Educational offer - University of Padova

Information on the course unit

Degree course	5 years single cycle degree in PHARMACY (Ord. 2009) FA1732, Degree course structure A.Y. 2009/10, A.Y. 2019/20	bring this page with you
Number of ECTS credits allocated	6.0
Type of assessment	Mark
Course unit English denomination	TOXICOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
Department of reference	Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences
Mandatory attendance	No
Language of instruction	Italian
Branch	PADOVA
Single Course unit	The Course unit can be attended under the option Single Course unit attendance
Optional Course unit	The Course unit can be chosen as Optional Course unit

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	Basic knowledge in General, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and in Biochemistry.
Target skills and knowledge:	The course deals with the chemistry of toxic substances with emphasis on their interactions with biological tissue and living systems. At the end of the course, students have the knowledge, skills and abilities required to relate the chemical structure and physical characteristics of various chemicals, mainly environmental and occupational xenobiotics to their toxic effects.
Examination methods:	The final exam consists of a written test (1.5 hrs long) covering the entire course program and composed of 2 open questions (0-6 points for each question) and 18 multiple-choice questions (total 0-18 points.
Assessment criteria:	The assessment of learning will be done through the evaluation of the comprehension of the addressed topics and on the bases of the concepts and methodologies learnt during the class session. In particular, the acquisition of chemical-toxicological knowledge and skills concerning the main classes of xenobiotics will be evaluated.
Course unit contents:	The course bridges the gap between toxicology and chemistry, emphasizing chemical aspects of toxicological phenomena, including fates and effects of xenobiotic chemicals in living systems. The course consists of a General Part and of a Specific Part. The General Part deals with the general principles necessary to understand and characterize a toxic effect; it examines the direct relationship between the chemical-physical properties of a chemical agent and its toxicological potential. Introduction to Toxicological Chemistry. General toxicology principles functional to the course of toxicological chemistry. Classification of toxic substances. Biotransformation (bioactivation and detoxification) of xenobiotics. Chemical bases of mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Control of exposure to toxic substances. Risk estimation. Primary and secondary prevention, use of biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for environmental health. The Special Part is devoted to the toxicological chemistry of various xenobiotics organized according to their chemical class. These are both natural and synthetic molecules, present in various environmental and food matrices. Particular attention is paid to emerging chemical contaminants, including endocrine disruptors. For each class of xenobiotics are described: i) the chemical-physical properties; ii) the uses and sources of exposure; iii) the toxicokinetic properties, iv) the toxicodynamic properties, with particular emphasis on the most recent scientific findings concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying toxic effects.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	Lectures supported by PowerPoint slides. Seminars relating to specific subjects will also be carried out.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Lecture notes. A course textbook written by the teacher is available.
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	C.Marzano-C.Medana, Chimica Tossicologica. --: Ed. Piccin, Padova, 2018.