Introduction into environmental toxicology

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Introduction into environmental toxicology

• BIOL6000/8000
• Topic 1

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Introducing myself

• Dr. Inna Sokolova
• Office Woodward 381c
• Office hours by appointment
• E-mail isokolov_at_uncc.edu (preferred)
• Phone 78532

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A brief story of my life (geographically
speaking)
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Research interests Environmental toxicology and
ecological physiology
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Other interests
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Learning goals

• Course goals, outline and expectations
• Environmental Toxicology definition and
  structure of the science

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Environmental Toxicology

• The branch of toxicology concerned with the study
  of toxic effects, caused by natural and synthetic
  pollutants, on the biosphere and constituents of
  the biosphere
• Biotic constituents of the biosphere plants,
  animals (including humans), microbial life
  (fungi, protozoans, bacteria)
• Abiotic components of the biosphere
  (environmental chemistry and geochemistry of
  pollutants)

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Focus of this course

• Subject and methods of environmental toxicology
• Effects of environmental contaminants on
  organisms, populations and communities
• Emphasis on physiological and cellular mechanisms
  of toxic action of contaminants

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Course of study

• Introduction into env.toxicology. Scientific,
  technological and practical goals of
  env.toxicology.
• Historical need of env.toxicology. Special topic
  The environmental history of DDT and Silent
  Spring
• Toxicology of harmful algal blooms
• Major classes of environmental contaminants.
  Uptake, biotransformation, detoxification,
  elimination and accumulation of toxicants.
• Bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Factors
  affecting accumulation of toxicants, and trophic
  transfer of contaminants in ecosystems.

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Course of study (cont.)

• Common toxicological tests and end points.
  Dose-response and time-response models in
  ecotoxicology.  Hormesis.
• Effects of toxic mixtures. Synergism, antagonism
  and additivity.
• Special topic Trace metals. Classification of
  metals. Bioaccumulation, sites of action,
  mechanisms of toxicity. Mechanisms of uptake,
  detoxification and excretion of trace metals.
• Special topic Tributyltin in aquatic
  environments and imposex.

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Course of study (cont.)

• Mechanisms of toxicity of organic compounds.
  Cytochrome P450 and metabolism of xenobiotics.
  Multixenobiotic resistance.
• Special topic Endocrine disruptors.
• Special topic Radionuclides.
• Population- and community-level consequences of
  pollutants in wildlife and humans
• Evolutionary adaptation to pollution and
  acquisition of tolerance.
• Toxicant of the Year award (based on your final
  essay).

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Course requirements

• Tests Assay and short answer
• Power Point presentation on a selected topic in
  environmental toxicology 40 min
• Assigned reading and in-class discussions

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Course expectations

• Active participation
• Respectful discussion
• Tolerance
• Hard work of learning
• Patience with technical failure
• Respect for life

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How to do well in this class

• Attend all classes
• Start learning material from the FIRST day of the
  class
• Check course website often
• Do all the assigned readings
• Participate in all discussions
• Recommended textbooks
• Walker, Hopkin, Sibly Peakall (1997) Principles
  of ecotoxicology. Taylor Francis, London.
• Newman  (2001) Fundamentals of ecotoxicology.
  Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton etc.
• Take notes!

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How to take notes
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Environmental Toxicology

• A synthetic science encompassing different
  geographic scales and different levels of
  biological hierarchy

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The solution to pollution is dilution?
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Boomerang paradigm
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Biosphere
Landscape
Ecosystem
Community
Habitat
Population
Microhabitat
Individual
Organ system Organ Tissue Cell Organelle Biomolecu
le
Phase association
Chemistry
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HIGH
LOW
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Ecological relevance Response duration Long-term
consequences
Community
Population
Individual
Tractability Ability to assign causation Pro-activ
ity in use of knowledge
Organ system Organ Tissue Cell Organelle Biomolecu
le
HIGH
LOW
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Increased focus on the biosphereEcologically
inspired global philosophy

• Concept of the biosphere (Vladimir Vernadsky)

1863-1945
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Concept of the biosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
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NASA picture of biosphere
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Ecologically inspired global philosophy

• Concept of Gaia (J. Lovelock)

For those who are interested http//www.kheper.au
z.com/gaia/Gaia_Hypothesis.htm
1919 -
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Hypothesis of Gaia Earth as a superorganism
The entire range of living matter on Earth from
whales to viruses and from oaks to algae could be
regarded as constituting a single living entity
capable of maintaining the Earth's atmosphere to
suit its overall needs and endowed with faculties
and powers far beyond those of its constituent
parts Dr James Lovelock - Gaia - A New Look at
Life on Earth
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Global distillation
PCBs, pesticides (DDT, lindane, toxaphene,
chlordane), heavy metals (Hg, Cd)
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Chernobyl accident
Extent of a radiation cloud on April 27, 1986
(red) and on May 6, 1986 (blue)
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Take-home messages

• Env.toxicology is a fascinating but tough subject
• Start learning material TODAY! No time for
  catching up.
• Lectures are vital. Recommended books are helpful
  but insufficient.
• Take notes! PowerPoint slides typically contain
  30-50 of the information I am talking about in
  the class the rest 50-70 should be written down
  by you!
• Good luck and I hope youll enjoy it!