title: Issues at the interface between ecology and toxicology.
abstract: Although facing many similar problems, there are differences between ecology and toxicology in the nature and aspect of some issues. Scientific challenges relate to the fundamentals of toxicology and ecology. For dose and response, the metrics of dose and response, methods for extrapolation from lab to field, generally accepted definitions of adverse effects (including definitions for health and categorization of detectable versus adverse responses), and classification of mixture toxicity and effects are current areas of interest. Policy challenges are more related to the use of science in public policy and regulations; essentially, where and how science is used in decision-making. As both toxicology and ecology are employed in actions on environmental matters, interactions between policy decision-making and scientific knowledge generation are also examined.
authors.affiliation: L.S. McCarty Scientific Research and Consulting, 94 Oakhaven Drive, Markham, Ont., Canada L6C 1X8. lsmccarty@rogers.com
authors.forename: Lynn S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014116:Toxicology / Q000639:trends*