Category: Toxicology Certification Course

Below is a List of Toxicology courses offered by various colleges in India:

• B.Sc.- in Toxicology or Biological sciences
• Msc. Toxicology or Environmental Toxicology, Forensic Science and Toxicology
• Bsc-Msc Integrated course in toxicology
• MS Pharmacology and toxicology
• MS Regulatory toxicology
• M. Tech Toxicology
• PG Diploma in Regulatory Toxicology
• M.Phil – Environmental Toxicology, Neuro, and Nanotoxicology
• Ph.D. Toxicology
• PhD Pharmacology & Toxicology
• PhD Environmental Toxicology

List of Colleges offering Toxicology courses In India

• SCMS Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Development – M. Tech (by research) & M.Sc (by research) in Toxicology
• Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – PhD
• University of Madras – M.Sc Toxicology, M.Sc-Environmental Toxicology; M.Phil – Environmental Toxicology – (Interdisciplinary), Neuro and Nanotoxicology; Ph.D – Interdisciplinary – Pharmacology / Environmental Toxicology
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER -SAS Nagar) – M.S. (Pharm.), PhD
• Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh – M.Sc
• Gujarat University, Ahmedabad – M.SC,
• Jamia Hamdard University – BSc-MSc integrated, Msc, PhD
• Chandigarh University – M.Sc in Forensic Science and Toxicology
• Dr. Indravadan P. Patel Institute of Medical Technology & Research – M.Sc, PG Diploma
• JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru. – PG Diploma in Regulatory Toxicology

In this COVID-19 Era, with the increase in our health consciousness, & the need for the concern for our environment, a wide and variety of career opportunities exist in toxicology with huge career scope in future.

Basic Roles & Responsibilities of Toxicologist Are To:

1. develop novel ways for determination of the potential harmful effects of chemical & physical agents and dosage that will cause these effects.
2. understand about basic molecular, biochemical & cellular processes responsible for diseases caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents.
3. design and carry out carefully controlled studies of specific chemicals of social and economic importance to determine the conditions under which they can be used safely
4. assess the probability, that particular chemicals, processes or situations pose a significant risk to human health and/or the environment, and assist in the formulation of suitable rules & regulations to protect and preserve human health & environment.

Various Job Opportunities For Toxicologists exists in a vast array of fields namely,

• Academic – universities or research centres
• Analytical & Clinical Organizations – like large district hospitals and specialist regional toxicology units of the Govt
• Environmental hazard assessment government agencies, & Private industry
• Forensic Departments – private forensic laboratories, forensic departments of hospitals or within government departments
• Industrial and pharmaceutical Organizations – including chemical, biotechnology or food tech.

Common Posts Toxicologits are often hired for are:

• Scientist – in Government or private Research Institute
• Lecturer/Professor- in University or academic institution
• Lab in-charge – in testing laboratories
• Scientific Officer – in scientific governmental & private organizations or NGOs
• Scientific Journalist/Editor
• Analyst – in testing laboratories Privatre or Govt. institutions / organizations
• JRF/SRF/RA/SRA – in various prestigious institutions like IITs, IISc, TIFER, etc
• Technical Officer in bioscience organizations.
• Environmentalist – in private companies, Govt organizations & NGO’s
• Drug Inspector
• Pharma Manager
• Product Safety Evaluation
• Regulatory Affairs & Many other posts

Once you’ve gained experience as a toxicologist, it’s very much possible to move into a senior toxicologist position or into a managerial role at a lab or company. As your career progresses, and you gain experience you’re likely to spend less time on practical and laboratory-based scientific work and more time on office-based and supervisory work, but ofcourse it depneds on your background expertience & work interest too.

There is scope to specialise within toxicology or to move into related scientific fields. Opportunities depend on your background and experience, but specialist areas include:

• immunotoxicology
• neurotoxicology
• safety pharmacology
• toxicology of biotechnology products.

Remuneration Aspect

One can start his or her career in the field of Toxicology easily & get an initial pay ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 pm. Over a period with relevant experience of upto 2-3 years approx & Knowledge / higher degree gained one can earn upto Rs 80,000/- pm on an average. It varies with Govt & Private Organizations Pay Scale Offered.

To Conclude ,Toxicology is one of the fast growing research disciplines and has a plethora of job opportunities for enthusiastic researchers. After the completion of your degree pursing career in Toxicology, can be a very good choice keeping in mind the current scenario. Post COVID-19 phase, demand of Toxicologists is predicted to escalate at a very high rate. Thus now is the perfect time to jump into this evergreen field.

In the next module you can checkout various Toxicology courses available in India & colleges that offer these courses.

What is Toxicology?

It is the study of adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects. It basically includes all the observations as well as communicating symptoms, procedures, detection and therapeutics of toxic substances , in particular relation to the poisoning of humans .

Toxicology is subdivided into various fields of study depending on diverse factors. For example, it includes environmental agents and chemical compounds found in nature , in addition to pharmaceutical compounds that are produced and manufactured for medical purposes by humans. All these substances have one thing in common ! Toxins & Toxic effects leading to disruption of growth patterns, causing discomfort, disease and finally Death.

“All things are poison, and nothing is without poison, the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison.” – Paracelsus

Why Toxicology is Needed? What is the purpose of Toxicology?

• The study of toxicology provides protection to humans and environment from toxic effects of toxicants.
• This study will ultimately lead toward the development of newer, innovative and more selective drug therapies to treat different ailments having reduced toxic potential to human body.

Importance of Dose 

A quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time is termed as Dose. It is an important factor in Toxicology as it has a notable relationship with the ramifications experienced by the individual. All substances have the ability to be toxic / poisonous if it is provided to living organisms in the appropriate conditions and dose .

Toxicology uses LD50. It refers to the quantity of the dose that exhibits toxicity & kills 50% of a test population . To test toxicity in labs, researchers use rats or other surrogates . So, in a nutshell it can be said that greater exposure to a chemical leads to higher risk of toxicity.

You will be learning more about this in details in upcoming sessions. 

Branches of Toxicology 

1. OCCUPATIONAL TOXICOLOGY

• It is the application of the principles and methodology of toxicology toward chemical and biologic hazards encountered at work.
• Occupational toxicologist prevent adverse health effects in workers that result from their work environment.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY

This includes the study of the effects of chemicals on organisms in their natural environments and in the ecosystems to which they belong.

3. REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY

• Regulatory toxicologists help governments to formulate regulations and put them into practice.
• Their advice and decisions help to minimise the risk presented by chemicals which may be hazardous to human health and the environment.

4. MECHANISTIC TOXICOLOGY

• It is the study of how chemical or physical agents interact with living organisms to cause toxicity.
• A mechanistic toxicologist identifies the cellular, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms by which chemicals exert toxic effects on living organisms.

5. INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY

It is the study of the harmful effects on humans by chemicals used in the workplace, the products produced by companies, and the wastes created in manufacturing.

6. CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

Clinical toxicologists are responsible for providing advice on how to treat patients who have been poisoned with a drug or other substance, either accidentally or intentionally.

7.FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY

Forensic toxicology is the use of toxicology and disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid medical or legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use.

8.VETERNIARY TOXICOLOGY

A veterinarian toxicologist studies both naturally produced toxins that come from plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and phytoplankton, and the toxins that are a result of pharmaceuticals, feed additives, radiation and environmental agents.