ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the application of toxicological approaches and concepts in order to aid in the prediction of toxicity and resultant disease in the lungs. Given the enormous range of possible exposures in the modern world, covering all possible inhalable xenobiotics is beyond the scope of this chapter, and so we will use, as exemplars, two of the most important inhaled agents that cause lung disease. We believe that the general principles that are used for predictive toxicology for these two classes will be relevant and transferable to other types of inhaled xenobiotic. The two types of xenobiotics that will be used as exemplars are:
1. Particles; this category is of course currently dominated by nanoparticles, and so they will be a major focus
2. Occupational lung sensitisers
Toxicology, at its heart, is the study of the characteristics and effects of hazardous substances, and particularly the relationship between dose and effect. However, it can be more wide ranging than a specic understanding of pathobiological processes, as it can inform multiple components of health, safety and risk in the occupational environment. For example:
• The characterisation of hazard aids risk assessment and management.
