Course content

The aim of the course is to provide an overview of human toxicology that links exposure to toxic substances in the environment to diseases. The concept of toxicology will be introduced by describing how toxic substances (chemicals, metals, toxins, particles) in our daily life can affect the health of people. Routes of exposure will be linked to certain diseases (e.g. inhaling of chemicals and airway diseases). Toxicokinetics, dose response and routes of exposure will be discussed as well as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms.

The students will also learn how climate change can affect exposure to toxic substances and reflect on relevant ethical and societal issues. Research articles based on both epidemiological studies and clinical investigations will be discussed as well as risk assessments, environmental monitoring programmes and regulations. The course includes a laboratory session in which the students will learn how to perform chemical analysis of biomarkers.

Course design

The teaching consists of lectures, group exercises, laboratory sessions and written assignments. The sessions will be conducted by lecturers from different research domains. Articles and online study resources are distributed throughout the course. The students will write a research project during the course which they will then present in class (Swedish or English).

Compulsory attendance is required at the laboratory session and all group exercises.

The course syllabus in English: http://kursplaner.lu.se/pdf/kurs/en/VMFN32