School of Health Sciences - HSCI 560: Toxicology

Description

This course presents an introduction to the principles and practices involved in the use of radioactive isotopes in applications ranging from basic research to industrial technology. Topics covered will include the production of radioisotopes, their safe handling, the proper design of radiotracer experiments, the theory and operation of radiation detection instrumentation, error analysis, and the statistical methodology underlying the quantification of radioactivity.

Course Objectives:

This course presents an introduction to the general principals of toxicology. Target organ toxicity is discussed with respect to why certain tissues are sites for the adverse effects of chemicals, the modes of action for producing damage, and methodology to measure injury. The injurious effects associated with classes of chemicals, with highlighting of specific ones that represent either the greatest chances of injury and/or significant exposure in the workplace or environment, are presented. These include metals, solvents and alcohols, pesticides, plastics, and gases. Procedures for the evaluation of the safety of new chemicals entities are discussed. The concepts of risk assessment and risk management are introduced.

Prerequisites:

BIOL 301 and 302; CHEM 333 or BCHM 207. Authorized equivalent courses or consent of instructor may be used in satisfying course pre- and co-requisites.

Textbook:

• P. L. Williams, R. C. James, and S. M. Roberts, Principles of Toxicology. Environmental and Industrial Applications. Wiley-Interscience, 2000.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Toxicology - principles
• Dose response, acute vs. chronic poisonings
• Species extrapolation, toxicity information sources
• Absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion of chemicals
• Toxicogenetics - principles and applications
• Target organ Toxicity - liver, immune system, blood and hematopoietic system, central nervous system, skin, kidney, reproductive system
• Chemical carcinogenesis
• Methemoglobin formers
• Pesticides
• Toxicity of alcohols and solvents
• Toxicity of gases
• Pneumoconioses (diseases associated with dusts)
• Plastics
• Metal toxicity
• Safety Evaluation-acute and chronic testing, eye and skin, mutagens
• Risk analysis