Topics in Toxicology
Independent Assignments
Toxicology Enrichment Materials
Gulf War Syndrome
Define "syndrome." What are the symptoms of this syndrome?
What group of people are suffering from these symptoms? Provide some historical
context. The cause of this set of symptoms is currently unknown. What
are the possibilities being investigated? What medical evidence has been
gathered thus far? What other evidence (for example from military documents,
or site investigations) has been gathered thus far? Do you think the government
has a responsibility to solve this problem? Why or why not? If so, what
should the government be doing? How might a problem like this be prevented
in future military missions?
Thalidomide
This drug was commonly prescribed in the 1950's. (It
is mentioned in a popular Billy Joel song.) Draw thalidomide's chemical
structure. Who was it prescribed to and what was it prescribed for? It
turned out to be severely toxic. What type of toxicant is it? What problems
did it cause? Approximately how many people were affected by the drug?
What is known about thalidomide's mechanism of action? How were these
problems discovered? What toxicity testing was done on this drug? Why
wasn't the toxicity discovered before it was approved for use? What was
done after the toxicity was discovered? What suggestions can you make
for toxicity testing to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again,
and, in general, for drug approval?
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT)
Some major ecological problems were caused by this
chemical. Draw the chemical structure of DDT. Provide some historical
context for DDT. (When was it discovered? What was it used for?) What
is the mechanism of action of DDT? Define bioaccumulation. Describe the
effect of DDT on bird populations. What birds were affected? DDT was ultimately
banned in the United States. What was the effect of the ban on the bird
populations? Define pesticide. What are the advantages and disadvantages
of pesticide use? How do you feel about the use of pesticides in American
agriculture?
Aflatoxin
This is a natural toxicant, or toxin. Where does it
come from? Draw the chemical structure of aflatoxin. How do humans get
exposed to aflatoxin? Animals can also be exposed. How does this happen?
What type of toxicity does aflatoxin cause? This is a very potent toxin.
Provide some examples of doses needed to elicit aflatoxin toxicity in
research animals. Provide some examples of doses commonly found in human
food. What laws or regulations are in place to protect the public from
aflatoxin? Do you think the laws governing food safety are adequate?
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal detectable in practically all
parts of the environment and in all biological systems. What are some
common sources of lead exposure? What are some of the chemical forms of
lead to which humans are exposed? What portion of the human population
is most susceptible? What organ system is most at risk upon lead exposure?
What are the biological effects of lead on humans? What kind of studies
are performed to determine the effects of lead on humans? At approximately
what lead concentration does lead cause toxic effects? What is the estimated
concentration of lead in the blood of humans in the United States? What
kinds of things can individuals do to protect themselves from excessive
lead exposure? Do you think the government has a responsibility to protect
the public from lead and other toxic metal exposure?
Domoic
Acid
People can get exposed to domoic acid in food. What
type of food can become contaminated with this toxin? What organism actually
produces the toxin? Within about 24 hours, those exposed display typical
symptoms of food poisoning. Describe these. Within about 48 hours, the
main target organ becomes impaired, and symptoms related to this are displayed.
Describe these. Draw the structure of domoic acid. Describe this toxin's
mechanism of action. What portion of the population is most susceptible
to domoic acid poisoning? How is the presence of domoic acid measured?
How much resources (time, money, etc.) do you think the government should
invest in research regarding a toxin to which a majority of the population
would never be exposed?
Teacher's Notes for Topics
in Toxicology
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