The Toxicology Group is one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) many Interest Groups. The Interest Groups are member-driven groups which exist to benefit RSC members, and the wider chemical science community, in line with the RSC's strategy and charter.
Aims
To represent and inform members in the RSC of matters pertaining to the risks from chemicals in the workplace and in the environment. This is distinct from the issue of environmental contamination as the Toxicology Group seeks to address the toxicological implications and risk management of chemicals.
Objectives
- Continue to be the authoritative expert group in the RSC for toxicological matters and related themes. Typical areas of relevancy are those related to chemical toxicology matters in the environment, pharmaceuticals, food and other substances (some household) in use in society.
- Contribute where relevant to the activities of the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Community (ESEC) in general and in particular in matters pertaining to environmental and occupational toxicology, and the Environmental and Regulation Collective (EnREC).
- Promote informed scientific discussion of chemical/toxicological issues through the provision of newsletters, scientific meetings and communications with other scientific bodies external to the RSC (e.g. BTS, RCPath, Reg.Tox.), and within the RSC membership and Groups/Communities.
- To encourage and promote engagement with educational institutions on scientific matters pertaining to chemical toxicology in general and the environment. This is to inform the need to foster the education of students that fully encompasses these subject areas.
Activities
- The Group has an important input into the Environmental and Regulation Collective (EnREC) of the RSC, which is the main policy unit contributing to the advancement of science and its role in informing policy and regulation. The RSC Toxicology Group has a significant voice in the RSC and its public and government advice service.
- The Group maintains formal links with the British Toxicological Society and the UK Register of Toxicologists.
- The Group's Faces of Toxicology videos highlight the science of toxicology and the different career paths available.
- Toxicology Topics, in Brief, are produced by the committee to give an overview of relevant toxicology issues. They can be useful educational resources. See downloadable files.
- Newsletters are produced to inform group members of the activities of the committee and to publicise recent and forthcoming meetings, new legislation, consultations etc.
- Bursaries for event attendance are available to Toxicology group members. See downloadable files.
- Biennial Toxicology Award. The call for nominations for the 2024 RSC Toxicology Group Early Career Award is now open. Submissions to be submitted by 30 September 2023. See downloadable files.
Get Involved
We are always looking for new members who are keen to get involved and to help organise our activities. If you would like to find out more please contact the Secretary.
The Environment, Sustainability and Energy Community is also open to all members of the RSC as a society wide grouping to represent environmental and related activities.
We also encourage you to connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@RSCToxGroup).
How to Join
RSC members can join the Toxicology Group by updating their details in the “My communities and subscriptions” tab of the online RSC membership area. Please click here to login and add to your list of Interest Groups.
Quick links
Forthcoming events
Forthcoming events organised by the Toxicology Group.
Contact the Secretary
For further information on the Toxicology Group you can contact the Secretary, Mr Chris Waine CSci CChem MRSC.
Support for interest groups
Useful information and resources for all RSC interest groups.
Also of Interest
Join the Toxicology My RSC Group
Watch the Faces of Toxicology videos
This series of videos highlight the science of toxicology and different career paths available.
The BTS is the largest toxicology society in the UK, representing the interest of about 1000 members from all branches of the science.
The mission of The Royal College of Pathologists is to promote excellence.
This site is to assist people who wish to learn about registration as a toxicologist and to give information relating to the Registration Panel of the UK Register of Toxicologists.
SETAC-UK is one of two local branches of SETAC within Europe. The UK branch aims are to promote a scientific forum for environmental toxicologists and chemists in the UK, multi disciplinary research into environmental problems and the application and development of fundamental research to applied problem-solving in the environment.
Downloadable files
Toxicology Group Newsletter 2023
Toxicology Group Newsletter 2022
Toxicology Topics in Brief
Committee
Chair
Ms Kate Jones CChem FRSC
Kate Jones is team lead for Biological Monitoring at the Health & Safety Executive. She has wide experience and expertise in the biological monitoring of organic compounds, this includes skills in the use of specialist analytical techniques and instrumentation; method development; toxicology; and gaining approval for and running human volunteer studies. Kate has been heavily involved in developing biological monitoring for isocyanates in the UK as a means of assessing and controlling exposure. She is actively involved with the British Occupational Hygiene Society and is the UK national secretary for ICOH.
Secretary
Mr Chris Waine CSci CChem MRSC
Chris Waine is a European Registered Toxicologist, working for bibra toxicology advice and consulting, a specialist human health hazard and risk assessment provider. Chris specialises in supporting regulatory submissions from clients across the chemical industry, with a particular focus on the EU REACH, CLP and Biocidal Product regulations. His particular interests lie in the field of read-across, (Q)SAR and other alternatives to animal testing, presenting on these topics at European conferences. Chris co-ordinates the RSC Toxicology Group Committee’s social media and online presence; you can follow the Group on Twitter @RSCToxGroup.
Contact the secretaryTreasurer
Dr John MacLachlan CSci CChem FRSC
Dr John MacLachlan is a retired academic from Glasgow Caledonian University, with teaching, research and consultancy interests in applications of analytical chemistry; and has specialist skills in forensic and environmental toxicology. Specific areas of expertise are in the use of GC-MS and LC-MS in the trace analysis of a range of organic compounds in body fluids, and in environmental matrices, including POP/EDCs, drugs of abuse, and additives/contaminants in food. Recent research includes the “noPILLS” project in the determination of pharmaceuticals in waste water as part of an international EU(INTEREG) project, representing Scotland/UK; morphine/alcohol dependency in mice (MRC funded with Bristol University); sterol biomarkers in human neurological diseases (St Georges Hospital, London).
Previous posts were as an Environmental Scientist/Mass Spectroscopist with the Public Analyst Laboratory, and as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Strathclyde University (GC-MS of biogenic amines in human tears and other body fluids).
His academic leadership is based on the above core areas of analytical chemistry/toxicology and so was Chair of the Forensic Investigation Programme Board, and the GCU representative on the RSC Heads of Chemistry Group (HCUK). He is currently a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, a Member of the Biochemical Society, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Society. He has published over 60 scientific papers/articles/expert witness reports, and has been an active member of the RSC (Toxicology Group and the Analytical Division-Scotland Region) for many years, in the promotion of chemistry in various outreach activities and including organising scientific meetings/conferences.