Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2015 - 2016

Module Title	Environmental Toxicology
Module Code	BE436
School	School of Biotechnology
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Professor Paul Cahill	Office Number	X219
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The purpose of this module is to provide students with knowledge of (i) The basic principles of environmental health toxicology and ecotoxicology. (ii)The systems used for classifying environmental toxicants and EU test guidelines. (iii) The biochemical, cellular and molecular methods that are critical in toxicological research and the direction of future research.(iv)the impact of environmental toxins on human health through specific examples. (v)Introduce the students to ways for examining the epidemiology of environmental toxicology.

Learning Outcomes

1. Contrast between environmental health toxicology and ecotoxicology.
2. Describe specific types of environmental toxins, the laboratory tests used to assess their toxicity and an overview of the mechanisms mediating their effects on human health.
3. Explain how current knowledge is limited for the protection of natural resources against chemical insult.
4. Discuss how recent technical advances are facilitating the development of molecular and cellular biomarkers of toxicant exposure.
5. Assess research data from descriptive, ecological, case-control and cohort studies on the environmental impact of toxicants on health.
6. Design a study on epidemiological toxicology.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Environmental Toxicology topics
Tutorial	12	Assessment of case studies.
Assignment Completion	12	Design a study on epidemiological toxicology
Independent Study	77	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Environmental Toxicants
Classification based on exposure (water/soil, air, occupational) and use (metals, agrichemicals, industrial). Types. Sources, Examples and Environmental effects. Common toxic mechanisms, sites of action. Regulation of exposure levels, routes of exposure and examples of industrial toxicants. Metabolism of Toxicants: cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and individual response, enzyme induction. Principles of environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology: Environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity; Transport and fate; Environmental risk assessment. Laboratory assessment of toxins: Suspension Cell culture, Monolayer cell culture, Indicators of Toxicity, Immunochemical techniques ( immunolocalisation, western blotting, radioimmunoassay, inhibitory antibodies), Genotoxic tests: Ames, COMET assay. Genetic toxicology: definitions, EU legislation, specific example. Cancer and environmental toxins: the role of environmental factors in cancer risk, classification of carcinogens, specific example. Respiratory tract and airborne toxins: chemical properties of inhaled toxins, response to inhaled toxins, atopy and asthma. Toxicogenomics: individualised toxic response, identification of novel biomarkers of toxicity. Epidemiological environmental toxicology: types of studies and their uses (descriptive/ cross-sectional/ ecological/ correlational/ case-control/ cohort). Risk assessment and quantification of the effects of risk factors. Case studies into how differing epidemiological techniques have been used for determination of cause and effect and risk factors.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	35%	Examination Weight	65%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

ESH	BSc Environmental Science & Health
SHSA	Study Abroad (Science & Health)
SHSAO	Study Abroad (Science & Health)

Archives: