This is the sixth of 10 lectures on toxicologic epidemiology. It has been prepared to provide the students with three toxicologic events for the purpose of illustrating the epidemiologic side of toxicology. The linkage between epidemiology and toxicology was introduced briefly in Lecture 1, and further conceptualized in the second through fourth lectures. It is thought that for some toxicologist and epidemiologist practitioners, the use of historical cases is perhaps the most direct approach to convincing them about the intimate relationship between the two professions. Three historical epidemics were already presented in the last (fifth) lecture praising the toxicologic side of epidemiology.

Note that the distinction made in this and the last 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.

The titles of the 10 lectures are: (1) Toxicology and Epidemiology; (2) Public Health and Risk Assessment; (3) Toxicology and Risk Assessment; (4) Epidemiology and Risk Assessment; (5) Toxicologic Side of Epidemiology; (6) Epidemiologic Side of Toxicology; (7) Human Exposure Assessment I; (8) Human Exposure Assessment II; (9) Characterization of Health Risk; and (10) Toxicologic Epidemiology.