94276 - Human Toxicology

Learning outcomes

Students will develop a detailed understanding of hazard assessment with a focus on human toxicology. This course unit integrates principles of toxicology, genotoxicity, and toxicokinetics, providing a comprehensive overview of how chemicals impact human health. The student is expected to be able to: 1. Understand the mechanisms of genotoxicity and carcinogenesis and evaluate various methods for genotoxicity assessment, including in vitro and in vivo assays; 2. Examine the fundamental aspects of human toxicokinetics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), and analyze genetic determinants contributing to variability in xenobiotic safety; 3. Apply the principles of toxicology and ecotoxicology to assess chemical hazards, predict dose-response relationships, and evaluate risks associated with chemical exposures.

Course contents

The CU is composed of three modules with the following contents.

Principles of Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

The module is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge of toxicology and ecotoxicology, focusing on the fundamental principles of how chemicals affect organisms at various levels (molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological).
The topics covered include:
1. Basic Concepts of Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
2. Mechanisms of Toxicity
3. Environmental Fate of Pollutants

Genotoxicity Assessment

The module will introduce students to the mechanisms of genotoxicity and carcinogenesis
As well as to distinct methods for genotoxicity assessment with their advantages and limitations. The topics covered include:
1. Mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.
2. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis
3. Genotoxicity and carcinogenicity assays
4. Regulatory issues

Toxicokinetics and Toxicogenetics

The module will introduce students to fundamental aspects of human toxicokinetics both in terms of environmental/occupational exposure to chemicals or to pharmaceuticals in clinical settings, as well as to the genetic determinants of ADME which contribute to inter-individual variability in the safety of xenobiotics.
The contents of this module cover:
1. ADME – Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics
2. Basic concepts of toxicokinetics, such as dose-response, routes of exposures, clearance, half-life, bioavailability, one and two compartment models.
3. Biotransformation, sites of action, elimination.
4. Application to specific cases of directed toxicity (eg. hepatic, cardiovascular, neurological)
5. Genetic determinants of inter-individual variability in ADME

Readings/Bibliography

Lecturer notes and slides

Teaching methods

The course unit is divided into three modules taught independently at different times in the academic year, each module is organized in theoretical classes where main concepts are introduced, as well as tutorial classes with discussion of case-study examples.

Assessment methods

Each module learning is evaluated independently, exploiting: i) written tests; ii) oral presentations or interviews; iii) written assignments or combinations of them. The Course Unit grade will be the arithmetic mean of grades from the three modules. ChIRS grades scale goes from 1 to 100, pass grade is
40, and will be translated into ECTS and different University scales. Criteria: knowledge on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical ability that emerges only with the help of the instructor, using generally correct language → 40-45;
Knowledge on a limited number of topics covered in the course and independent analytical ability only on purely executive
issues, using correct language → 45-60;
Knowledge on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent critical analysis choices, mastery
of specific terminology → 60-80;
Essentially comprehensive knowledge on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent critical analysis and
connection choices, full mastery of specific terminology, and ability for argumentation and self-reflection → 80-100.

Teaching tools

Lectures slides and notes will be available on the course moodle https://emmcchir-learning.ualg.pt

Office hours

See the website of Vera Linda Ribeiro Marques

See the website of Cristina Pubill Ulldemolins