Mashhad’s Toxicology Research Center Is the Only One with International and English Publications

Professor Mahdi Balali, father of toxicology in Iran, said: in addition to publishing research articles, Toxicology Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences annually publishes an international medical book in a variety of toxicology topics. It is the only research center throughout the country that has had publications in English.

According to WebDa, in a report presented about the developmental procedure and scientific improvement of Toxicology Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, professor Balali said: this center is a unique one throughout the country. Established in 2004 in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, this center pursued the purpose of meeting the country’s dire need to resolve toxicology concerns as to the very extensive spectrum of this science.

The father of Iran’s toxicology said: as soon as it was established, this research center received university’s approval and was enacted by the Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Medical Education immediately afterwards, and finally, in a period of less than two years, it received its finalized official enactment.

Professor Balali considered employing capable and efficient work forces in the scope of toxicology as an important factor and asserted: the Toxicology Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences is among the first centers that has employed research faculty members, in addition to the cooperation and activities of faculty members in various toxicology majors and pharmacology.

He added: this center has 12 members in its supreme council and 20 educational faculty members. Also, three PhD students are passing courses here.   

As professor Balali put it, the purpose of establishing this research center was resolving the regional and country’s problems in the scope of toxicology and poisoning incidences. He pointed out that: there have been a lot of efforts to promote this center. If the country’s executives believe in this science, these successes can be multiplied.

This veteran professor of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences pointed out that: in addition to publishing and presenting successful research articles, this center annually publishes a medical-scientific book in a variety of toxicology and poisoning topics. The outcome of research efforts in this center mounted to publishing two books rather than one last year.

He considered Mashhad’s Toxicology research center as the only one throughout the country that has succeeded in publishing books in English, and stated: these books are known the world over and have a say in this major. Some of them are published with the collaboration of professors in this field from the U.S. and Australia.

Professor Balali said: regarding scientific production on the science of toxicology in the country, I have succeeded in publishing 31 monograph (Persian and English) books.

This visiting professor of Newcastle University of Britain said: I wrote my first book “Chemistry and Modern Life” in 1967 when I was a student, and my last book “ A Guide to Cure Chemical Weapon Victims” in 2016, published by Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

He pointed out: I have published almost 500 articles in toxicology. A hundred of these articles are ISI and indexed articles in credible journals in the world.

Speaking of the developmental procedure of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in the science of toxicology, professor Balali said: the toxicology laboratory in Mashhad was established years before the Islamic Revolution (1979) in Imam Reza Hospital. Then, years after revolution, activists in the science of toxicology attempted to develop the center.

“Purchasing some useful instruments and machines like atomic absorption instrument, matograph gas instrumentation, and liquid chromatograph instrument with high quality, and etc. are the favorable issues in developing this laboratory” he averred.

 The father of Iran’s toxicology added: later on, this laboratory became a clinical reference toxicology laboratory in the country such that biologic samples (blood, urine, liquids and textures) from other cities were sent and referred to this laboratory.

Professor Balali added: air and habitat pollution, occupational, medicinal, chemical and biting poisonings, inappropriate human use of poisonous and chemical gases against other humans, etc. are the subjects that are defined and discussed in toxicology.

“Toxicology is divided into some other subdivisions such as clinical, legal, environmental and occupational toxicology. All these majors have enjoyed considerable promotion in European countries and the U.S. as to the befitting facilities that are allotted to colleges and non-governmental toxicology organizations”, he asserted.

Speaking of the perspectives of Mashhad Toxicology Research Center, the father of Iran’s toxicology said: like China and England that had encountered many sorts of pollutions and contaminations in water and air and aptly handled them, we would be able to control the critical problems like lead poisoning caused by the polluted air in the country if we have the support of government, authorities and the ministry with us.

“This center is dominant on the science of poison recognition and poisoning preventions. With such great abilities, it has the potential to offer the highest degree of services for social welfare” said, he, “considering 45 years of experience and the desire to transfer them to young students, we seriously pursue our activities in this center and attempt to attract sources of budget from outside the university and even abroad”.

Speaking of the history of toxicology in the country, the father of Iran’s toxicology said: in 1981, an association of “Toxicology and Poisonings” was established in Iran aiming at resolving toxicology and poisoning-related issues in the framework of an association with governmental support.

Defining poisons and poisoning, he asserted: if any material enters the body and interferes with the physiologic balance of the body, the material is considered a poison. Poisoning with oxygen, water and salt are assumed as minor ones while poisoning with chemical and poisonous gases are the critical major ones.

As he put it: the science of toxicology has a longer history than medical sciences. When there was no talk of medical sciences among people, there were concerns about the poison in some foods or animal biting, and humans were reflecting on these issues.

About the poisoning ward of Imam Reza Hospital, Professor Mahdi Balali highlighted that: the poisoning ward of Imam Reza Hospital has been able to make good links with World Health Organization, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and other organizations throughout the country and the world.

In addition to the association of toxicology and poisonings in the country, Asia and Oceania’s  Society of Toxicology was established in 1991 in Malaysia, with the cooperation of three medical toxicology professors from Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which is now considered a very significant toxicology society in the world.

“This center’s request for receiving independent budget accompanied some promised on the part of the government in 2014, though none has been substantiated yet. This has led to lack of adequate facilities which hinders working through the development of toxicology research center”, said he.

Professor Balali stressed: we understand that the university cannot help any further than this as to our high volume of services and high working forces, considering its own budget limitation. Though in spite of the great many of difficulties, university authorities are still financially supporting us.

He pointed out that: Iran is currently under the pressure of the pollution resulted from poisons, water and air pollution and contamination in fruits, vegetables, foods, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides and poisonous metals. Though this sciences has not gained any grounds to be referred to and to be given the required ground to resolve these problems.

In the end, the father of Iran’s toxicology expressed his concerns and worries about the extensive development of poisonings and contaminations in the country and said: our country lacks a reference toxicology laboratory while, in my opinion, death casualties occurring out of poisons and contaminations are ten times more than casualties out of other particular diseases like AIDS. This is happening in a condition that people are not accurately aware of the ways to prevent and treat these poisonings.