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FMI210 Principal Environmental Toxicology

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Dag Anders Brede

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk, norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.

About this course

The course provides an introduction to central principles of toxicology and ecotoxicology. The subject provides knowledge about the most important groups of environmental toxins and their mechanisms of action. This includes the uptake, distribution, metabolism and excretion of toxic substances in organisms. The subject provides basic knowledge about how various environmental toxins interact with biomolecules leading to toxic effects. Through laboratory exercises, students will gain practical experience with toxicity testing at molecular, cellular, organism and population level. Students learn to analyse, interpret and report scientific data. Environmental toxicology covers aspects with relevance to both human toxicology and ecotoxicology.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student should have a good understanding of:

Knowledge

  • Basic principles in (eco)toxicology
  • Different groups of toxic substances (e.g. environmental toxins and natural toxins)
  • Mechanisms of action (e.g. biomarkers) and harmful effects of toxic substances from molecular and cellular level, to effects on individuals and natural populations.
  • Exposure, absorption, metabolism, distribution in the body and excretion of toxic substances (e.g. metals, organic pollutants, etc.)

General Competence

  • Basic understanding of central principles in toxicology with relevance for humans and the environment
  • Basic principles of toxicity testing, use of biomarkers and assessment of experimental data
  • Understand connections between mechanisms of action from molecular responses to damage effects at organismal and population level
  • Basic understanding of chemical properties that characterize environmental toxins
  • Knowledge of principles for risk assessment of environmental toxins
  • Learning activities

    Lectures with student active learning provide basic theory and central principles of (eco)toxicology which form the basis for assessment of exposure, effects and risk for stress factors of natural and man-made origin. Practical exercises provide competence to set up (design) and carry out experiments, identify responses, interpret and communicate scientific data. Submitting a lab journal with a scientific presentation and discussion of the results from the exercises is a concrete learning goal. All activities will be carried out in the spring semester.

    Lab exercises

    1) Toxicity test model organism; Dose-response setup, statistics, data presentation and interpretation

    2) The genotoxic; Quantifying DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation

    3) Oxidative stress; Exposure to various metals, quantifying ROS and induction of oxidative stress

    4) Use of EROD enzyme activity as a biomarker for exposure to organic pollutants.

  • Teaching support
    Guidance during laboratory exercises. Guidance in connection with the laboratory report journal. Canvas serves as information platform.
  • Prerequisites
    KJM100, BIO100, STAT100.
  • Recommended prerequisites
    KJB200 or equivalent.
  • Assessment method

    Combined exam

    • Portfolio assessment counts 25%: The lab journal is assessed as a portfolio, and a common grade (A-F) is given per group.
    • Written final exam (3.5 hours) during the exam period counts 75%.

    Grading rule A-E/Not passed.



    Written exam Grading: Letter grades Permitted aids: B1 Calculator handed out, no other aids Lab portfolio Grading: Letter grades
  • Examiner scheme
    An external examiner approves the exam papers and evaluates a minimum of 25% of the answers.
  • Mandatory activity
    Attendance at lectures (80% attendance) and participation in all 4 laboratory exercises is compulsory. All compulsory activities will be specified at the beginning of the semester.
  • Teaching hours

    Lecture: 16 double lectures, a total of 36 h

    Lab course: 4 exercises 4 hours x 2 days per exercise, a total of 32 hours

    Lab report: a total of 16 h

    Self-study: 170 h

  • Admission requirements
    Special requirements in Science