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Zahidul Islam Zhi Liang Zhu

China

updated Aug 30, 2010 by Nick Thorp

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Country Correspondent
Zhixiong Zhuang
Zhi Liang Zhu


Overview


View China in a larger map Legend: = Government Agency, = NGO, = University, = Professional Society, = Poison Control Center, = Toxic Site.

Ancient China's knowledge of toxicants dates back over 5000 years. The famous folk legend of Shennong Tastes all Kinds of Herbs offers guidance on how to differentiate foods from drugs and poisons in China. Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong Native Herbs Anthology) is considered the first Chinese monograph on pharmacology. It itemized 365 medicinal products (including plant, animal and mineral) and categorized them by broad toxic effect - large, medium, and small. Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun, written in 610 by Chao Yuan Fang during the Sui Dynasty, identifies snake, bee and scorpion venom as toxic agents, and offers numerous detailed observations and descriptions of toxic gases, concentration distributions, testing methods, and preventative countermeasures. In Wai Tai Mi Yao, written in 752 by Wang Tao during the Tang Dynasty, there are reports of testing animals for effects by exposing them to toxic gases. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Song Ci (in 1247), in Xi Yuan Ji Lu records the use of poison for suicide or homicide, and suggests methods of detoxification and poison identification. Ben Cao Gang Mu, written in 1590 by Li Shi Zhen during the Ming Dynasty, and which describes numerous poison and discusses the toxicity of drugs, is often regarded as the first truly comprehensive and seminal pharmacology and toxicology work. Also in the Ming Dynasty, Tian Gong Kai Wu, written in 1637 by Song Ying Xing, discusses occupational mercury poisoning and its prevention.

Since the 1920s, parallel with the introduction of western medicine and science, forensic scientists in China have begun to identify poisons by pathology and chemical analysis. Of special note is Chen Ke Hui, a famous Chinese pharmacologist who, in 1934, discovered an antidote for cyanide poisoning by ferrihemoglobin forming agent and sodium hyposulfite. Modern toxicology in China could be said to originate with the establishment of the People's Republic of China. At that time, poisoning and treatment was largely the task of occupational health. Chemicals toxicity testing and toxicity classification, though, began to emerge. Industrial toxicology developed in the 1950s, and the training of professionals in this area as well as the establishment of acute toxicity testing methods were emphasized. In 1957, the first training class in toxicology was held in China by former Soviet Union experts, who introduced standard toxicity theory and research methods. In 1960, a number of Chinese institutions participated in a training class in military toxicology. Senior pharmacologists and toxicologists also initiated safety evaluation for foods, environmental agents, and drugs. Mutagenesis and teratogenesis research methods were introduced in the 1970s.

Since reforms in China at the end of the 1970s, the national education authority considered the global importance of toxicology and established educational requirements. Toxicology Basic Courses in Schools of Public Health and the Departments of Preventive Medicine, as well as postgraduate education for master's and doctorate degrees were also established. In the 1980s, Health Toxicology branches of the Chinese Society of Preventive Medicine (CSPM), and the Chinese Society of Environmental Mutagens (CSEM) were set up and published the Journal of Toxicology (original name: Journal of Health Toxicology) and Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis, and Mutagenesis, respectively. In 1993, the Chinese Society of Toxicology (CST) made its appearance, a milestone for toxicology in China. CST consists of 18 special committees, and jointly, with the Chinese Society of Pharmacology (CSP), issues the Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

In the 1980s and 90s, China send many toxicologists to the United States, Europe, Japan and other more developed countries for training. They returned with knowledge of state of the art theories and methods which they then communicated to other scientists. At the same time, via scholarly articles and computer communication, developments in Chinese toxicology were relayed throughout the world. This not only promoted Chinese toxicology to a new level, but advanced the foundation of interdisciplinary toxicological research. Technologies in cellular and molecular biology, for example, were introduced into toxicology. This would include detection of TNT hemoglobin adducts, benzene-DNA adducts, DNA-protein adducts, and oncogenes and relevant proteins, the foundation of transgene cell strain and transgene animal models, separation and identification of gene mutations, etc. Significant achievements were also made in reproductive toxicology, immunotoxicology, liver and kidney toxicology, neurotoxicology, and behavioral toxicology, all critical in the public health arena.

Bringing the story up to date, in the 21st century, as the human genome project has evolved, toxicological research in China has utilized genomics, metabonomics, proteomics, gene chip (DNA chip) and other cutting edge techniques, to carry out research on toxic mechanisms of xenobiotics and polymorphism on environmental response genes (e.g. xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme genes and DNA repair genes).

In the field of Regulatory Toxicology, there were no hygienic standards for exogenous chemicals in China before the founding of the People's Republic of China. In the 1950s, by referring to the hygienic standard for tolerance limits of the former Soviet Union, China issued corresponding Chinese standards for some chemicals. Afterwards, as the state situation in China evolved, tolerance limits were prepared, until at this point in time, China has standards in place for a great number of chemical compounds.

Beginning with the 1980s, China issued some relevant laws and regulations to protect the environment and public health. These include:

  • Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution（adopted firstly in 1984, revised in 1996）
  • Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution（adopted firstly in 1987, revised in 1995 and 2000）,
  • Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China（1989）
  • Food Hygiene Law of the People's Republic of China（1995）
  • Law of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Drug（1989）
  • Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Diseases（2002）
  • Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quantity and Safety of Agricultural products（2006

In the meantime, some procedures and standards for safety evaluation of exogenous chemicals were also issued and adopted, for example,

  • Procedures and Methods of Safety Evaluation for Cosmetics（GB 7919-1987）
  • Procedures for Toxicological Assessment of Food Safety (GB 15193.1-2003)
  • Procedures for Toxicological Assessment of Pesticide（1991）
  • Toxicological Test methods of Pesticides for Registration(GB/T 15670-1995)
  • Guideline for New Drug(western medicine) Toxicology Research（1993）
  • Standard for Drug Non-clinic Research Quality Management（1999）
  • Standard for Chemicals Toxicity Identification Management（2000）
  • Technical Standard for Testing and Assessment of Health Food（2003）
  • Standard for Pesticide Toxicology Security Evaluation Laboratory（2003）
  • Technical Standard for Toxicity Testing of Chemicals（2004）
  • Standard for Good Laboratory Practices of Pesticide Toxicology Assessment (NY/T718-2003)
  • Guldelines for the Testing of Chemicals ( HJ/T 153-2004)
  • Guldelines for the Hazard Evaluation of New Chemical Substances( HJ/T 154-2004)
  • Guldelines for Chemical Testing Good Laboratory Practices (HJ/T 155-2004)

A version of this article was published in Information Resources in Toxicology, 4th Edition, Zhixiong Zhuang, MD, PhD, Copyright Elsevier (2009).


Government Agencies


Non-Government Organizations


Universities


Professional Societies


Poison Control Centers

  • Chemical Aid (a list of preventive measures from National Economy and Trade Department, Shanghai chemistry poison consultation center) (化救通) (国家经贸委上海化学毒物咨询中心编制的化学品安全指南)
    • Toxic Chemicals in English and Chinese (a listing of highly toxic chemicals categorized by class from English name, Chinese name, molecular name, CAS number and UN number) (剧毒化学品) (剧毒化学品中英文名称，分子式，CAS号， UN号)
  • National Poison Control Center (中国疾病预防控制中心中毒控制中心)
  • Shanghai Poison Control Center (上海市中毒控制中心)


Databases


Miscellaneous Resources


Key Publications

  • Journals
  • Monographs
    • CAI Dao-ji. Environmental Toxicology of Pesticides. China Environmental Science Press, 1999
      蔡道基. 农药环境毒理学. 中国环境科学出版社，1999
    • GU Zu-Wei. Panorama of Modern Toxicology. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press, 2005
      顾祖维. 现代毒理学概论.北京：化学工业出版社，2005
    • GU Zu-Wei ZHANG Sheng-nian WANG Ying SHAO Jing-an. Advances in the Occupational Medicine. Beijing: People's Health Publishing House, 1998
      顾祖维 张胜年 王莹 邵静安 职业医学进展，北京：人民卫生出版社，1998
    • HE Feng-sheng. China Occupational Medicine. Beijing: People's Health Publishing House, 1999
      何凤生.中华职业医学. 北京：人民卫生出版社, 1999
    • HE Shao-xiong. Chronopharmacology and Chronotherapeutics. Tiajing: Tiajing Science and Technology Publishing House 1998
      何绍雄. 时间药理学与时间治疗学. 天津：天津科学技术出版社，1998
    • HUANG Bo-jun. Toxicology of Pesticides. People's Army Press, 2004
      黄伯俊. 农药毒理学.人民军医出版社，2004
    • HUANG Ji-wu. English-Chinese Toxicology Dictionary. Beijing, Science Press, 2002
      黄吉武. 英汉毒理学词汇 北京:科学出版社，2002
    • HUI Xiu-juan. Environmental Toxicology. Chemical Industry Press, 2003
      惠秀娟. 环境毒理学.化学工业出版社，2003
    • JI Yun-jing. Handbook on Applied Toxicology. Beijing: China Environmental Science Publishing House, 1991
      纪云晶. 实用毒理学手册. 北京：中国环境科学出版社，1991
    • JIN Tai yi. Basis of Toxicology. Shanghai, Fudan University Press, 2003
      金泰廙 .毒理学基础. 上海：复旦大学出版社，2003
    • JIN Tai yi. Modern Toxicology. Shanghai: Fudan University Press, 2004
      金泰廙 . 现代毒理学.上海：复旦大学出版社，2004
    • JIANG Quan-guan JI Yun-jing Chang Yuan-xun. Handbook on Prevention and Therapy of Environmental Chemical Toxicants. Beijing: Chemical Industry Publishing Hause, 2004
      江泉观 纪云晶 常元勋. 环境化学毒物防治手册，北京：化学工业出版社，2004
    • JIANG Quan-guan. Male Reproduction Toxicology: Theory & Methods. Beijing, Beijing Medical University? China Concordance University Combined Press, 1994
      江泉观. 雄(男)性别生殖毒理学:理论与方法. 北京：北京医科大学?中国协和医科大学联合 出版社，1994
    • KONG Zhi-ming. Environmental Toxicology, Nanjing, Nanjing University Press, 2004
      孔志明. 环境毒理学. 南京,南京大学出版社，2004
    • LI Shou qi. Principals and Methods of Toxicology. Chengdu: Sichan Science and Technology Publishing House 2003
      李寿祺. 毒理学原理与方法. 成都： 四川科学技术出版社，2003
    • LI Yong，ZHANG Tian-bao. Developmenta Toxicology: Research Methods and Experimental Techniques. Beijing, Beijing Medical University? China Concordance University Combined Press, 2000
      李勇. 张天宝. 发育毒理学研究方法和实验技术. 北京：北京医科大学?中国协和医科大学联合出版社，2000
    • LIN Kong-xun. Mycocide Toxicology. China Agriculture Press, 1995
      林孔勋. 杀菌剂毒理学. 中国农业出版社，1995
    • LIU Guo-lian. Cytotoxicology. Beijing, Military Medical Academy Press, 2001
      刘国廉 细胞毒理学. 北京：军事医学科学院出版社，2001
    • LIU Shu-zheng. Uranium Toxicology. Beijing, Atomic Energy Press, 1995
      刘树铮. 铀毒理学. 北京：原子能出版社，1995
    • MENG Zi-qiang. Environmental Toxicology. Beijing: China Environmental Science Publishing House, 2000
      孟紫强. 环境毒理学. 北京：中国环境科学出版社, 2000
    • SHEN Hui-qi GU Zu-Wei WU Yi-qun. Biological Monitoring: Basic Theory and Application. Beijing Medical University and Concordance Medical University Combined Publishing House，1996
      沈惠麒 .顾祖维 吴宜群. 生物监测理论基础及应用，北京：北京医科大学中国协和医科大学联合出版社, 1996
    • SHEN Jian-zhong. Animal Toxicology. Beijing, China Agriculture Press, 2002
      沈建忠. 动物毒理学. 中国农业出版社，2002
    • TONG Jjian Feng Zhi-ying. Combined Effects of Environmental Chemicals. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Literature Publishing House, 1994
      童建 冯致英. 环境化学物的联合毒作用.上海：上海科学技术文献出版社，1994
    • WANG Xiang-pu. Toxicology of Kidney. Changsha: Wunan Science and Technology Publishing House 2004
      王翔朴 肾脏毒理学 长沙：湖南科学技术出版社，2004
    • WANG Yi-lan JIAN Xue-zi GU Zu-Wei. Environment and Reproduction. Shanghai: Shanghai Medical University Publishing House, 1994
      王簃兰 蒋学之 顾祖维. 环境与生殖. 上海：上海医科大学出版社，1994
    • WANG Ying Gu Zu-Wei ZHANG Sheng-nian LI Wen- yu. Modern Occupational Medicine. Beijing: People's Health Publishing House, 1996
      王莹 顾祖维 张胜年 李文煜. 现代职业医学. 北京：人民卫生出版社，1996
    • WU Zhong-liang，XIA Shui-jun. LU Bai-qin. Toxicology Dictionary. Wubei Science & Technology Publishing House, 2005
      吴中亮，夏世钧.毒理学辞典. 湖北科学技术出版社，2005
    • XIA Shi-jun WU Zhong-liang. The Basis of Molecular Toxicology. Wuhan: Wubei Science and Technology Publishing House, 2001
      夏世钧 吴中亮. 分子毒理学基础. 武汉：湖北科学技术出版社, 2001
    • XIA Yuan-xun. Comprehensive Book on Toxicities of Chemicals. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Literature Publishing House, 1992
      夏元洵. 化学物质毒性全书. 上海：上海科学技术文献出版社, 1992
    • YANG Xiao-quan. Food Toxicology. China Light Industry Press, 1999
      杨晓泉 食品毒理学.中国轻工业出版社, 1999
    • YIN Mu-quan. Genetic Toxicology. Beijing: Science Publishing House, 2002
      印木泉. 遗传毒理学. 北京：科学出版社, 2002
    • ZHANG Xian. Toxicology. Beijing, Beijing Medical University? China Concordance University Combined Press, 1997
      张铣. 毒理学. 北京：北京医科大学?中国协和医科大学联合出版社，1997
    • ZHOU Li-guo. Drug Toxicology. Wuhan,Wubai Science & Technology Press, 2001
      周立国. 药物毒理学. 武汉：湖北科学技术出版社，2001
    • ZHOU Qi-xing. Ecotoxicology. Beijing: Science Press, 2004
      周启星 生态毒理学. 北京：科学出版社，2004
    • ZHU Mo-zhong. Meat Food Toxicology. Shanghai, Shanghai Science & Technology Press, 1992
      朱模忠 肉食品毒理学.上海：上海科学技术出版社，1992
    • ZHU Shou-fen. Basic Toxicology. China Concordance University Press. 2003
      祝寿芬. 基础毒理学.中国协和医科大学出版社，2003
    • ZHU Shou-peng. Radiotoxicology. Suzhou, Suzhou University Press, 2004
      朱寿彭. 放射毒理学. 苏州大学出版社，2004


Legal Links


About China


Multilateral Organization Contacts


Literature References from TOXLINE (China)

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