ENR 2030 Environmental Toxicology

This course will provide an introduction to the general principles of toxicology and the impacts of pollutants upon biological health. Major topics include: source and exposure routes of pollutants, basics of quantitative toxicology, effects of exposure, risk perceptions and assessments, and governmental regulations of pollutants. Prerequisites: completion of either BIOL 1010 or BIOL 1020, and completion of CHEM 1000 or CHEM 1020. (3 lect.)

Credits

3 credits

Transfer Status

Transferable to UW.

Major Topics

Concepts of Toxicology
Dose?Response Relationships
Absorption, Distribution and Storage of Toxicants
Biotransformation and Elimination of Toxicants
Target Organ Toxicity
Teratogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Carcinogenesis
Risk Assessment
Environmental Transport
Environmental Chemicals
Monitoring Chemicals in the Environment
Regulating Chemicals in the Environment

Outcomes

In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:

1. Discuss the implications of historical and contemporary events as they relate to the field of environmental toxicology.

2. Identify and describe the means by which natural and synthetic toxins are transported through ecological systems.

3. Outline the processes by which chemicals enter the human body and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of endpoints in the human body associated with exposure to toxic agents.

4. Describe how absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion can impact the toxicity of an agent after a person has been exposed.

5. Explain the principles associated with the dose-response curve. Utilize raw data to create a dose-response curve and interpret its significance.

6. List and describe the basic elements of risk assessment and demonstrate the ability to perform a toxicological risk assessment.

7. Describe the role of various regulatory agencies in the monitoring of environmental toxins.

8. Apply knowledge of the occurrence and implications of identified environmental toxicants to discussions concerning environmental quality, public health and governmental and regulatory oversight.