Abstract
This updated edition of Information Resources in Toxicology is extensive in length and scope (1500+ pages, 108 chapters with 3 appendices) covering a range of topics, including the definition and history of toxicology, subspecialty fields of toxicology, target organ toxicities, and informatics. As the editors intend, there are chapters covering tangential or nontoxicological topics, including ethical considerations, noise, grants and funding, patents, and country-specific information illustrating the global diversity and extent of toxicological activity. In this regard, although the edition provides insight on resources related to toxicology, it goes well beyond traditional toxicological topics and fields, and a coherent linkage between the topics is not always apparent. The value of this volume is its easy-to-read nature and its guidance toward where to begin searching for resources on many topics within the toxicology world.
Most chapters begin with a general introduction (some more, some less), followed by recommended sources and citations for further reading and review, including, in order, texts, published literature, Web resources, and organizations—all of which provides a consistent format. Though not critical for an edition of this type to specify how or by what measures the various recommended information sources were selected, the reader who is interested in an in-depth look at a topic will want to probe beyond the listed sources. For example, the chapter on biotechnology includes a robust literature on the safety assessment of genetically modified foods, which has been extensively reported on by organizations such as the European Food Safety Authority and the International Life Sciences Institute, although these sources are not included in this chapter. This is not to imply that the current edition is not comprehensive but, rather, that the critical reader will want to use this book as an initial review and recognize that it is not intended to be all-inclusive on a particular subject. The utility of this volume lies in its appeal to the generalist who seeks initial guidance on a range of topics directly or indirectly related to the field of toxicology.