Abstract
Authors prove the need of super-individual approach in environmental toxicity studies since the specific hu- man-environment interactions can only be interpreted using basic rules of ecology. The main goal of the paper is to collect, systematize and weigh several new factors of vulnerability of populations to the environmental exposures. Human popula- tions influence and are influenced by the physical settings and cultural systems in which they live. That is; social, cultural, historical, economic etc. determinants are at least so important confounders as genetic or other kind of vulnerability of the population. Authors demonstrate different outcomes of environmental exposures depending on mainly non-material factors. Good examples, when social factors may lead to cultural maladaptation that contributes to the appearance of cognitive or other dysfunctions through biological mechanisms (fiber or metal toxicity) in case of children's elevated blood lead or dis- proportional exposure of subpopulations to asbestos. The novel super-individual approach of human environmental toxi- cology proposed here - as an integrated part of both preventive medicine and ecology - based upon the multiple nature of humans, and will join the present change of paradigm in human environmental studies.
Highlights
Working as a researcher and university teacher on the frontiers of environmental, social and health sciences one has often faced the following questions: Do medical students or the future physicians need any super-individual approach and attitude? They will treat and cure individuals, won't they? It is the time to revise these or similar views
Prevention is or – at least – not less important field, involving disciplines to be concerned at the super-individual level, e.g., epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases; medical demography, geography and sociology; social medicine; behavioral science; etc
The modern concept of health and disease is a basic principle of preventive medicine
Summary
Working as a researcher and university teacher on the frontiers of environmental, social and health sciences one has often faced the following questions: Do medical students or the future physicians need any super-individual approach and attitude? They will treat and cure individuals, won't they? It is the time to revise these or similar views. Working as a researcher and university teacher on the frontiers of environmental, social and health sciences one has often faced the following questions: Do medical students or the future physicians need any super-individual approach and attitude? Today's medicine does not merely mean curing at all, despite the public believes it[1]. Medical science has three main branches, and the curative (or rather clinical involving diagnostics) medicine is only one of them. Prevention (preventive medicine) is or – at least – not less important field, involving disciplines to be concerned at the super-individual level, e.g., epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases; medical demography, geography and sociology; social medicine; behavioral science; etc. (the third and youngest branch is the regenerative medicine, indicated by the stem-cell research and treatments.). Let the approach be political, economic or scientific, the knowledge of methods, theory and practice of prevention is essential for the students and medical doctors, as well
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