This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

PHA3800 - Fundamentals of toxicology

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Science

Organisational Unit

School of Science, Malaysia

Coordinator(s)

Dr. New Jaa Yien

Offered

Malaysia

First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

Toxicology is the biological, chemical and pharmacological study of poisons. Students will be introduced to environmental, food, forensic, clinical and occupational toxicology. This unit presents the broad science of toxicology to facilitate the understanding of the principles and mechanisms of the action of poisons on specific organ systems. It examines the response of each body system to poisons and the specific effects of a wide range of toxic agents - from pesticides to radiation. In addition sources of toxins, toxicokinetics, toxicity testing and risk assessment are studied to enable students to understand how to predict and eliminate the potential risk of toxicity to humans and animals. The topics taught include general principles of toxicology, dispositions of toxicants, non-organ-directed toxicology, target organ toxicity, toxic agents, environmental toxicology and applications of toxicology.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Demonstrate the basic principles of toxicology and the behavioural mechanisms of various toxicants targeting different organ systems.
Deduce the general pharmacokinetics, biotransformation and toxicokinetics of xenobiotics in whole organisms.
Critically evaluate the adverse effects of chemicals, metals, radioactive materials, and animal and plant toxins on living organisms.
Present the different stages of carcinogenesis and assess the effects of toxic agents on the alteration of genetic materials and growth development.
Demonstrate an appreciation towards environmental toxicology that includes air pollution and ecotoxicology.
Perform and critically evaluate risk assessments of general toxicants, and propose appropriate safety precautions.
Foster team work, perform good laboratory practice, and communicate research observations/ findings in the form of written reports and presentations.

Assessment

Assignment: 10%
Group oral presentation: 10%
Mid-semester test: 5%
Practical reports: 25%
Final exam: 50%

Workload requirements

Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour practical class and one 1-hour tutorial per week

Chief examiner(s)

Dr. Ton So Ha

Prerequisites

BTH2741, BTH2752 and six points of level two Physiology

Co-requisites

PHA3801