pmd 9/20/2007, 11:19 AM1 “And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.” The Masque of the. and from the sympathy of his fellow- men. And the whole seizure, progress, and termination of the disease, were the incidents of half-an-hour”. The Masque of the Red Death E dgar Allan Poe