STFKA0002U Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
MSc Programme in Environmental Sciences (SCIENCE) - compulsory
MSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry - elective
MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English programme)- elective
The course gives a basic overview on fundamentals in both human-, eco- and occupational toxicology. Basic toxicological topics encompass toxicodynamic, toxicokinetic description and metabolism of major groups of contaminants. Furthermore the course will give a basic understanding of acute toxic effects on the skin, the respiratory system, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, cell toxicity, organ toxicity, cancer development, reproduction, immunotoxicology and the effects of hormone disrupting compounds. Also teratogenicity, toxicophore description and modeling of dose-response relationships will be among the subjects. Classification of chemicals will shortly be described in the course and further more the use of toxicological data bases to access exposure and effect data will be discussed. The course will also discuss in detail how to quantify a dose or an exposure of a chemical and be able to predict most important exposure routes or pathways. This will also include models for calculating effects of exposures to multiple compounds with same/similar mode of action. As an important element of the course the background for the fetal origins hypothesis will be addressed, which postulates that chemical exposure of non-acute toxicological effects during the prenatal environment “program” of the fetus is important for later development of diseases in adulthood. In ecotoxicology, the students will be introduced to the major groups of xenobiotica known to affect or potentially affect human health and ecosystem health. Subjects such as acute and chronic effects on different trophic levels in both the soil and aquatic environment, biodegradation of substances, bioaccumulation and effects at ecosystem level will be among the subjects. Occupational toxicology will focus on how to achieve a sound environment during production using chemicals. An overview of the most important diseases due to chemical exposure during occupation will be addressed. The overall aim of this course is to prepare the students to be able to at a later stage to perform simple risk assessments scenarios of human, environmental and occupational heath hazards and to evaluate potential hazards of a given xenobiotic. Lectures, theoretical - and practical laboratory exercises will be the main form of teaching. Lectures are based on textbooks and some scientific papers. The topics of the theoretical exercises run in parallel with the topics treated in the lectures.
During the laboratory work groups of 4 students will work together to respond a laboratory assignment that primarily will include the use on in-vitro human- or ecotoxicological assay’s. The laboratory assignment focuses on selected chemicals and draws on the general insight in chemical, biological and physical processes to be learned and thus is fundamentally important for toxicology. Results are reported as a scientific manuscript and as an oral presentation.
The main objectives of the course is to introduce fundamentals
and key methods in human-, eco- and occupational toxicology, and to
provide an overview of different approaches for determining data
that may be applied in risk evaluation of chemical pollutants to
humans and the environment. The course consists of a number of
lectures and a practical laboratory course of approximately 20
hours. The course is recommended for students who upon completion
of their studies will be employed in sectors dealing with
environmental issues, such as public inspection, public health,
environmental consulting, medical industry and the bioprocessing
industries.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge
- describe toxicological mode of actions for most important groups of chemical substances to humans and environmental species.
- define the most vulnerable target organ(s) or organism(s) for most important group of xenobiotics.
- demonstrate knowledge on safety toxicology, and extrapolation from animal to human, and from one trophic level in the environment to another
- understand the use of physico-chemical parameters of compounds to predict toxicity, bioaccumulation and biomagnification
- assess both acute and chronical toxicity data and evaluate different types of dose-response relationships including effects of mixtures of compounds with similar mode of action.
- quantify a dose or an exposure of a chemical and be able to predict the most important exposure routes to humans and environment and exposure due to occupation.
- suggest how to diminish an exposure of chemical in both human, environmental and occupational toxicology (practical management).
Skills
- transfer math concepts to solve 1st-order linear differential-integral equations, manipulate log relationships, convert between dimensional systems of units
- utilise relevant software for dose-responds relationships and problem solving(e.g. EPI-Win, Chem-Draw, Excel, R).
- perform simple in-vitro human toxicological and ecotoxicological laboratory tests and models
- report laboratory results as research manuscript
Competencies
- integrate principles from chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry and ecology with mass and energy balances to develop and solve simple toxicological questions
- apply simplified assumptions and estimate model and design parameters in the face of biological variability and uncertainty in measurement and prediction
- John Timbrell 'Principles of Biochemical Toxicology', 3rd edition, Taylor & Francis Inc., 2000 (PBT) - new edition september 2009!
- Steve P Hopkin, Principles of Ecotoxicology, Fourth Edition, Taylor and Francis Inc. 2012
- Scientific papers and notes will be provided at cost.
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 6
- Exam
- 2
- Lectures
- 62
- Practical exercises
- 28
- Preparation
- 108
- Total
- 206
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students:
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/other-programme-options/credit-transfer-students/
Other external students:
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/exchange_guest_students/guest-students/
Credit transfer and other external students are welcomed on the course if there are seats available and they have the academic qualifications.
- Credit
- 2,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentThe laboratory work assignments should be reported as a scientific poster and a scientific written manuscript performed in groups of 4 students.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able
to:
Knowledge
- describe toxicological mode of actions for most important groups of chemical substances to humans and environmental species.
- define the most vulnerable target organ(s) or organism(s) for most important group of xenobiotics.
- demonstrate knowledge on safety toxicology, and extrapolation from animal to human, and from one trophic level in the environment to another
- understand the use of physico-chemical parameters of compounds to predict toxicity, bioaccumulation and biomagnification
- assess both acute and chronical toxicity data and evaluate different types of dose-response relationships including effects of mixtures of compounds with similar mode of action.
- quantify a dose or an exposure of a chemical and be able to predict the most important exposure routes to humans and environment and exposure due to occupation.
- suggest how to diminish an exposure of chemical in both human, environmental and occupational toxicology (practical management).
Skills
- transfer math concepts to solve 1st-order linear differential-integral equations, manipulate log relationships, convert between dimensional systems of units
- utilise relevant software for dose-responds relationships and problem solving(e.g. EPI-Win, Chem-Draw, Excel, R).
- perform simple in-vitro human toxicological and ecotoxicological laboratory tests and models
- report laboratory results as research manuscript
Competencies
- integrate principles from chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry and ecology with mass and energy balances to develop and solve simple toxicological questions
- apply simplified assumptions and estimate model and design parameters in the face of biological variability and uncertainty in measurement and prediction
- Credit
- 5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written examination, 2 timer under invigilationMultiple choice exam
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
There is access to the following at the exam on Peter Bangs Vej:
- Office (Word, Excel, Onenote and Powerpoint)
- IO2 – the digital pen
- Panoramic Viewer
- Paint
- Calculator – Windows' own
- R – Statistical programme
- ITX MC – multiple choice programme
- Adobe reader
- USB access – for usb stick with notes etc.
During the exam students are allowed to bring approved pocket calculator, molecular model building set and USB stick
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able
to:
Knowledge
- describe toxicological mode of actions for most important groups of chemical substances to humans and environmental species.
- define the most vulnerable target organ(s) or organism(s) for most important group of xenobiotics.
- demonstrate knowledge on safety toxicology, and extrapolation from animal to human, and from one trophic level in the environment to another
- understand the use of physico-chemical parameters of compounds to predict toxicity, bioaccumulation and biomagnification
- assess both acute and chronical toxicity data and evaluate different types of dose-response relationships including effects of mixtures of compounds with similar mode of action.
- quantify a dose or an exposure of a chemical and be able to predict the most important exposure routes to humans and environment and exposure due to occupation.
- suggest how to diminish an exposure of chemical in both human, environmental and occupational toxicology (practical management).
Skills
- transfer math concepts to solve 1st-order linear differential-integral equations, manipulate log relationships, convert between dimensional systems of units
Competencies
- integrate principles from chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry and ecology with mass and energy balances to develop and solve simple toxicological questions
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- STFKA0002U
- Credit
- See exam description
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- 20 students
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contracting department
- Department of Pharmacy
Course Coordinators
- Bjarne Styrishave (17-6e766d7e7a713a7f80857e757f746d82714c7f817a703a77813a7077)
Lecturers
Bjarne Styrishave, Nina Cedergreen