Analytical toxicology: from environmental monitoring to residue analysis.
Analytical toxicology is more than analytical chemistry. Although it does imply much analytical work, it should not stop with a statement about the more or less accurate level of a certain chemical in some biological or ecological matrix. The toxicologist performing analytical toxicology has to make clear which conclusions can be drawn from his/her analysis, and maybe even more important, which conclusions cannot be drawn. Generally, the analytical toxicologist has to find the balance between a very reliable analysis (which is often quite laborious and expensive) and the time and money available for performing the analysis; often the two demands are contradictory. In future, particular attention has to be paid to the quality assurance of toxicological analyses, to a more international collaboration, and to the development of new analytical approaches.
DLO-State Institute for Quality Control of Agricultural Products, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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D000818:Animals; D004782:Environmental Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D014116:Toxicology