The first volume of the Handbool provides a detailed, fully documented overview of the general principles of toxicology, with special emphasis on the application of these principles to pesticides. The second and third volumes provide a similar overview of the different classes of pesticides, with a separate section devoted to each of 256 compounds that have been studied in humans. The first volume consists of an introductory chapter, four chapters on general principles (dosage and other factors, metabolism, mechanisms of injury,and studies in humans), and six chapters that summarize what is known about human exposure to pesticides, the effects of pesticides on human populations, diagnosis and treatment of poisoning, prevention of injury, effects of pesticides on domestic animals, and effects on wildlife. In the second and third volumes, the chapter headings and their major subdivisions follow the grouping of compounds commonly employed by those responsible for the manufacture, formulation, and application of pesticides. By necessity, it is the kind of grouping physicians will find reflected in whatever information they receive from patients or their associates. The grouping emphasizes the different uses to which pesticides and their ancillary materials are put, but it also reflects chemical structure and, in some instances, phaermacological action. However, some compounds are used for more than one purpose. Dinitro-o-cresol is used as an insecticide, a molluscicide, an eradicant herbicie, and a fungicide. Of course, its inherent mammalian toxicity is the same regardless of its use, and the dosage a victim receives accidentally may be unrelated to the intended application rate. Compounds with multiple uses have been discussed in connection with a major use, and the other uses have been cross-referenced. An effort has been made to include a discussion of each subgroup of pesticides and to discuss its important representatives. Each section on an individual compound consists of three portions. the first offers a concise summary of the nomenclature, chemistry, formulations, and uses of the compound. Even in instances in which there is general international agreement about the nonproprietry name of a particular compound, an effort has been made to list alternative common names, trade names, and code designations, whether in current use or not, because any one designation may be the key by which a researcher or other reader identifies the compound. These names also may be of use to those who wish to trace published and unpublished reports not cites in these volumes. Whereas care has been used in recording trade names, no further responsibility can be taken for them. Quite aside from any mistake that may have been made, it is a common practice of some manufactures to change the formulation or even the active ingredient sold under a given .......
