CQUniversity Unit Profile
ENVH12003 Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology
All details in this unit profile for ENVH12003 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Environmental toxicology is the study of the nature, properties, effects and detection of toxic substances in diverse environments and those exposed. This unit provides an introduction to basic toxicology for students in public health disciplines and focuses on developing an understanding of the principles and concepts relating to environmental exposures. Topics that will be covered include routes of exposure, the concept of dose, dose-response relationships, absorption and distribution of toxicants, biotransformation and elimination, target organ toxicity, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, teratogenesis and risk assessment. The unit will examine toxins of interest within community and occupational contexts and how they are tested and regulated. Case studies and special topics will be critically reviewed.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites: 48 credit points AND SCIE11022 OR CHEM11041

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2017

Distance

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
3. Examination
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Course evaluation

Feedback

Too many assessment tasks; two major assessment tasks in the later part of the term.

Recommendation

Assessment tasks have been broken up to reduce the amount of content covered for each task and to effectively assess the student against the course learning outcomes. Quizzes are small, and are designed as formative tasks to prepare students for the exam, as well as assessing specific learning outcomes. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to the two major assessment tasks that occur toward the end of term, as these tasks are designed to assess the application of a body of knowledge gained throughout the term.

Feedback from Course evaluation.

Feedback

More interaction from lecturer necessary.

Recommendation

Students are provided with weekly recorded lectures and weekly announcements on the Latest News forum. Emails were sent out after both quizzes to each individual student. Regular Collaborate tutorials were offered but rarely taken up by students. Students posted rarely to online forums, despite encouragement to do so. Students who engage in the course environment receive one on one and interaction with the lecturer, but the lecturer can only interact with student who wish to engage. Weekly recorded lectures and announcements and regular Collaborate tutes will continue to be offered. Forum posts will be responded to promptly. Additional interaction with the lecturer will only occur with students who are prepared to engage. This should be outlined more clearly early in the term in future offerings.

Feedback from Course evaluation

Feedback

One student suggested a residential element for the course to meet other flex students.

Recommendation

This course is operated by distance only and would require all students to attend in a term where there are other required residential schools. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to run an additional residential school for social purposes.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Define fundamental toxicological concepts.
  2. Identify and classify a range of common toxins and their environmental sources.
  3. Explain the dose response relationship and its implications and applications.
  4. Describe fundamental processes and endpoints relating to toxins within the human body.
  5. Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management to toxicological situations.
  6. Discuss major issues in environmental toxicology relating to exposures from natural and anthropogenic sources.
  7. Critically consider the ethical and regulatory implications of toxicological research, associated uncertainties and risk communication.

Bachelor of Environmental Health

Foundation and applied environmental toxicology (LOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6) are identified as underpinning skills and knowledge in Part 2 of the the Environmental Health Australia Skills & Knowledge Matrix, used as the basis for accreditation of the Bachelor of Environmental Health course. Methods of risk assessment and management (including as applied to toxicological issues) (LO 5) and the use of evidence in regulatory practice (LO7) are also identified as underpinning knowledge. Additionally, toxicology is an integral part of many of the activity-specific skills and knowledge identified in Part 3 of the Matrix.

Bachelor of Occupational Health & Safety

An understanding of toxicology is also vital to support studies in Occupational Hygiene, considered a core knowledge area in the Safety Institute of Australia's Body of Knowledge, proposed to be used for accreditation of OHS courses within Australia.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Examination - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Examination - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

A Textbook of Modern Toxicology

Edition: 4th (2010)
Authors: Hodgson, Ernest
Wiley
Hoboken Hoboken , New Jersey , USA
ISBN: 978-0-470-46206-5
Binding: Hardcover

Additional Textbook Information

The textbook is also available as an e-book in PDF or epub format from the publisher at http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047046206X.html

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Lisa Bricknell Unit Coordinator
l.bricknell@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Introduction to environmental toxicology

Exposure settings

Chapter

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Classifying toxicants by use

Chapter

Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Toxicokinetics and biotransformation

Chapter

Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2017

Module/Topic

Toxic action- Acute toxicity

Chapter

Chapter 10

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1A opens 9:00am Monday

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Chronic toxicity- carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens

Chapter

Chapters 11 & 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1A closes 9:00am Monday

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Target organs and systems

Chapter

Chapters 13 & 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Target organs and systems cont'd

Chapter

Chapters 16 & 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Risk assessment

Chapter

Chapters 20 & 23

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1B opens 9:00am Monday

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Toxicants in the environment

Chapter

Chapter 25

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1B closes 9:00am Monday

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Toxicants in the environment- cont'd

Chapter

Chapter 27

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Regulation and ethics

Chapter

Chapter 22

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Future considerations

Chapter

Chapter 29

Events and Submissions/Topic

Report Due: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Exam preparation

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Final examination

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz(zes)

Task Description

  • The quizzes will become available at 9:00am on the Monday of Weeks 4 and 8 and remain open until 9:00am on the following Monday.
  • There is no time limit to complete the quiz and you can save your quiz and return to it later (while the quiz is available)
  • You will get your final result from the quiz showing which questions you got right or wrong. This will let you know what areas you need to study/revise.
  • You should choose the most correct answer.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

9:00am Monday Week 5 and 9:00am Monday Week 9.


Return Date to Students

After each quiz has closed.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

Quiz 1A will assess the student's knowledge of general principles of toxicology, the different types and classes of toxins and basic toxicokinetics.

Quiz 1B will assess the student's knowledge of toxic actions, endpoints and organ/system toxicity.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Define fundamental toxicological concepts.
  • Identify and classify a range of common toxins and their environmental sources.
  • Explain the dose response relationship and its implications and applications.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Report

Task Description

As an environmental toxicologist, you have been asked to provide an opinion and recommendations on the safety and benefits of the addition of fluoride to public drinking water supplies. In your response, you should include:

  • a review of the literature relating to the addition of fluoride to public drinking water supplies, including a summary of:
    • the active substance
    • mechanisms of exposure
    • acute measures of toxicity, NOAEL, dose response, etc.
    • toxicokinetics, biotransformation, target organs and endpoints
    • evidence from research in the field
  • a discussion of the risks, benefits and concerns about potable water fluoridation
  • your considered opinion, based on the evidence you have reviewed
  • your recommendation for action

Length: 3000 words (10% under- 20% over is acceptable).

As with any report, you should use appropriate evidence to support your statements. There is no prescribed format for this task but your report should use relevant headings and subheadings to guide the reader. A Table of Contents and Executive Summary is not required.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
. You must achieve a passing grade for this item and an overall composite grade of 50% to be eligible to pass the course.

Assessment Criteria

This assessment task will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Relevance (30%)

  • summarises relevant toxicological information from credible and reputable sources
  • report is relevant to the topic of fluoride in potable water supplies
  • makes appropriate connections between evidence, opinion and recommendations
  • uses appropriate methodology to consider risks

Validity (40%)

  • depth and extent of discussion of the evidence presented
  • accuracy of the application of evidence to opinion and recommendations
  • opinion and recommendations have been based on critical thought, analysis of the evidence and synthesis of new ideas
  • depth and range of evidence

Organisation (20%)

  • quality of consideration of the required components- attention paid to toxicological information, health effects, endpoints etc, opinion is clearly expressed, recommendations are reasonable
  • structure and flow of information
  • coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)

Presentation (10%)

  • style and formatting of report
  • typographical matters (types, font etc)
  • referencing is consistent and in accordance with Harvard style
  • length


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management to toxicological situations.
  • Discuss major issues in environmental toxicology relating to exposures from natural and anthropogenic sources.
  • Critically consider the ethical and regulatory implications of toxicological research, associated uncertainties and risk communication.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
40%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Calculator - all non-communicable calculators, including scientific, programmable and graphics calculators are authorised
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?