7.432 TOPICS IN PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Spring 2004

7.432 Topics in Physiology and Biochemistry: Marine Mammal Toxicology

Revised May 15, 2004

Instructors: Mark Hahn and Michael Moore & guests

Course Description: Some marine mammal species and populations are highly exposed to organic and inorganic chemicals that are known to be toxic to experimental animals. The physiological and ecological characteristics of marine mammals may lead to an increased risk to these animals from exposure to anthropogenic and natural chemicals. At the same time, marine mammals are extremely difficult to study. Together, these factors have hindered our understanding of the impact of chemicals on marine mammal health, both in absolute terms and also in relation to other (non-chemical) risk factors. In this course, we will provide a framework for understanding toxicology as it relates to marine mammals.

Format: A mixture of lectures and discussions (led by Instructors and students). Grades will be based on class participation, presentations, and a final paper.

Links:

Paper topics chosen

Class notes and readings

Other useful resources:

Science of the Total Environment 1994 Issue on Marine Mammal Tox

O’Hara, T.M. and T.J. O’Shea. (2001) Toxicology.  Chapter 22 in Marine Mammal Medicine – Dierauf and Gulland 2001 CRC Handbook

Marine Mammal Commission (1999) Marine Mammals and Persistent Ocean Contaminants:  Proceedings of the Marine Mammal Commission Workshop, Keystone, Colorado, 12-15 October 1998. 150 pp.

O'Shea, T.J. (1999) Environmental contaminants and marine mammals, in Biology of Marine Mammals, Reynolds, J.E. and Rommel, S.A., Editor., Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D. C.

Ross, P.S. (2000) Marine mammals as sentinels in ecological risk assessment. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess. 6: 29-46.

Marine Mammal Tox references (Endnote file) (save as text file with .enl extension, then open from within Endnote application)

O'Hara & Becker (2003) Persistent organic contaminants in Arctic marine mammals.  Chapter 9 In: Toxicology of Marine Mammals. J. Vos, G. Bossart, M. Fournier and T. O'Shea. Taylor and Francis, NY pp 168-205

Class schedule (Thursdays, 3:00-4:30, Redfield 2-04)

Week	Topic	Class leader
Feb 5	Overview, questions and approaches	Hahn & Moore
Feb 12	Chemistry I: Halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons	Chris Reddy (WHOI) & Hahn
Feb 19	Chemistry II: PAHs and algal toxins	Moore
Feb 26	Chemistry III: Metals and organometals	Moore
Mar 4	Toxicology I: Principles & mechanisms	Hahn
Mar 11	Toxicology II: Immunotoxicology	Sylvaine DeGuise (Univ. of Connecticut)
Mar 18	Toxicology III: Reproductive, endocrine, and developmental toxicology	Hahn
Mar 25	Spring break	---
Apr 1	Epidemiology	Randy Wells (Chicago Zool. Soc., Mote Mar. Lab.)
Apr 8	Toxicopathology	Moore
Apr 15	Biomarkers	Hahn and Wilson
Apr 22	Student presentations	Students
Apr 29	Student presentations	Students
May 6	Student presentations	Students
May 13	Student presentations , Final discussion	Students , Hahn & Moore