Toxicologists use their specialized education and training to make significant contributions to science and society. Some conduct studies that are crucial to the discovery of what happens to us when we are exposed to toxic levels of drugs, pesticides, air pollutants and other chemicals, including exactly what happens at the biochemical and molecular levels. In doing so, toxicologists add to the body of scientific knowledge in the areas of physiology, genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and many other scientific disciplines. Many important regulatory decisions are based on information provided by toxicologists.

Industry Toxicologists

These toxicologist contribute to the development of new and useful products like pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and a huge variety of consumer products (e.g. soaps, cosmetics, food additives, paints, etc). They perform toxicity testing experiments and evaluate other relevant data collected by other laboratories. This provides vital information for evaluating the safety a drug or other chemical that helps to set allowable dosages, exposure concentrations and other necessary regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Toxicologists

This group of toxicologists decides if a drug or other chemical is safe enough to be on the consumer market, and if it is, then how much a person could be exposed to without becoming intoxicated. A background in life sciences, along with training in epidemiology, statistics, and other areas of public health would be appropriate if you are interested in this field.

Environmental Toxicologists

Toxicologists with this speciality study the impact of chemical pollution in our communities and surrounding environments, including specific ecosystems. They may work in universities, consulting companies or government agencies. A background in public health or environmental sciences is helpful to have when you work in this field.

Forensic Toxicologists

These toxicologists are concerned with the medical and legal consequences of adverse effects of chemicals on humans and animals. The expertise of a forensic toxicologist is frequently called upon when establishing the cause of death in a postmortem investigation. An academic background that would be useful in this field would include analytical chemistry and pathology.

Clinical Toxicologists

This group of toxicologists handles patients with acute and chronic diseases caused by toxic substances. Frequently, the training in this field begins with a degree in nursing, pharmacy or medicine. Poison Control Centers throughout the country require the services of clinical toxicologists.

Industrial Hygienists

This group of professionals is concerned with controlling chemical and physical hazards in the workplace. They ensure that companies are in compliance with regulatory agency standards pertaining to occupational safety and health. The expertise of an Industrial Hygienist is critical in reviewing and implementing procedures for evaluating potential harmful exposures to the worker and controlling or eliminating these exposures. An undergraduate degree in toxicology is ideal as a background for this speciality. A background in public health or environmental sciences is helpful to have when you work in this field.