Food Toxicology

Code:

CN31002

Acronym:

TOXICA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Nutrition Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CNUP	103	Plano oficial	3	-	6,5	70	175,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Toxicology has been defined as the study of the adverse effects of xenobiotics and thus is a science that has evolved from ancient poisoners. However, modern toxicology goes beyond the study of the adverse effects of xenobiotics to the study of molecular biology, using toxicants as tools. Historically, toxicology formed the basis of therapeutics and experimental medicine. Nowadays, toxicology continues to develop and expand by assimilating knowledge and methodologies from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Recently, the application of this subject to safety evaluation and risk assessment was added to the field of toxicology. The contributions and activities of toxicologists are diverse. For example, toxicologists are involved in the recognition, identification, and quantification of hazards resulting from occupational exposure to chemicals and the public health impact of human exposure to toxics unfortunately present in the food chain. This last aspect will be crucial in Food Toxicology with consequent important impact on Human Nutrition.
In all branches of toxicology, scientists explore the mechanisms by which chemicals produce an adverse effects in biological systems. Toxicology, like nutrition, is both a science and an art. However, it is important to distinguish facts from predictions. When we fail to distinguish the science from the art, we confuse facts from predictions and argue that they have equal validity.
Another important fact is that “ All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy.” (Paracelsus, 1493-1541). This is an important true with specially emphasis not only in the general toxicology, but also in the nutrition science.

Program

Toxicokinetics: xenobiotics absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion; mechanisms involved, membrane transporters involved;
-Carcinogenesis (genomic and non-genomic). Food mutagens
-Endocrine disruptors
-Phytochemicals
Food xenobiotics:
(i) from matrix food
(ii) from exogenous synthesis
(iii) from environmental contamination
(iv) formed during the food processing (culinary)


Lab program
(i) Methods in toxicology. Basics of lab work in toxicology science. Rules for experimental animals utilization.
(ii) Experimental studies: (i) cellular death and proliferation evaluation; and (ii) cellular oxidative stress evaluation.

Mandatory literature

Klaassen Curtis D. 340; Casarett and Doullc2b4s toxicology. ISBN: 0-07-134721-6
Timbrell John A.; Principles of biochemical toxicology. ISBN: 0-748-40736-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Education shall be provided at five hours per week per student during the semester in the form of lectures and laboratory classes.
The lectures will be two a week, with a duration of 60 minutes and laboratory classes a week, lasting three hours.

Theoretical classes will be made introductions to the various themes of the program, showed the theoretical and practical affairs, equated their problems highlighted their most controversial aspects, obscure or difficult and suggested clues to their study.

In lab classes will be given the opportunity to conduct a research project whose main objective is to develop the implementation capacity of some laboratory techniques, processing of results and critical discussion of the results. Be created discussion groups of scientific articles on the news of Toxicology and individual presentation of scientific papers in a journal club format.

It is compulsory to attend a two-thirds of lab classes taught.

keywords

General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law > Basic programmes
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law > Basic programmes
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law > Basic programmes
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law > Basic programmes
Health sciences
Health sciences
Health sciences
Health sciences
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	70,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

The student will be assessed by exam and is also subject of continuing evaluation.
The student must possess to have lab classes frequency, without which often will not get to the course.

FC = (WT (exame) x 0,8) + (CE x 0,2)
FC – final classification
WT – written test
CE – continuous evaluation

Who has a worker student status can watch the number of laboratory classes to understand, may or may not be rated, which means that the option may have a written listing for 100% (without CE) or 80% ( with CE). In either option early in the semester should inform the teacher responsible for teaching laboratory. Note that the written questions will always also related to the lab teaching, so students should study the whole program, regardless of the assessment regime.

Classification improvement

The student will be assessed by exam and is also subject of continuing evaluation.
The student must possess to have two thirds the frequency of laboratory classes taught, without which often will not get to the course.

FC = (WT (exame) x 0,8) + (CE x 0,2)
FC – final classification
WT – written test
CE – continuous evaluation

Who has a worker student status can watch the number of laboratory classes to understand, may or may not be rated, which means that the option may have a written listing for 100% (without CE) or 80% ( with CE). In either option early in the semester should inform the teacher responsible for teaching laboratory. Note that the written questions will always also related to the lab teaching, so students should study the whole program, regardless of the assessment regime.