ABSTRACT
Toxicological chemistry, defined and discussed in Chapter 22, centers on the relationship between the chemical nature of toxicants and their toxicological effects. This chapter discusses this relationship with regard to some of the major pollutants and hazardous substances. The first section deals with toxicological aspects of elements (particularly heavy metals), the presence of which in a compound frequently means that the compound is toxic. It also discusses the toxicities of some commonly used elemental forms, such as the chemically uncombined elemental halogens. The following section discusses the toxicological chemistry of inorganic compounds, many of which are produced by industrial processes. It also provides a brief discussion of organometallic compounds. The next section deals with the toxicology of organic compounds. The toxicological properties of hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic compounds are discussed as well as other organic substances containing functional groups, such as alcohols and ketones. This section also discusses the toxicities of organic nitrogen, halide, sulfur, and phosphorous compounds, some of which are used as pesticides or military poisons. Finally, toxic natural products are discussed.
