Recent developments in analytical toxicology:for better or for worse

When considering the state of the art in toxicology from an analytical perspective, the key developments relate to three major areas. (1) Forensic horizon: Today forensic analysis has broadened its scope dramatically, to include workplace toxicology, drug abuse testing, drugs and driving, doping, environmental and veterinary toxicology, etc. (2) Basic analytical issues, focusing on a strongly widening array of relevant substances and metabolites at ever decreasing levels in a large variety of matrices. (3) Validation and interpretation: Because forensic analyses may have severe, punitive consequences, validation of methods and approaches plus proficiency testing are of utmost importance. Also, interpretation of the analytical results must be done with prudence in view of chemical and biological diversity in society. This review discusses the various pros and cons in these developments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.