General Course Information

Course Details

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

3 X 1-hour lectures per week

1 X 2-hour practical per week

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the course is to provide information on the nature and mode of action of various categories of toxicants and to give information on procedural protocols used in toxicology studies. The course 's key content involves assessing toxicity and risk assessment, toxicant chemistry; toxicity test methods; exposure paths, reactions to different doses of compounds, and LD50 experiments. Toxicokinetics seeks to enable students to consider absorption and bioavailability and comparing kinetics of lipophilic compounds, absorption routes (oral, respiratory and dermal) and removal. The students will also learn about biotransformation (phase I reaction and phase II reaction), cellular action sites and the effects of toxicants on enzymes and cell death mechanism (apoptosis, necrosis, stress and repair) and recovery. The goal of this subject is to train students with a higher degree of environmental respect in applied toxicology. Graduates can gain a wide variety of skills, expertise, and experience for successful careers.

Learning Outcomes:

•to provide insight into the nature and mode of action of various categories of toxicants

•to provide information concerning protocols of treatment used in toxicology studies

•to help students consider the varying effects of various cell sites of a range of toxicants

Suggested Readings:

1.       Stine, K. E. &Brown, T. M. (2015). Principles of toxicology. UK: CRC press, Taylor and Francis Group.

2.       Marquardt, H. Schafer, S. G. Mcclellan, R.Welsch, F. (2004).Toxicology. San Diego, USA: Academic press.

3. Klaassen, curtis D., (1996). Casarett and Doull”s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons; 5th Edition (International), McGraw-Hill, Health Professions Division, New York.

4. Barile, F. A. (2013). Principles of toxicology testing. UK: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group.

Course contents:

 Theory :

1.       Measuring toxicity and assessing risk: Introduction, Chemistry of toxicants; toxicity testing methods; routes of exposure, Responses to varying doses of substances, Time of exposure; the LD50 experiments, Toxicity, hazards and risks.

2.       Toxicokinetics: Introduction; pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics, Absorption: the oral, respiratory and dermal route of exposure, distribution,Elimination, toxicokinetic models: mathematical models of elimination, Absorption and bioavailability; contrasting kinetics of lipophilic substances.

3.       Biotransformation: Introduction, Primary biotransformation (phase I reaction) Hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction,Secondary metabolism (phase II reaction) Glucuridination, Glutathione conjugation, acetylation and other, Phase II reactions, factors influencing metabolism.

4.       Cellular sites of action, Introduction, interaction of toxicants with proteins,   Effect of toxicants on enzymes, Receptors and ion channels, voltage activated ion channels and transport proteins, Effects of toxicants on lipids and nucleic acids,Mechanism of cell death; apoptosis, necrosis, stress, repair and recovery.

 Practicals:

1. Determination of LD50 values of some pesticide against any insect pest.
2. Determination of LD50 doses of any toxic compound in mammalian system.
3. Effect of any toxicant on body weights in mice.
4. Toxicity of some toxic compound on relative organ weights in mice.
5. Effect of toxicant on food consumption in mice.
6. Study of toxicity of any chemical on total leukocytic count.
7. Effect of a toxicant on total erythrocytic count in blood of mice.
8. Effects of any toxicant on haemoglobin level in mice.
9. Study of inhibition of cholinesterase enzyme activity by organophosphate insecticides in mice.
10. Study of liver function enzyme (Alanine amino transferase) activity following administration of toxic compound to experimental animals.
11. Determination of blood glucose level following toxic exposure.

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Summary

Written Exam

Mid-term:  25

Final term: 50

Practical: 15

Sessional :10 (Class Participation, timely assignment submission)

Course Grading:  Grades in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following criteria:

COURSE TIME TABLE: