Toxicology is a field of science that helps us understand the harmful effects that chemicals, substances, or situations, can have on people, animals, and the environment. Some refer to toxicology as the “Science of Safety” because as a field it has evolved from a science focused on studying poisons and adverse effects of chemical exposures, to a science devoted to studying safety. Toxicology uses the power of science to predict what, and how chemicals may cause harm and then shares that information to protect public health. A toxicologist is a scientist who has a strong understanding of many scientific disciplines, such as biology and chemistry, and typically works with chemicals and other substances to determine if they are toxic or harmful to humans and other living organisms or the environment. Just like there are different types of doctors, there are different types of toxicology specialists. A toxicologist working in the pharmaceutical industry, for example, might work to make sure that potential new drugs are safe for testing in clinical trials for humans.