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A practical, accessible guide to the preparation of balanced, scientifically sound expert reports in the context of occupational toxicology. Focuses on the scientist's role in establishing a causal link between exposure to toxins and an individual's ill health.
Table des matières
Preface xi
1 A brief history of occupational toxicology 1
1.1 Occupational toxin exposure in antiquity 1
1.2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance: The beginnings of modern occupational toxicology 2
1.3 The Industrial Revolution 5
1.4 Petrochemicals: The beginnings 6
1.5 Petrochemicals and mass production 7
1.6 Aromatic amines: Tyres, dyes, explosives and cigarettes 9
1.7 Contemporaneous knowledge 11
1.8 The pursuit of truth 12
1.9 The 'Mad Hatter' 13
1.10 The 'Radium Girls' 15
1.11 Asbestos 16
1.12 Occupational toxicity: Medicine and science 18
1.13 Health and safety today 20
References 20
2 The expert report process in legal context 23
2.1 The would-be claimant's initial position 23
2.2 Industrial injuries disablement benefit 24
2.3 The legal process: First steps 25
2.4 Legal advice: Who pays? 26
2.5 Claim progression and possible outcomes 27
2.6 Pre-action protocols 28
2.7 Case initiation: Legal steps 29
2.8 Expert reports: Medical 30
2.9 Causality: The scientific report 31
2.10 Recruiting the scientific expert 32
2.11 Expectations of the expert: The court 33
2.12 Expectations of the expert: The solicitor/expert relationship 34
2.13 The expert report: The contract 36
2.14 Compiling the report 37
2.15 The toxin or toxins 38
2.16 Toxin entry 39
2.17 Toxin chemical nature 41
2.18 Exacerbating factors in toxin absorption 42
2.19 Causation: Mechanisms 42
2.20 Contemporaneous knowledge 44
2.21 The initial draft 46
2.22 Silence in court 46
2.23 Report writing in the real world 48
References 50
3 Acute toxicity: Case histories of solvent exposure 53
3.1 Introduction 53
3.2 Solvents in adhesives 54
3.3 Solvent toxicity 55
3.4 The real-world confusion of symptoms 57
3.5 Case histories: General format 58
3.6 Case history 1: Mr A and volatile petroleum mixture exposure 58
3.7 Case history 2: Mr B and dichloromethane exposure 66
3.8 Mr B and dichloromethane: Further developments 72
3.9 Case history 3: Mr C and chronic solvent exposure and behaviour 74
3.10 Summary of chronic solvent toxicity and behaviour 79
References 80
4 Chronic and permanent injury: Bladder cancer and occupation 83
4.1 Bladder cancer 83
4.2 The patient's perspective 84
4.3 Bladder cancer: Causes and risks 85
4.4 Bladder cancer and occupation: Industrial injury benefit claims 87
4.5 Case history 1: Mr D 87
4.6 Case history 2: Mr E 90
4.7 Case history 3: Mr F 91
4.8 Case history 4: Mrs G 92
4.9 Bladder cancer and occupation: Legal claims for compensation 93
4.10 Mr H: bladder cancer and the car industry 93
4.11 Mr J: Bladder cancer; crankcase oils and diesel 109
4.12 Summary 119
References 119
5 Chronic and acute toxicity of herbicides and pesticides 123
5.1 Introduction 123
5.2 Herbicide/pesticide toxicity evaluation 124
5.3 Herbicides: Toxicity 124
5.4 Case history 1: Mr K and Roundup(c) 126
5.5 Pesticide action: The nervous system 135
5.6 Animal and insects nervous system commonality 138
5.7 Major insecticide groups - ion pump disruptors 139
5.8 AChE inhibitors 139
5.9 Other major pesticides 140
A propos de l'auteur
Presently,
Dr Michael D Coleman is senior lecturer in toxicology at Aston University. During his career, Dr. Coleman has worked at Liverpool University, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington D.C. and latterly Aston University. His substantial and original contribution to knowledge of the biochemical pharmacology and toxicology of antiparasitic drugs has been acknowledged in the award of the degree of Doctor of Science from Aston University.
Résumé
Every year throughout the world, individuals health is damaged by their exposure to toxic chemicals at work. In most cases these problems will resolve, but many will sustain permanent damage.
