Expert report writing in toxicology : forensic, scientific, and legal aspects

Every year throughout the world, individuals' health is damaged by their exposure to toxic chemicals at work. In most cases these problems will resolve, but many will sustain permanent damage. Whilst any justified claim for compensation requires medical and legal evidence a crucial and often controversial component of this process is the establishment of a causal link between the individual's condition and exposure to a specific chemical or substance. Causation, in terms of how a substance or substances led the claimant to his or her current plight, can be difficult to establish and the mai. � Read more... Abstract: Every year throughout the world, individuals health is damaged by their exposure to toxic chemicals at work. In most cases these problems will resolve, but many will sustain permanent damage. � Read more... Expert Report Writing in Toxicology: Forensic, Scientific and Legal Aspects 5 Copyright 6 Contents 9 Preface 13 1 A brief history of occupational toxicology 19 1.1 Occupational toxin exposure in antiquity 19 1.2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance: The beginnings of modern occupational toxicology 20 1.3 The Industrial Revolution 23 1.4 Petrochemicals: The beginnings 24 1.5 Petrochemicals and mass production 25 1.6 Aromatic amines: Tyres, dyes, explosives and cigarettes 27 1.7 Contemporaneous knowledge 29 1.8 The pursuit of truth 30 1.9 The ‘Mad Hatter’ 31 1.10 The ‘Radium Girls’ 33 1.11 Asbestos 34 1.12 Occupational toxicity: Medicine and science 36 1.13 Health and safety today 38 References 38 2 The expert report process in legal context 41 2.1 The would-be claimant’s initial position 41 2.2 Industrial injuries disablement benefit 42 2.3 The legal process: First steps 43 2.4 Legal advice: Who pays? 44 2.5 Claim progression and possible outcomes 45 2.6 Pre-action protocols 46 2.7 Case initiation: Legal steps 47 2.8 Expert reports: Medical 48 2.9 Causality: The scientific report 49 2.10 Recruiting the scientific expert 50 2.11 Expectations of the expert: The court 51 2.12 Expectations of the expert: The solicitor/expert relationship 52 2.13 The expert report: The contract 54 2.14 Compiling the report 55 2.15 The toxin or toxins 56 2.16 Toxin entry 57 2.17 Toxin chemical nature 59 2.18 Exacerbating factors in toxin absorption 60 2.19 Causation: Mechanisms 60 2.20 Contemporaneous knowledge 62 2.21 The initial draft 64 2.22 Silence in court 64 2.23 Report writing in the real world 66 References 68 3 Acute toxicity: Case histories of solvent exposure 71 3.1 Introduction 71 3.2 Solvents in adhesives 72 3.3 Solvent toxicity 73 3.4 The real-world confusion of symptoms 75 3.5 Case histories: General format 76 3.6 Case history 1: Mr A and volatile petroleum mixture exposure 76 3.6.1 Case comment 83 3.7 Case history 2: Mr B and dichloromethane exposure 84 3.7.1 Case comment 88 3.8 Mr B and dichloromethane: Further developments 90 3.8.1 Further case comment 91 3.9 Case history 3: Mr C and chronic solvent exposure and behaviour 92 3.9.1 Case comment 96 3.10 Summary of chronic solvent toxicity and behaviour 97 References 98 4 Chronic and permanent injury: Bladder cancer and occupation 101 4.1 Bladder cancer 101 4.2 The patient’s perspective 102 4.3 Bladder cancer: Causes and risks 103 4.4 Bladder cancer and occupation: Industrial injury benefit claims 105 4.5 Case history 1: Mr D 105 4.6 Case history 2: Mr E 108 4.7 Case history 3: Mr F 109 4.8 Case history 4: Mrs G 110 4.9 Bladder cancer and occupation: Legal claims for compensation 111 4.10 Mr H: bladder cancer and the car industry 111 4.10.1 Case comment 124 4.11 Mr J: Bladder cancer; crankcase oils and diesel 127 4.11.1 Case comment 134 4.11.2 Further comment 137 4.12 Summary 137 References 137 5 Chronic and acute toxicity of herbicides and pesticides 141 5.1 Introduction 141 5.2 Herbicide/pesticide toxicity evaluation 142 5.3 Herbicides: Toxicity 142 5.4 Case history 1: Mr K and Roundup© 144 5.4.1 Case comment 153 5.5 Pesticide action: The nervous system 153 5.6 Animal and insects nervous system commonality 156 5.7 Major insecticide groups – ion pump disruptors 157 5.8 AChE inhibitors 157 5.9 Other major pesticides 158 5.10 Case histories 159 5.11 Case history 2: Mrs L and fipronil toxicity 159 5.11.1 Case comment 162 5.11.2 Further case comment 164 5.12 Case histories: OPs 166 5.13 Case history 3: Mr M 167 5.13.1 Case comment 172 5.13.2 Further case comment 174 5.13.3 Final case comment 178 5.14 Case history 4: Mr N 178 5.14.1 Case comment 189 References 190 6 Toxicity of imported goods 197 6.1 Overseas manufactured imported goods: Context 197 6.2 Reports for trading standards 198 6.3 Plastic tank: Naphthalene 198 6.4 Soft toys: Phthalates 199 6.5 Wooden toy story one: Barium and lead 200 6.5.1 Case comment 203 6.6 Wooden toy story two: Chromium and lead 203 6.7 Adhesives: Chloroform 205 6.7.1 Case comment 209 6.8 Summary 210 References 210 Epilogue: Occupational health – future perspectives 213 E.1 The developed world 213 E.2 The developing world 214 References 216 Index 219 Content: Expert Report Writing in Toxicology: Forensic, Scientific and Legal Aspects Copyright Contents Preface 1 A brief history of occupational toxicology 1.1 Occupational toxin exposure in antiquity 1.2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance: The beginnings of modern occupational toxicology 1.3 The Industrial Revolution 1.4 Petrochemicals: The beginnings 1.5 Petrochemicals and mass production 1.6 Aromatic amines: Tyres, dyes, explosives and cigarettes 1.7 Contemporaneous knowledge 1.8 The pursuit of truth 1.9 The 'Mad Hatter' 1.10 The 'Radium Girls' 1.11 Asbestos. 1.12 Occupational toxicity: Medicine and science1.13 Health and safety today References 2 The expert report process in legal context 2.1 The would-be claimant's initial position 2.2 Industrial injuries disablement benefit 2.3 The legal process: First steps 2.4 Legal advice: Who pays? 2.5 Claim progression and possible outcomes 2.6 Pre-action protocols 2.7 Case initiation: Legal steps 2.8 Expert reports: Medical 2.9 Causality: The scientific report 2.10 Recruiting the scientific expert 2.11 Expectations of the expert: The court. 2.12 Expectations of the expert: The solicitor/expert relationship2.13 The expert report: The contract 2.14 Compiling the report 2.15 The toxin or toxins 2.16 Toxin entry 2.17 Toxin chemical nature 2.18 Exacerbating factors in toxin absorption 2.19 Causation: Mechanisms 2.20 Contemporaneous knowledge 2.21 The initial draft 2.22 Silence in court 2.23 Report writing in the real world References 3 Acute toxicity: Case histories of solvent exposure 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Solvents in adhesives 3.3 Solvent toxicity 3.4 The real-world confusion of symptoms. 3.5 Case histories: General format3.6 Case history 1: Mr A and volatile petroleum mixture exposure 3.6.1 Case comment 3.7 Case history 2: Mr B and dichloromethane exposure 3.7.1 Case comment 3.8 Mr B and dichloromethane: Further developments 3.8.1 Further case comment 3.9 Case history 3: Mr C and chronic solvent exposure and behaviour 3.9.1 Case comment 3.10 Summary of chronic solvent toxicity and behaviour References 4 Chronic and permanent injury: Bladder cancer and occupation 4.1 Bladder cancer 4.2 The patient's perspective 4.3 Bladder cancer: Causes and risks. 4.4 Bladder cancer and occupation: Industrial injury benefit claims4.5 Case history 1: Mr D 4.6 Case history 2: Mr E 4.7 Case history 3: Mr F 4.8 Case history 4: Mrs G 4.9 Bladder cancer and occupation: Legal claims for compensation 4.10 Mr H: bladder cancer and the car industry 4.10.1 Case comment 4.11 Mr J: Bladder cancer crankcase oils and diesel 4.11.1 Case comment 4.11.2 Further comment 4.12 Summary References 5 Chronic and acute toxicity of herbicides and pesticides 5.1Introduction 5.2Herbicide/pesticide toxicity evaluation 5.3Herbicides: Toxicity.

Every year throughout the world, individuals' health is damaged by their exposure to toxic chemicals at work. In most cases these problems will resolve, but many will sustain permanent damage. Whilst any justified claim for compensation requires medical and legal evidence a crucial and often controversial component of this process is the establishment of a causal link between the individual's condition and exposure to a specific chemical or substance. Causation, in terms of how a substance or substances led the claimant to his or her current plight, can be difficult to establish and the main purpose of this book, is to provide the aspiring expert report writer with a concise, practical guide that uses case histories to illuminate the process of establishing causation in occupational toxicity proceedings.

In summary:

• A practical, accessible guide to the preparation of balanced, scientifically sound expert reports in the context of occupational toxicology.
• Focuses on the scientist's role in establishing a causal link between exposure to toxins and an individual's ill health.
• Includes real-life case histories drawn from the Author's 15 years experience in this area to illustrate the principles involved.

Expert Report Writing in Toxicology: Forensic, Scientific and Legal Aspects proves invaluable to scientists across a range of disciplines needing guidance as to what is expected of them in terms of the best use of their expertise and how to present their findings in a manner that is authoritative, balanced and informative.

Every year throughout the world, individuals' health is damaged by their exposure to toxic chemicals at work. In most cases these problems will resolve, but many will sustain permanent damage. Whilst any justified claim for compensation requires medical and legal evidence a crucial and often controversial component of this process is the establishment of a causal link between the individual's condition and exposure to a specific chemical or substance. Causation, in terms of how a substance or substances led the claimant to his or her current plight, can be difficult to establish and the main purpose of this book, is to provide the aspiring expert report writer with a concise, practical guide that uses case histories to illuminate the process of establishing causation in occupational toxicity proceedings. In summary: A practical, accessible guide to the preparation of balanced, scientifically sound expert reports in the context of occupational toxicology. Focuses on the scientist's role in establishing a causal link between exposure to toxins and an individual's ill health. Includes real-life case histories drawn from the Author's 15 years experience in this area to illustrate the principles involved. Expert Report Writing in Toxicology: Forensic, Scientific and Legal Aspects proves invaluable to scientists across a range of disciplines needing guidance as to what is expected of them in terms of the best use of their expertise and how to present their findings in a manner that is authoritative, balanced and informative.