Career - Toxicologist

Toxicologists will study the amount of exposure to a substance (from pollution caused by environmental contaminants such as industrial waste products or emergency events such as a gas leak, for example) and the potential effect it may have on public health, plants, animals and the ecosystem and also study how exposure to foreign chemicals affects the genetic, chemical, physical and structural composition of cells, tissues, organ systems and whole organisms. They will devise and carry out experiments to determine how chemical or drug concentrations in the body change over time and test newly discovered or manufactured substances for their safety, effects and possible use as drugs. They will analyse blood, urine and other biological and environmental samples to identify the chemical composition and concentration of drugs, contaminants and other substances and also evaluate evidence from cases where tampering and contamination has occurred. They will write scientific reports on research and investigations, as well as more general information for scientific, managerial, political and general audiences and will document results, preserve evidence and maintain chain of custody (the document or paper trail showing the process from evidence seizure through to the presentation of the evidence in court) in criminal investigations. They will provide advice to managers, politicians, primary producers, healthcare workers, the general public and community groups.

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