La toxicologie : la multidisciplinarité au service de la sécurité sanitaire et environnementale

Toxicology: a multidisciplinary approach for improving health and environmental safety Toxicology provides the scientific bases to understand and evaluate risks. Complementary physical, chemical and biological data have to be gathered to establish that transversal analysis which helps to elaborate the appropriate technical and legal measures for protecting public health and environment. Thus, risk awareness, public confidence or fear largely depend on the toxicologist expertise. By helping to determine the risk/benefit ratio of new technologies, toxicology has also become a growing challenge for economy and competitiveness. If the renewed interest for toxicology is a reason for feeling satisfied, we nevertheless have to keep in mind that this is its ability to cross other scientific fields which makes its strength and interest. Thus, multidisciplinarity represents a real asset for its future.