Course Title

Environmental Toxiclogy

Course Number

7106402 or 105449

Instructor Name

Basma Damiri

Contact Information

[email protected]

Semester(s) and academic year(s)

First Semester 2019
First Semester 2019
Second Semester 2018
First Semester 2018
First Semester 2018
Second Semester 2017
First Semester 2017
Second Semester 2016
First Semester 2016
First Semester 2015
Second Semester 2014
Summer Semester 2013
First Semester 2013
Second Semester 2012
First Semester 2012

Compulsory / Elective

Elective

Description:

This course depends on both basic and applied scientific knowledge to understand natural and anthropogenic (man-made) pollutants’ life cycle and their impact on structures and functions of biological and ecological systems. In this course, the effects of chemicals of environmental interest, environmental toxins, will be investigated at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems. The main questions to answer are: what are the sources of pollutants, how are we exposed to them; how pollutant causes harmful effects, how can we measure the extent of the effects, and what can we do to prevent or minimize the risk to biological and ecological systems?

The course is designed to be interactive; basic principles of toxicology are applied to environmental problems and case studies and special topics will be reviewed and discussed. This will include the chemodynamics of contaminants in the environment including fate and transport, risk assessment and management. The impacts of chemical contaminants and stressors upon ecosystems, acute and chronic effects of carious classes of chemical, biological, and physical agents (e.g., pesticides, drugs, metals, and industrial pollutants) on living organisms, description and prediction of ecological changes resulting from a variety of human activities which involve release of xenobiotic and other chemicals into the environment are also discussed. Actions to protect the environment and the health will also be reviewed. 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course, the student will be capable of addressing and seeking solutions to many of the critical environmental problems facing society and will be able to:

a-                  Knowledge and Understanding:

a.1. Describe the difference between hazard and risk.

a.2. List the basic characteristics of chemical, biological, mechanical, and physical hazards.

a.3. List the major sources of air, water, agriculture, industrial, occupational and food pollution.

a.4. Describe how air, water, and food quality criteria are developed.

a.5. Explain the basic issues and concerns with respect to air, water, agriculture, industrial, occupational and food pollution

a.6. Outline various approaches to prevent air, water, agriculture, industrial, occupational and food-related environmental health problems.

a.7. Describe the impact of Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system on food safety.

a.8. Discuss the issues related to industrial waste management.

a.9. Describe the larger socioeconomic issues affecting environmental health.

a.10. Define elements of risk assessment and management.

a.11. Describe potential errors in environmental sampling.

a.12. Summarize global ecological changes.

a.13. Identify the obstacles to resolving global health threats.

a.14. Formulate strategies that encourage people to think globally and act locally.

(b) Intellectual Skills.

b.1. Recognize the warning signs of environmental toxicity.

b.2. Interpret environmental health in historical context with respect to changes in technology, economic development, and social organization.

b.3 Interpret the hazards of pesticides, heavy metals, toxic gases, irritant toxins, and household toxins after air, water, and food pollution.

b.4. Demonstrate the actions that can be taken by environmental health professionals to address environmental health problems.

b.5. Distinguish and recognize the different sources and the fate (transport and transfer) of toxicants in the environment and reaching the human.

c- Professional and Practical Skills:

c.1. Interpret different toxicological reports.

c.2. Distinguish methods of toxicity testing.

c.3. Apply the notion “think globally and act locally”.to a specific situation.

d- General and transferable skills:

d.1. Work effectively as a member of a team to widening community linked thinking.

d.2. Use Environmental Toxicology websites to search Internet data base for testing measures in toxicology.

d.3. Work in team for scientific paper discussion.

d. 4. Utilize communicative skills and have access to the internet and retrieve the information.

d.5. Communicate effectively with the public, colleagues and appropriate authority.

d.6. Be committed to ongoing learning and self-evaluation

Textbook:

Course content will be presented through textbook readings and lectures. All lecture materials will be posted to An-Najah National University website.

1- Yassi, Annale & Kjellström, Tord & de Kok, Theo and Guidotti, Tee (2001): Basic Environmental Health, Oxford University Press

2- B. Magnus, Francis (1994): Toxic Substances in the Environment, Wiley