41669 - Environment and Food Toxicology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have a basic understanding of the mechanisms of xenobiotic toxicity for exposure safety. Specifically, the student will be able to: - understand the mechanisms of toxic action, - comprehend the interactive effects with other xenobiotics, - know the principles of risk assessment associated with exposure.

Course contents

Module 1 - Toxicology (Prof. Fabiana Morroni)

Fundamentals of Toxicology - Principles and objectives of Toxicology. Environment and food as sources of toxic substances. Definitions and significance of hazard, risk, and safety. Basis for general classification of a toxic effect, dose-response relationship. - General mechanisms of toxicity and factors influencing toxic effects. - Absorption, distribution, and excretion of a toxic substance. - Enzyme induction and inhibition, genetic polymorphisms. -Cellular dysfunction and toxicity, incorrect repair and toxicity.

Mechanisms of Toxicity - Mechanisms of cellular damage: necrosis and apoptosis, oxidative stress. - Genetic toxicity: mechanisms of toxicity, main mutational events and their impact, factors influencing toxic effects, genotoxic agents. - Chemical carcinogenesis: characteristics of the carcinogenic process, mechanisms of action and classification of chemical carcinogens (initiators, promoters, co-carcinogens, genotoxic and epigenetic carcinogens, IARC classification). - Adaptive mechanisms.

Organ and System Toxicology - Renal toxicity: nature and site of toxic effects, mechanisms of renal toxicity, main renal toxic xenobiotics. - Hepatic toxicity: nature and site of toxic effects, types of liver lesions, hepatotoxic substances. - Respiratory system toxicity: nature and site of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity and influencing factors, main toxic substances for the respiratory system. - Immune system toxicity: main components of the immune system, immunotoxic substances. - Nervous system toxicity: organization of the nervous system, mechanisms of neurotoxicity, neurotoxins. - Reproductive cycle toxicity: reproductive cycle, nature of toxic effects and mechanisms of action, reprotoxic substances. - Skin toxicity: structure and function of the skin, irritation, corrosion, sensitization, phototoxicity, and photosensitization.

Module 2 - Risk Assessment (Prof. Fabiana Morroni)

Toxic effects of metals, environmental toxins, pesticides, natural toxins, solvents and vapors, ionizing radiation, food additives, and contaminants.

Risk Assessment - Toxicological risk assessment: - Identification and characterization of risk, determination of effect levels (LD50, LC50, NOAEL, LOAEL, ED10, LED, BMD), MOE. - Definition of exposure safety limits (ADI, RfD), Toxicological Threshold of Concern - TTC. - Risk management. - Risk perception

Discussion of case studies related to environmental and food contaminants

Module 3 - Risk from Hazardous Substances and Preparations (Prof. Saverio Savini)

Criteria for classification, labeling, and packaging of hazardous substances and preparations (EC Directive 67/548 and GHS/CLP)

REACH Regulation (EC Regulation 1907/2006): procedures for the registration and risk assessment of chemicals for health and the environment

Preparation of safety data sheets

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials provided on the dedicated website and the notes taken during lectures are essential for exam preparation.

As references, students can further explore the topics in the following text:

Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. Kurtis Klaassen. McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

The final course exam aims to assess the achievement of the educational objectives:

- Understanding the general principles that govern toxicity related to the presence of xenobiotics in food and the environment;

- Comprehending the mechanisms of toxicity and the toxic effects of the main classes of chemical agents in food and the environment;

- Knowing the different approaches for risk assessment, identification of threshold values, and calculation of exposure limits;

- Understanding the REACH and CLP regulations.

The assessment for Modules 1 & 2 will be conducted through an oral exam covering topics related to the course objectives. For Module 3, a written exam or an oral exam will be conducted depending on the availability of the Professor.

Teaching tools

The teaching materials presented during lectures will be made available to students in electronic format via the internet.

To access the teaching materials: https://virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Fabiana Morroni

See the website of Saverio Savini