Research Assignment- Toxicology

Identify and analyse the principles underlying Toxicology (exposure, dose-response and other risk characterisation, risk management) and determine what constitutes a toxic agent.

• This assignment will expand on the students’ knowledge of Toxicokinetics, Toxicodynamics, Human Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry
• The research will concentrate on specific agent(s) that can be toxic in the environment around us; and the mechanisms that this / these toxin(s) use to cause harm to the body.

TASK: Choose ONE (1) topic only from:

 Toxic effects of pesticides

 Toxic effects of metals, solvents and vapours

 Toxic effects of nutrients or medicinal herbs

 Toxic effects of radiation and radioactive materials

 Toxic effects of toxin secreted by prokaryotes/eukaryotes (example Diphtheria toxin (DT) is an extracellular protein of Corynebacterium diphtheria )

 Air pollution – acid rain/particulate matter/CO2 greenhouse effect

 Ecotoxicity – coal seam gas/ algal blooms

Obtain clearance from your Online Academic/Lecturer first regarding the specific agent or agents relevant to that issue.

What you need to address in your essay

 Present your research in essay format  with an Introduction, Body and Conclusion  In the introduction clearly identify the toxic agent(s) which you have chosen   Clearly outline and discuss the risk characterisation/management or ecology issues   Discuss exposure principles  Dose-response or margins of safety data (Use of margins of safety data, dose-response curves, antidotes or similar i.e. concepts from the BIOP211 Toxicology lecture/tutorial, contribute to the level of description and the integration of key concepts)  Toxic mechanisms of relevant agents  in which you need to cover the effects produced at the biochemical, cellular, tissue, organ, system or whole of body level or society (toxicodynamics, as appropriate to your topic)  Show relevance use of evidence-related research and use of, tables, figures, diagrams or flow charts