Course Description
Major concepts, fundamentals, and principles of toxicological science. Effects of toxic agents on human health, emphasizing understanding the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms of toxic agents which lead to adverse effects in humans and other organisms.
Athena Title
Principles of Toxicology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EHSC 4490, EHSC 6490, PHRM 6910, VPHY 6910, EHSC 6910
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the students should be able to: - Describe the organ systems most often affected by toxic agents - Describe the basic principles required for an agent to exert a toxic effect (absorption, distribution, biotransformation, excretion) - Compare/contrast mechanisms of toxicity from different classes of toxic chemicals - Design an environmental risk assessment to evaluate risk from exposure to a toxic agent - Interpret data from toxicity studies described in the literature - Critique contemporary journal articles describing toxicity tests of environmental agents
Topical Outline
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. In addition to the topics listed below, the course may include guest lectures from scientists and toxicologists who are experts in their respective fields. • General Principles of Toxicology (absorption of toxicants; distribution and storage of toxicants; biotransformation of chemicals; excretion of toxic chemicals; factors modifying metabolism; mechanisms of toxic effects and conventional toxicity tests) • Organ-Specific Toxicology (mutagenesis and carcinogenesis; liver toxicology and immunotoxicology; renal toxicology; neurotoxicology; dermatoxicology and toxicology of eye; inhalation toxicology; cardiovascular toxicology; reproductive toxicology; developmental toxicology) • Assessment of Toxicity (dose response relationship, overview of risk assessment; risk assessment hazard evaluation, exposure assessment, risk assessment-toxicity assessment, risk characterization, environmental justice, analysis and interpretation of experimental data, design of experiments for carcinogens and non-carcinogens • Classes of Toxic Chemicals (dietary toxins and food additives and therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse; volatile organic compounds and solvents; industrial toxicants; metals and radionucleotides; pesticides; toxicity of chemicals in water, air and soil; ecotoxicology)
Syllabus
Public CV