Principles of studies on diseases of suspected chemical etiology and their prevention /
| Corporate Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Geneva, CH :
WHO,
1987
|
| Series: | Enviromental Health Criteria ;
no. 72 |
| Subjects: |
Table of Contents:
- Gives investigators confronting a disease of unknown causality a logical, step-by-step strategy for tracing the possibility that a man-made or natural chemical is the cause. The strategy, which is divided into five progressive steps, is based on experiences indicating the value of a disease-oriented approach that differs, in several important ways, from classical methods used in predictive toxicology. Emphasis is placed on the character and sequence of questions that will be of greatest help in determining whether a chemical is implicated and then identifying the chemical. The need to recognize and describe the disease is presented as the starting point of the investigation. The second section, which concentrates on the search for determinants, shows how epidemiological studies can be used as analytical tools for the generation of valid etiological hypotheses. The third section outlines toxicological studies necessary to test the hypothetical involvement of suspected chemicals. Further sections outline steps that should be taken once a chemical etiology has been confirmed.