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Toxicologist
Toxicologists study and analyse the harmful effects chemicals have on living things and the environment. They test and develop ways to avoid or reduce these effects. For example, toxicologists help to ensure that food and drink products are free from contaminants, and that drugs and medicines are as safe as possible. They protect the environment, for example, by monitoring air pollution.
Work activities
Toxicologists investigate how chemicals, drugs and other substances affect our biological systems. Toxicologists can use a wide range of technology and procedures, including cell culture systems, microscopic techniques, mathematical modelling and work with animals. They use their findings to advise governments, agencies and individuals, for example, that are involved in the development of drugs or food additives.
Industrial toxicologists play a very important role in developing safe and effective products, including food and drink, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics and household products. They test products during and after their manufacture, checking that they can work well at levels that don’t cause harm and haven’t been contaminated by toxic materials.
Pharmaceutical toxicologists ensure the safety of drugs and medicines. They prove a drug’s safety by first testing its effects on cells in laboratory experiments (“in vitro” testing) and then animals and human volunteers (“in vivo”). If the toxicologist already has knowledge of similar drugs’ toxicity, this can reduce the amount of testing needed.
Clinical toxicologists have specialist knowledge of the effects of drugs and other chemicals on humans, and how to treat people who have been poisoned by these chemicals. They usually work in hospitals, treating people who have been poisoned by a drug (either accidentally or intentionally).
Occupational toxicologists ensure safe conditions for the people who produce or handle chemicals every day. They advise on handling, storing and disposing of chemicals safely. They analyse existing toxicological data to help the government produce regulations for the use of a new chemical.
Forensic toxicologists are involved in legal cases, investigating and explaining the circumstances in which drugs are involved. They take part in a wide range of cases, from drink driving to fatal accidents, suicides and murder investigations where deliberate or accidental poisoning is suspected.
Ecotoxicologists protect the environment from harmful chemicals, studying their impact on populations and ecosystems. They trace the movement of pollutants through food chains, identify how wildlife reacts to chemicals and undertake detailed studies of wildlife in polluted areas.
Regulatory toxicologists help governments to set and enforce safety regulations for the use of chemicals. They also answer questions from politicians and the public.
There are other specialist areas, including neurotoxicology (to do with the effects of chemicals on the nervous system) and immunotoxicology (effects on the immune system).
Personal qualities and skills
To be a toxicologist, you’ll need:
- An enquiring and analytical mind.
- To be accurate and methodical when doing experiments.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- The ability to use and interpret statistics and mathematical models.
- Teamwork skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- The ability to explain results clearly and concisely, including in written reports.
Because toxicologists deal with poisonous materials, they must be able to learn and follow safety procedures. The process of ensuring the safety of chemical products may involve tests on animals, so you might have to be prepared to be involved in this. However, studies increasingly involve cell or tissue models, so you might not be involved in animal testing.
Pay and opportunities
Salaries for toxicologists vary. Starting salaries for graduates are likely to be around £26,000 a year. Toxicologists usually earn up to £40,000 a year.
Toxicologists usually work 37-42 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, they might have early starts, late finishes, shifts and weekend work, depending on the industry and work they are involved in. Part-time opportunities are available.
Demand for toxicologists is growing because the range of chemical products keeps expanding.
Toxicologists also work in hospital laboratories, research bases and in the Civil Service. There are opportunities for toxicologists to teach and carry out research in universities. Postgraduate research students often go on to do postdoctoral research and teaching. Opportunities for toxicologists occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Vacancies are advertised in science magazines such as New Scientist (which also posts jobs on its website), on the Civil Service Jobs website, on specialist job boards, and in national/local newspapers. You can become a laboratory scientist specialising in chemistry through a degree apprenticeship, so check the Find an Apprenticeship service too.
Entry routes and training
To become a toxicologist, you’ll need at least a relevant degree. A small number of specialist BSc (Hons) courses are available. Courses usually combine toxicology with related subjects such as forensic science, human biology, immunology, pharmacology and chemistry. However, most entrants study toxicology at postgraduate MSc or PhD level, after taking first degrees in subjects like biology, chemistry or pharmacology.
Some universities offer degree courses with a foundation year. This is an extra year for students who don’t have the specified science A-levels for entry. Typically, clinical toxicologists are medically qualified, having taken five-year degree courses in medicine to qualify as doctors, and then gone on to specialise in toxicology. Other entrants have completed a degree or postgraduate degree in toxicology. If you aren’t medically qualified, you might be supporting clinical colleagues by analysing samples from patients for toxic substances.
You may be able to begin your pathway to becoming a toxicologist by undertaking a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship as a laboratory scientist.
Training can be in the workplace, covering particular laboratory techniques and specialist equipment. Some employers sponsor toxicologists to take a postgraduate qualification while in employment. You can work towards membership recognition, offered by the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal Society of Biology. You may also be able sit the diploma examination (DABT) of the American Board of Toxicology. The British Toxicology Society encourages toxicologists to take part in continuing professional development by doing things like going to relevant conferences and meetings, preparing new teaching and presentation materials, and contributing to scientific journals.
Progression could be into a supervisory or management position, perhaps with responsibility for training.
Qualifications
For entry to a degree course in toxicology, the usual minimum requirement is:
- Two to three A levels. Chemistry or biology is usually essential.
- GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
- A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths.
Alternatives qualifications include:
- Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
To apply for a degree apprenticeship, you will need:
- At least two A-levels (in chemistry and another science).
- GCSEs in maths and English, and potentially science.
However, course requirements vary, so please check prospectuses carefully.
Adult opportunities
Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.
Some entrants have developed laboratory skills during industrial work placements.
If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a degree course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, for example, Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to enter an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider.
Sponsorship is sometimes available from larger chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and also government departments/agencies and utility companies. Funding for postgraduate study and research is available, through universities, from UKRI (UK Research and Development).
