PH 744: Environmental Toxicology Spring 2017

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1 PH 744: Environmental Toxicology Spring 2017 Course Title: Environmental Toxicology Location: ZSPH Room 223 Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:30am-12:10pm Course Description: Environmental toxicology is the study of toxic effects of environmental chemicals on living organisms (including humans). In this course, the basic concepts, methods, and approaches in environmental toxicology will be introduced. Natural and synthetic chemicals commonly encountered in the air, water, and soil will be discussed regarding their occurrence, fate and transport, and toxicological effects on ecological species and humans. Case studies will be used to illustrate the complexity of environmental toxicology issues. New trends in chemical toxicity testing will be discussed. Contaminants of emerging concerns such as pharmaceutical and personal care products and engineered nanomaterials will also be introduced. Short Description: This course will cover the occurrence, fate and transport, and toxic action of natural and synthetic chemicals encountered in the air, water, and soil. Instructor: Hongbo Ma, PhD Primary office location: Assistant Professor KIRC 5079 Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health Kenwood campus Office Hours: by appointment Office phone: (414) Prerequisites: Graduate student standing. Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to 1. Understand the fundamental concepts, methods, approaches of environmental toxicology 2. Identify a variety of environmental toxicants in terms of their occurrence and toxic effects 3. Describe the fate and transport of toxicants in the environment and how these processes affect their toxicity 4. Characterize the toxicological effects of environmental toxicants on humans and 1

2 ecological species from molecular to population levels 5. Critically evaluate, discuss, explain, and present environmental toxicological studies from primary scientific literature Class Format: Lecture, discussion, student presentation, etc. Credit hours: This course counts for 3 graduate credits. Investment of time outside of class will vary student-by-student. In accordance with UWM s Credit Hour Policy, this class requires no less than 48 hours per credit hour or no less than 144 hours of work during the 15-week course session. This is equivalent to no less than 10 hours per week. An average student should expect to spend at least 10 hours (including classroom time and out-of-class academic work) per week on this course, with certain weeks requiring substantially more time, to achieve the learning objectives. Recommended textbooks: Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Molecular Substructures to Ecological Landscapes, Fourth Edition Wayne G. Landis, Ruth M. Sofield, Ming-Ho-Yu ISBN13: ISBN10: Publication Date: December 13, 2011 Environmental Toxicology: Biological and Health Effects of Pollutants, Third Edition Ming-Ho Yu, Humio Tsunoda, Masashi Tsunoda ISBN-10: ISBN-13: Publication Date: November 9, 2011 Environmental Toxicology David A. Wright and Pamela Welbourn ISBN13: ISBN10: X Publication Date: March 25, 2002 Additional reading materials will be assigned before and/or after class. Communications: For course related questions, please make sure to read the course syllabus before asking questions as the information may already be there. The best way to reach me is through or set up an appointment. Please include PH744 in the subject line of s and only use your UWM account. I usually respond to student s within hours except for the weekends. Do not expect an immediate response if you me shortly before class. Course Requirements: To meet course objectives, each student is required to complete: 2

3 1. Two oral presentations (2x15=30 pts) You will give two minute conference style presentations (followed by a ~5 min Q&A) on topics pertinent to those we cover in class. I will assign topics to each student unless you have a preference on certain topic(s) and in that case, please come to talk to me and get my approval. At least 2-3 peer reviewed journal articles should be used for your presentation. The quality of your PowerPoint slides and presentation is expected as those for a presentation in a scientific conference. 2. Leading in-class discussion (10 pts) You will lead one paper discussion on a journal paper from the literature concerning a topic(s) covered in the class. You will first identify a specific topic and select relevant literature. The selected literature needs to be approved by me the week prior to the discussion date. I will distribute the paper to the class before discussion. You are expected to introduce the paper (including objectives, methods, data, conclusions, etc.) and be prepared to critique on those aspects when applicable. All the other students are expected to read the paper beforehand and actively participate in the discussion by asking questions, providing insights and comments, etc. Each paper discussion should be around minutes followed by 5 min Q&A. 3. in environmental toxicology (2x7.5=15 pts) You are required to present two recent news stories (in different dates) in ANY aspect of environmental toxicology that we have covered (or will do) in this class. The story will be told at the beginning of each lecture session. The story is expected to expand our understanding of current hot topics in environmental toxicology. It can come from scientific journals, newspapers, magazines, or internet sources, and need to be relatively recent (2014-present). The context of the story must be supported by information from primary scientific literature. Your story should be around 5 minutes and should include the following items: 1) An introduction to the topic of the story 2) Highlight key environmental toxicology themes of the story 3) Explain the contribution of this story to our understanding of the different aspects of the field we have covered in the class (e.g., emerging contaminants, toxicokinetics, toxicant exposure, fate and transport of toxicants, toxicological effects, etc.) You may print out the news and bring it to the class for reference. But do not read it word by word to you peers. 4. A mini review paper on environmental toxicology (40 pts) You are required to submit a mini review paper on environmental toxicology of a specific chemical (or a group of chemicals) at the end of the semester. It can be an overall review which covers occurrence, environmental fate and transport, and toxicology of the chemical(s), or it can focus on one of those aspects (for example, the mechanism of toxicity of PCBs). The paper should be between pages long, double spaced, excluding tables, figures, and references. You will choose your own topic but it needs to get my approval before proceeding to the next step. Then, you will submit a one-page proposal laying out the plan for your writing (which can include your objectives, methods/approaches, and potential challenges, etc.) and a list of references you plan to use. Upon approval of the 3

4 proposal, you may start writing. Please refer to the course outline for related due dates. Please pay attention to the format requirement for your paper as specified in the following section: Requirements on format standards for the final review paper. 5. Participate in in-class activities (5 points) Regular participation in in-class learning activities is required for this course. This grade includes active listening, completing assigned readings and participating class discussion, respectfully interacting with peers, actively participating Q & A during student presentations, etc. Unexcused absence from class will be regarded as no class participation and will result in a 1 point deduction from the final grade per time. Requirements on the format for the final review paper: Failure to comply with any of the following formatting standards will result in a minimum of 5% grade loss on the final review paper. The paper should be submitted as a PDF file through in Times New Roman or Arial and font size 12. The paper should have one-inch margins on all sides and include page numbers. All references should include both in-text citation and a bibliography at the end of the text using appropriate citation style (ACS style or CSE style). The review paper should be in a scientific journal style and include a title page and an abstract. Late assignment policy: Students are expected to submit assignments by the due date specified in each assignment (This includes the assigned presentation,, and paper discussion). Assignments submitted after the due date/time will lose 5% of the points allocated to that assignment. This policy applies to all assignments for which a revised due date has not been formally arranged with me at least 24 hours prior to the due date/time. Attendance policy: Attendance is required for this class. Although not explicitly graded, unexcused absence from class will be regarded as no participation of in-class activities and will result in loss of 1 point per time. Students are responsible for any missed lecture content and learning activities. Grading Scheme: Assignment Due Date % of Grade * MPH Program Competencies * EHS Track Competencies Presentation #1 Various dates 15 #2,6,8,11 #1,2,3,4,6,9 Presentation #2 Various dates 15 #2,6,8,11 #1,2,3,4,6,9 Leading paper Various dates 10 #8,11 #6,7,9 discussion News report Various dates 15 #2,8,11 #7,9 Final review paper 5/17 40 #2,6,8,11 #1,2,3,6,7,9 Attendance & participation N/A 5 N/A N/A 4

5 * MPH Program and EHS Track Competencies are listed at the end of the syllabus. Grading: Grades will be based upon the following scale: total points = 100 Percent Letter Grade % A 90 93% A % B % B 80 83% B % C % C 70 73% C % D % D 60 63% D- < OR = 59% F Course Outline (Tentative) Week 1 1/25/17 Week 2 2/1/17 Week 3 2/8/17 Week 4 2/15/17 Week 5 2/22/17 Week 6 3/1/17 Week 7 3/8/17 Topics Introduction and course overview; The science of environmental toxicology: concepts and definitions Fate and transport of contaminants Toxicant uptake and modes of action Factors affecting toxicity Toxicology of metals Metal contamination and human disease Organic compounds I Remarks Distribute Course syllabus (2) Assign topics for presenation#1 Student presentation#1 (4) Student presentation#1 (4) 5

6 Week 8 3/15/17 Organic compounds II Assign topics for presenation#2 Week 9 3/22/17 Week 10 3/29/17 Week 11 4/5/17 Week12 4/12/17 Week 13 4/19/17 Spring break Contaminants of emerging concerns: engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) Contaminants of emerging concerns: Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) Mycotoxins Inorganic gaseous pollutants and Ionizing radiation No class (2) Student presentation#2 (4) ; Student presentation#2 (4) (2) Week 14 4/26/17 Week 15 5/3/17 Week 16 5/10/17 Case studies: Love Canal disaster, PFOAs Recovery, rehabilitation, and reclamation New trends in toxicology: Toxicity testing in the 21 st century; Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) Course wrap-up, Q&A Last day of class Review paper proposal due Review paper due 5/17/17 Academic Misconduct Policy: Academic misconduct is an act in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation, uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise, forges or falsifies academic documents or records, intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others, engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student's academic performance, or assists other students in any of these. Prohibited conduct includes cheating on an examination; collaborating with others in work to be presented, contrary to stated rules of the course; submitting a paper or assignment as one's own work when a part or all of the paper or assignment is the work of another; submitting a paper or assignment that contains ideas or research of others without appropriately identifying the sources of those ideas; stealing examinations or course materials; submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course; tampering with the laboratory experiment or computer program of another student; knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above, including assistance in an arrangement whereby 6

7 any work, classroom performance, examination or other activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is submitted or performed. In fairness to all students and to promote academic integrity, the Instructor of this course accepts responsibility to deal effectively with any instance of academic dishonesty should it occur. Students who violate academic standards as set forth in UWS Chapter 14 and UWM Faculty Document 1686 ( will be confronted and must accept the consequences and sanctions levied against them for their actions. Course Evaluations: The Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health administers end of semester course evaluations. Students enrolled in this class will receive an evaluation via PantherMail during the last full week of the semester, and they must complete it before the last day of final exams. If you do not use your PantherMail, then please forward all messages to your primary account, so you do not miss this correspondence. General Information: In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an outbreak, or any other public health emergency, the format for this course may be modified to enable completion of the course. In that event, you will be provided an addendum to this syllabus that will supersede this version. Grade of Incomplete : Students are expected to complete all course work by the designated deadlines during the semester. Grades of Incomplete will only be assigned when students are unable to complete the requisite number of research hours and all assignments. Contesting a grade: Students are expected to contact the instructor within 2 weeks of receiving a grade on any assignment if the student feels she/he was graded unfairly. Accommodation for Religious Observance: Students will be allowed to complete examinations and other requirements in advance of religious observance given that the student informs the instructor at the beginning of the semester or no later than 3 weeks prior to absences related to religious observance. Drop /Withdrawal/Repeat Policies: A student may drop a full-term course(s) through the end of the eighth week of classes. Comprehensive information on UWM policy: Specific points are mentioned below. The policy can be found at Special Needs: Students in need of special accommodations in order to meet course requirements are expected to contact the instructor as soon as possible to make arrangements. 7

8 * Master of Public Health Program Competencies 1. Explain the foundational principles and historical perspectives that shape the field of public health. 2. Describe how multiple determinants, including socioeconomic, biological, behavioral, and environmental, and the interrelations among these determinants shape population health and health inequities. 3. Integrate principles of social and environmental justice within public health practice and research. 4. Employ ethical principles and protocols in public health practice and research. 5. Implement approaches to public health practice and research that recognize the social, cultural and environmental circumstances of individuals, communities and populations. 6. Utilize appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative methods in public health practice and research. 7. Apply inter-disciplinary theories, research methods and best practices to address public health issues and promote population health. 8. Collect, synthesize and critically analyze information and data to identify and address, and inform public health issues and interventions. 9. Practice a high standard of professionalism, demonstrated by integrity, respect, transparency, sound judgment, and constructive interactions with colleagues, community members, stakeholders and the public at large. 10. Demonstrate leadership and partnership skills that foster and support collaborations across diverse communities, settings and sectors. 11. Communicate effectively about public health issues with diverse audiences using a variety of strategies and modalities. 12. Advocate for the public s health and health equity. * Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Track Competencies 1. Describe/understand the direct and indirect human health effects of major physical, chemical and biological factors from both natural and built environments. 2. Describe genetic, physiological and overall human health effects of primary environmental hazards resulting from both chronic and acute exposures. 3. Describe/understand how animal models are utilized to address societal issues that intersect between basic science and public health. 4. Describe approaches for assessing, preventing and controlling environmental hazards that pose risks to both human and ecological health. 5. Perform a risk assessment of an environmental health agent. 6. Identify, locate and use appropriate reference materials. 7. Comprehend the primary scientific research literature, and obtain information directly from experts in the field of environmental health sciences. 8. Analyze data statistically and conceptually, interpret results, make conclusions, and describe the relevance of such results to public health problems/issues. 9. Communicate and disseminate complex scientific and public health information simply and accurately in both written and spoken word, in both informal and formal interactions, targeted appropriately and respectfully to audiences of diverse backgrounds. 10. Interact and collaborate with individuals and organizations across the spectrum of public health disciplines. 8

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