In this Lecture 5, three case studies were presented to spotlight the relevance of toxicology to epidemiologic investigations. In the next lecture (Lecture 6), three case studies will also be presented to demonstrate the importance and relevance of epidemiology to toxicologic studies.

As stated previously (last slide of Lecture 4), it is important to note that the distinction made in this and the next lecture between the two sides is more a gimmick of drawing the student’s attention, than a representation of the reality. For each of these six cases and others not discussed, there is some truth that one side might have initiated or dominated the historical events or undertaking, but that would be pretty much the extent of the distinction.

For instance, the third case study just presented was on AIDS. Given that its prevention through changes in personal lifestyle has not reached an optimal level, AIDS thus remains pretty much an infection problem awaiting solution being pursued by immunotoxicologists, medical virologists, and the kind. Meanwhile, AIDS or HIV infection continues to be an epidemiologic problem, in that it is a serious pandemic in every account.

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