Toxicologist

Tasks and duties

• Studying the amount of exposure to a substance (for example, from pollution caused by environmental contaminants such as industrial waste products) and the potential effect it has on public health, plants, animals and ecosystems.
• Studying how exposure to foreign chemicals affects the genetic, chemical, physical and structural composition of cells, tissues, organ systems and whole organisms.
• Devising and carrying out experiments to determine how chemical or drug concentrations in the body change over time.
• Testing newly discovered or manufactured substances for their safety, effects and possible use as drugs.
• Analysing blood, urine and other biological and environmental samples to identify the chemical composition and concentration of drugs, contaminants and other substances.
• Evaluating evidence from cases where tampering and contamination has occurred.
• Writing reports on research and investigations.
• Documenting results and preserving evidence in criminal investigations.