Environmental Toxicology 2:
Applied Environmental Toxicology
ENVR 456/556 - Winter Quarter 2013

 

Goals of the Course

Environmental Toxicology 2 is the continuation of the toxicology series in the Department of Environmental Sciences. The primary goal of this course is to further address the interactions of chemicals with ecological systems. In order to accomplish this the class is introduced to the idea of structure-activity relationships, complex systems and scale. The interaction of a chemical with a biological entitity usually is at the molecular scale. However, it is clear that interactions at the molecular scale can have impacts upon ecological systems at the watershed or landscape scale. One of the goals of this course is to describe how this happens. Another goal is to introduce the aspects of experimental design, data analysis and interpretation of toxicity tests and field studies in environmental toxicology. Finally an introduction to ecological risk assessment is provided.Students at the senior and graduate level need to gain experience in reading and analyzing the scientific literature and in presenting reviews and summaries. This course emphasizes each of these skills.

There are several themes:

1. Environmental Toxicology in the context of complex systems and environmental management.
2. Quantitative structure activity relationships
3. Biodegradation of contaminants
4. Effects at population and community scales
5. Ecological risk assessment and life cycle assessment as tools for decision making.
6. Team project in evaluating contaminant impacts at population and community scales. This is like the biomarker project of Toxicology 1 but expanded to a local site and with very specific goals.

Each student is also expected to gain experience in reading, evaluating and synthesizing the availalble literature in the field. Each student will be writing and presenting materials from the primary literature.

The course also has a Blackboard page for updates to lectures and other information.

Contact Information and Required Materials

Professor: Wayne G. Landis

email: wayne.landis@wwu.edu

Teaching Assistant: Eleanor Hines

email: hinese@students.wwu.edu

Office: ES 518, Institute of Environmental Toxicology by appointment.

Lecture: Tuesday and Thursdays, 2-3:50 PM in AH 12. I will try to find a room not in the basement.

Textbook. Landis, WG, Sofield RM, Yu M-H. 2011. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Molecular Substructures to Ecological Landscape, 4th Edition. CRC Press (Lewis Publishers). The original edition was written specifically for this course and it is used thoughout the world. The third edition is not appropriate for this course.

Grading

• One in-class midterm examination (100 points)
• Primary Literature Review paper (200 points, minimum of 5 articles, maximum of 10 articles).
• Power Point presentation of primary literature paper (100 points)
• Joint project Cherry Point monitoring program (200 points)
• One take-home final comprehensive examination (300 points)
• Grades will be based on a percentage of the total points as follows:

A 94-100%	C+ 76-79%	D- 60-63%
A- 90-93%	C 72-75%	F <60%
B+ 86-89%	C- 70-71%
B 83-85%	D+ 67-69%
B- 80-82%	D 64-66%

 

The Primary Literature Review Paper

The paper will be responsible for researching the nature and properties of a chemical, the use of a test method, or current important issues in environmental toxicology. The topic must one of those listed on the web page or be approved by the instructor. The paper will be ten page or less (maximum [1-inch margins, font size 11or 12, double space) paper, The paper should include an introduction, the question or topic to be considered, a reveiw of critical papers, and a series of conclusions. Paper will be graded subjectively by content, grammar and spelling, presentation, and organization, succinctness, and completeness of information. See the attached schedule for deadlines.

Deadline Policy

All assignments must be turned in as an electronic file in a pdf format. This is now the standard for papers for journals, grant submissions, final project reports, etc, so it is time to practice. All assignments are due in my inbox by the end of class on the day the assignment is due. No late assignments are accepted..period. Practically no excuse is acceptable, including but not limited to computer crashes, weather, mischevious dogs, or angry partners. Acceptable excuses are few and are left to the discretion of the instructor. Situations considered acceptable by the instructor include but are not limited to significant medical emergencies, having a child, etc. However, acceptable excuses still must be approved at least 8 hours in advance of the deadline.