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Introduction into environmental toxicology

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Concept of Gaia (J. Lovelock) 1919 - For those who are interested: ... Dr James Lovelock - Gaia - A New Look at Life on Earth. Global distillation ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Introduction into environmental toxicology


1
Introduction into environmental toxicology
  • BIOL6000/8000
  • Topic 1

2
Introducing myself
  • Dr. Inna Sokolova
  • Office Woodward 381c
  • Office hours by appointment
  • E-mail isokolov_at_uncc.edu (preferred)
  • Phone 78532

3
A brief story of my life (geographically
speaking)
4
Research interests Environmental toxicology and
ecological physiology
5
Other interests
6
Learning goals
  • Course goals, outline and expectations
  • Environmental Toxicology definition and
    structure of the science

7
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)

8
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

9
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.

10
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.

11
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).

12
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

13
Course expectations
  • Active participation
  • Respectful discussion
  • Tolerance
  • Hard work of learning
  • Patience with technical failure
  • Respect for life

14
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!

15
How to take notes
16
Environmental Toxicology
  • A synthetic science encompassing different
    geographic scales and different levels of
    biological hierarchy

17
The solution to pollution is dilution?
18
Boomerang paradigm
19
Biosphere
Landscape
Ecosystem
Community
Habitat
Population
Microhabitat
Individual
Organ system Organ Tissue Cell Organelle Biomolecu
le
Phase association
Chemistry
20
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
21
Increased focus on the biosphereEcologically
inspired global philosophy
  • Concept of the biosphere (Vladimir Vernadsky)

1863-1945
22
Concept of the biosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
23
NASA picture of biosphere
24
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 -
25
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
26
Global distillation
PCBs, pesticides (DDT, lindane, toxaphene,
chlordane), heavy metals (Hg, Cd)
27
Chernobyl accident
Extent of a radiation cloud on April 27, 1986
(red) and on May 6, 1986 (blue)
28
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!
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