ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Forensic Science, Pathological Anatomy, Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Paediatrics
Areas: Toxicology
Center Faculty of Sciences
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
- To understand the fundamentals and basic concepts of toxicology.
- To understand the general and specific mechanisms of the toxic action of chemical substances on organic systems.
- To understand the risks of acute and chronic exposure to chemical substances on the body.
- To identify the causes of the presence of toxic chemicals in food.
- To understand the risk-benefit concept and perform a critical analysis of it.
- To recognize the analytical techniques used to identify toxic chemicals in food and interpret the analytical results obtained.
In addition, the following complementary objectives have been established:
- To understand and critically use bibliographic sources on Toxicology.
- To acquire toxicological vocabulary and terminology.
- To relate the contents of toxicology to other content in the Human Nutrition and Dietetics Degree and to their future careers.
Part I. General Toxicology
1.- Toxicology: History, development and concept.
2.- Concept of toxicity: influencing factors. Types of intoxications.
3.- Mechanisms de toxic action. Toxicokinetics.
4.- Toxicodynamics.
5.- Procedures of toxicological assessment: objectives. Study of general effects.
6.- Study of specific effects: carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and teratogenesis.
Part II. Descriptive aspects
7.- Food Toxicology. Health risks caused by food. Natural toxic substances present in food.
8.- Toxic fungi. Descriptive and pathophysiological aspects.
9.- Toxic metals (I). Toxic aspects of lead and mercury.
10.- Toxic metals (II). Toxic aspects of arsenic and cadmium.
11.- Toxicological study of nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines.
12.- Toxicological study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines.
13.- Toxicological study of biphenyls and dioxins.
14.- Toxicological study of pesticides. Organochlorine, organophosphate, and other insecticides.
15.- Toxicological study of materials in contact with food.
16.- Food additives.
17.- Diet and cancer. Prevention.
PRACTICAL CLASS PROGRAM:
1. Nitrate testing: interpretation of water potability (UV spectrophotometry).
2. Microcontaminant testing in honey: organophosphate pesticide residues (gas chromatography).
3. Toxicological analysis of herbicides in biological samples: paraquat and diquat (VIS spectrophotometry).
4. Toxicological evaluation: determination of the LD50 in acute toxicity tests.
SEMINARS:
Interactive group sessions for the study of toxics, complementary to those covered in lectures.
GROUP WORK:
Students will complete group assignments focused on topics related to the subject, assumptions, etc., which they will present in class.
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Cameán Fernández, Ana María y Repetto, Manuel. Toxicología alimentaria. Madrid: Díaz de Santos, 2012
- Calvo Carrillo, MC y Mendoza Martínez, E. Toxicología de los alimentos. México D.F: McGraw Hill, 2012
- Klaassen, Curtis D. Fundamentos de toxicología. Madrid: McGraw-Hill Interamericana, 2005
- Repetto, Manuel y Repetto Kuhn, Guillermo. Toxicología fundamental. Quinta edición, corregida y aumentada. Madrid: Díaz de Santos, 2024
- Valle Vega, Pedro. Toxicología de los alimentos. México D.F: Centro Panamericano de Ecología Humana y Salud, Programa de Salud Ambiental, Organización Panamericana de la Salud, 2000
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Dabrowski, WM y Sikorski, ZE. Toxins in food. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2005
- Hayes, AW y Kruger, CL. Hayes’ principles and methods of toxicology. 6th ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2014.
- Negrusz, Adam, and Gail Audrey Ann Cooper. Clarke’s Analytical Forensic Toxicology. Second edition. London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press, 2013.
- Omaye, Stanley T. Food and Nutritional Toxicology. Boca Raton: CRC, 2004
- Repetto, Manuel. Toxicología avanzada. Madrid: Díaz de Santos, 1995
- Shibamoto, Takayuki et al. Introducción a la toxicología de los alimentos. Zaragoza: Acribia, 1996
- Witczak, Agata, y Zdzislaw E Sikorski. Toxinas y otros compuestos nocivos en los alimentos. Zaragoza (España): Editorial Acribia, S.A., 2021.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- AESAN webpage (Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición): https://www.aesan.gob.es/en/AECOSAN/web/home/aecosan_inicio.htm
- EFSA webpage (Autoridad Europea de Seguridad Alimentaria): https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en
- BUSCA-TOX webpage: http://busca-tox.com/
Basic competencies:
CB1 - Students must have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education and is typically at a level that, while supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the forefront of their field of study.
CB2 - Students must be able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills typically demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and problem-solving within their area of study.
CB3 - Students must have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues.
CB4 - Students must be able to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
CB5 - Students must have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
General competencies:
CG5 - Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, healthcare and industry professionals, and the media, using information and communication technologies, especially those related to nutrition and lifestyle habits.
CG6 - Understand, critically assess, and know how to use and apply information sources related to nutrition, food, lifestyle, and health issues.
CG11 - Knowledge of Food Microbiology, Parasitology, and Toxicology.
Transversal competencies:
CT1: Analytical and Synthesizing Skills.
CT3: Ability to Work in a Team (included in CG2)
CT4: Demonstrate Ethical Commitment (included in CG1)
CT5: Ability to Use Information and Communication Technologies (included in CG5)
CT7: Problem-solving Skills.
Specific competencies:
CE15 - Knowledge of Food Microbiology, Parasitology, and Toxicology.
This subject is taught through:
- Lectures: 30 hours. These will be taught by the instructors in charge of the subject, using appropriate teaching and audiovisual resources and with the help of notes on the blackboard. Student participation will be encouraged. Occasionally, the instructor may ask students questions in class for immediate answers.
- Practical Classes: 12 hours. There will be four practical sessions of 3 hours each. The content of this practical session will be linked and related to the theoretical section so that both the learning and the skills are acquired and built as an integrated whole. Each practical session will include a brief theoretical introduction and practical scripts detailing the procedures to be developed. Completion of the practical sessions is mandatory to pass the subject. There is no exemption from the practical sessions.
- Seminars: 7 hours. Supplementary activities related to the subject matter will be carried out in lectures, taught by teachers and/or students, who will be supervised by the former. Group work related to the subject may be completed and presented orally in class.
- Group tutoring sessions: 2 hours. To orient the students in all activities and assignments.
The Virtual Campus will be used as a communication and teaching support tool. Distribution of work materials to students, teacher-student communication, work submission, etc., will preferably be conducted through the Virtual Campus.
Additional tutoring sessions (not scheduled in the official course schedule) will be held in person (in the Department) or synchronously online (through the institutional TEAMS platform). In both cases, they will be held during the official hours published by the professor, and it is recommended to make an appointment by email.
Full exemption is not granted for this subject. Based on the Class Attendance Regulations for official undergraduate and master's degree programs at the USC, students granted a partial exemption will not be required to attend lectures, but they will remain obligated to attend laboratory practicals, as in-person attendance is required.
Student assessment will include a continuous assessment (40% of the final grade) and a final exam (60% of the final grade):
- Lecture tests (2 exams): 10%.
- Practical classes report and exam: 20%.
- Seminar assessment: 10%.
- Final exam: short conceptual questions and/or tests: 60%.
There will be two lecture tests (one midway through and one at the end of the course). The practical classes assessment (20% of the final grade) will be based on attendance and the practical report (15%), and a practical exam (5%). Attending practical classes is mandatory to pass the course.
Assessed competencies: CB1, CT3, CG11, CE15.
Group work will consist of the preparation and oral presentation of a group project on topics related to the subject.
Assessed competencies: CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CG5, CG6, CT1, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT7, CG11, CE15.
The final exam will consist of short-answer and/or multiple-choice questions. Students must have attended the practical classes and obtain a score equal to or higher than 50% of the maximum possible grade on this final exam for it to be considered in their final grade for the course.
Assessed competencies: CB1, CB5, CG11, CE15.
In accordance with the Class Attendance Regulations for official USC undergraduate and master's degree courses, justified or unjustified absences from lectures will not affect continuous assessment, except for those days when lecture tests are held, when justification must be provided in order to conduct the test on a different date than scheduled. Attendance at practical sessions and seminars is mandatory. Unjustified absences from practical sessions will result in the inability to pass the course. Unjustified absences from seminars will result in a reduction in the continuous assessment grade (0.05 points reduced from the total continuous assessment per absence), and the corresponding score for that activity will be lost. For justified absences from seminars, alternative activities will be offered to students with a new deadline.
The continuous assessment grade (lecture tests, practical classes and seminars) will be retained for subsequent academic years.
The assessment system for students granted partial exemption based on the Class Attendance Regulations for official USC undergraduate and master's programs will be the same as for all students, reaching the 10% assigned to lecture tests through telematic or presential (with the final exam) testing.
In accordance with the USC's current Permanence Regulations for Undergraduate and Master's studies (art. 5.2), mere attendance and/or participation in any of the activities subject to assessment will result in the student's final grade being anything other than NOT PRESENTED.
SUMMARY. FINAL GRADE: Lecture tests (10%) + Practicals (20%) + Seminars (10%) + Final exam (60%)
The course consists of 6 ECTS credits.
The total number of student work hours is 150 hours, of which 36% are in-person and 64% are student working hours. The detailed distribution of student independent work time is as follows:
- Lectures: 30 hours in-person / 45 hours of independent work
- Seminars: 7 hours in-person / 10 hours of independent work
- Practical classes: 12 hours in-person / 18 hours of independent work
- Project assignments: 2 hours in-person / 10 hours of independent work
- Group tutoring: 2 hours in-person
- Exams and revision: 2 hours in-person / 12 hours of independent work
- Attend and actively participate in lectures and practical classes.
- Develop habits for independent scientific information search and use of recommended bibliography.
- Use individual tutoring support to resolve issues.
- Regularly consult and use the virtual classroom for the subject.
Tutoring hours are officially posted on the Department's bulletin board (Hall 2) and on the course page.
Coordinator: María Cobo Golpe (m.cobo [at] usc.es (m[dot]cobo[at]usc[dot]es))
EMAIL COMMUNICATION: Students must use their institutional email address (rai.usc.es).
MOBILE PHONE USE: Mobile phones may not be used in the classroom or during practical classes, except when used as a work tool following the instructions given by the instructors. Students are responsible for any legal and academic consequences that may arise from improper use.
PLAGIARISM: In accordance with the Regulations for the Evaluation of Student Academic Performance and Grade Review (Article 16), total or partial plagiarism in any type of assignment or exam will result in an overall failing grade for the subject. Pretending to ignore the implications of plagiarism will not exempt the student from responsibility.
DATA PROTECTION: The regulations must be followed (http://www.usc.es/gl/normativa/protecciondatos/index.html).
ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION: Students who have been granted exemption from class must contact the course coordinator within the first 15 days of the course to discuss alternatives to the continuous assessment activities that the rest of the students will be completing in person. The practicals are not exempt from teaching. Failure to attend or pass the practicals will prevent the student from passing the course.
Elena Lendoiro Belio
- Department
- Forensic Science, Pathological Anatomy, Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Paediatrics
- Area
- Toxicology
- elena.lendoiro [at] usc.es
- Category
- PROFESOR/A PERMANENTE LABORAL
Maria Cobo Golpe
Coordinador/a- Department
- Forensic Science, Pathological Anatomy, Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Paediatrics
- Area
- Toxicology
- m.cobo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Intern Assistant LOSU
| Tuesday | |||
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| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | 0P CLASSROOM 5 GROUND FLOOR |
| Wednesday | |||
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | 0P CLASSROOM 5 GROUND FLOOR |
| Thursday | |||
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | 0P CLASSROOM 5 GROUND FLOOR |
| 01.08.2026 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 0P CLASSROOM 5 GROUND FLOOR |
| 01.08.2026 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 0P CLASSROOM 6 GROUND FLOOR |
| 06.29.2026 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 0P CLASSROOM 5 GROUND FLOOR |
| 06.29.2026 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 0P CLASSROOM 6 GROUND FLOOR |