John Duffus and Howard Worth
IUPAC, 2001

The presentations compiled here are intended to provide educators with a resource of materials for teaching and learning the fundamentals of toxicology. Educators should select those materials appropriate for their own local requirements and supplement them with examples relevant to their student.

The current web version is a series of pdf files which can be used in the form of computer presentations, to print handouts, or to make slides or overheads, for either formal teaching or guided study. A CD version which includes original files in the Microsoft PowerPoint format is available. [Orders may be sent to Craig Publishing Services, Torsonce House, Newside, Carmichael ML12 6NG, Scotland, U.K. E-mail: <Faye@ecosse.net>. The CD costs £36 including postage and packing]

The topics covered range from fundamental principles of toxicology through environmental toxicology and risk management to consideration of ethics. To complement the units and help with self-guided study, a series of self-assessment questions are provided.

Background
This educational material is the result of a collaborative project of the IUPAC Commission on Toxicology and the Committee on the Teaching of Chemistry. It follows the successful production of an undergraduate level textbook, “Fundamental Toxicology for Chemists” published by the U.K. Royal Society for Chemistry.
> see 2006 revised edition

General Objectives

• To provide educators with a presentation and text on essential toxicology from which they can select material appropriate for local requirements
• To explain fundamental ideas in toxicology clearly so that students can understand the hazards and risks associated with chemicals

• Unit 1 - General Considerations
• Unit 2 - Factors Affecting Risk of Poisoning
• Unit 3 - Environmental Toxicology
• Unit 4 - Hazard and Risk
• Unit 5 - Management of Potentially Toxic Substances
• Unit 6 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management
• Unit 7 - Common Types of Chemical That Cause Health Risks
• Common types of Chemical that Cause Health Risks

• Select the content which is appropriate to your students
• Arrange the slides in a logical sequence starting from the student’s previous knowledge
• Add your own examples to emphasise specific points from local circumstances
• Use labels or safety data sheets as sources of information and ask your students to compare selected chemicals for hazard and risk as used, perhaps in your own laboratory or at home
• Use the self assessment questions to stimulate discussion

• Read Me First [pdf file - 86KB]  

• Introduction [pdf file - 30KB]

• Explanatory dictionary of key terms in toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2007), Pure Appl. Chem. 79(9), 1583-1633, 2007
• Glossary of terms used in toxicology, 2nd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2007), Pure Appl. Chem. 79(7), 1153-1344, 2007
• "Heavy Metals" - A meaningless term, Chem. Int., Vol. 23, No. 6, November 2001
• Risk assessment for occupational exposure to chemicals. A review of current methodology (IUPAC Technical Report), Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 993-1031, 2001
• Risk assessment terminology, Chem. Int., Vol. 23, No. 2, March 2001
• Glossary for chemists of terms used in toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 1993), Pure Appl. Chem. 65(9), 2003-2122, 1993

Page last modified 27 September 2007.