Toxicology involves identifying and studying how harmful biological agents, chemicals and drug overdoses affect the human body. Toxicologists may work in industrial, academic, forensic, clinical, occupational or pharmaceutical fields.
Common activities in this job include planning and conducting experiments inside and outside laboratories, data analysis, writing scientific papers and reports, and advising people how to safely handle substances which could be toxic.
This job is especially important in the pharmaceutical industry where all substances are assumed to be toxic unless proven otherwise. Therefore, the experimental data, tests and risk assessments conducted by toxicologists in this field rank among their most significant duties
Most toxicologists either have a university degree in their subject or have taken classes in the subject while studying for another university degree. Growing numbers of workers in the filed of toxicology are obtaining graduate level degrees with sponsorship from their employers. Starting toxicology salaries range between £21,500 to £26,500 a year based on location, and relocation is often necessary for those wishing to advance their careers.