Preface
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 21, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: December 26, 1990 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1990-0451.pr001
THE T O X I C O L O G I C A L S I G N I H C A N C E O F H U M A N E X P O S U R E to low lev-
els of trace toxic chemicals is unknown. Most human exposures occur as the result of incidental exposure to trace quantities of carcinogens, mutagens, and other toxicants in complex mixtures of chemicals present in such media as drinking water, food, and the occupational environment. Quantifying the levels of exposure is a challenge for toxicologists and epidemiologists. Yet, accurate, sensitive means of measuring chemicals are essential if we are to define current levels of human exposure, relate exposure to target tissue dose and ultimately to human disease, identify environmental sources, and limit future exposures. One long range goal might be to have each person act as his or her own dosimeter, with body fluid or tissue samples providing an index of exposure history. Before we see people checking their own exposures, we must improve analytical techniques for measuring the chemical traces left in the form of D N A and protein adducts and residual chemicals stored in adipose tissue. Related to the above issues in toxicology are similar needs for improved analytical methods to monitor residues in foods and the environment. Public concern over chemical exposures and the quality of the food supply has increased dramatically in recent years. This concern translates into increasing pressure on regulatory agencies of all countries to do more sampling for more chemicals. This pressure occurs at a time when budgets are limited, so that the only alternative is increased costeffectiveness of monitoring programs. In addition to reducing the cost per assay, there is a need to develop field portable assays that provide rapid, on-site data on chemical levels. In the 1980s, we saw an explosion in the number of publications about using immunochemical methods for trace chemical analysis. Generally, these reports can be grouped into the broad categories of environmental monitoring for regulated synthetic compounds, food monitoring for pesticide and mycotoxin residues, and human monitoring for evidence of carcinogen exposure through the detection of adducts or metabolites. Representative work in all of these areas is included in this book. One goal of the book was to bring together a broad sampling of the applications of analytical immunochemistry to allow a cross-fertilization of techniques among those working in the field. The chapters show that immunochemical methods offer one approach to the complex problems presented by trace chemical analysis and should be part of the standard repertoire of techniques used in the analytical chemistry laboratory. ix Vanderlaan et al.; Immunoassays or Trace Chemical Analysis ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1990.
It is our hope that this volume will introduce many new scientists to the possibilities of immunoassays and provide a reference for this subject. With any meeting, support for travel for the attendees is essential to the success of the meeting. We express our appreciation for the generous support provided by the American Chemical Society, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the following Corporations: Nestle, Inc., E . I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and J & W Scientific. We would also like to thank the symposium participants for making the meeting lively and informative.
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on January 21, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: December 26, 1990 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1990-0451.pr001
MARTIN VANDERLAAN
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA 94550 LARRY H. STANKER
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA 94550 BRUCE E. WATKINS
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA 94550 DEAN W. ROBERTS National Center for Toxilogical Research Jefferson, AR 72079-9502 August 30, 1990
x Vanderlaan et al.; Immunoassays or Trace Chemical Analysis ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1990.
