Catalog Entry and Justification [from application to UAF Faculty Senate]

Catalog Entry
Introduction to Toxicology
An introduction to the science of toxicology for graduate students in fields that use information about hazardous chemicals for input into decisions. Following a brief background of biology, chemistry, and biochemistry; topics presented include an overview of the effects of chemicals on cells, organs, and organ systems, and the toxic effects of classes of chemicals such as pesticides, metals, and solvents. Use of data from animal testing and common lists, factors, and extrapolation are reviewed.

Justification
Environmental engineers and regulators often make decisions based on the effect on humans of chemicals in the environment. Health and safety professionals likewise make these decisions, as do manufactures and transporters of chemicals. These risk assessment decision makers typically rely on lists in the tertiary literature, far removed from the underlying science. This science is often very weak - lacking data - or presents a welter of data that often seems contradictory, and the science almost never directly applies to humans. If decisions about human health effects must be made, judgment is required to interpret the science. This judgment is often made in secondary literature, compendiums, and regulatory deliberations. The goal of this course is to provide the background such that engineers and scientists without a background in biomedical science can navigate this secondary literature, critically review it, and make informed decisions. Such courses are rare. There are many graduate courses in toxicology at other universities, but these usually require the students to have a strong undergraduate preparation in biology and biochemistry. The goal of these courses is usually scientific research itself, rather than application of research to decision making.