Program Overview

FOOD TOXICOLOGY PROGRAM

Overview

Food Toxicology is a science that helps us understand the harmful effects of food contaminants and additives on human health. Toxicology tries to know and identify the dose and through what mechanism the substances are hazardous.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The main objective of Food Toxicology is to provide knowledge regarding the toxicological aspects related to food. Students will critically learn topics related to food toxicology. The interactions between xenobiotics and humans and the consequent onset of toxic effects will be discussed. Some toxicity tests and methods for toxicological risk assessment will be illustrated. The main toxicity factors and molecule targets of toxic agents, as well as the most recurrent toxicity mechanisms and organ toxicity, will be explored. The toxicological implications of the food adulteration or the presence of pesticide or drug residues, environmental pollutants, or natural contaminants will be discussed too.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The Food Toxicology module aims for students to acquire the basic knowledge of toxicology, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics, and to learn the fundamental concepts related to the evaluation of toxicity in humans, particularly focusing on substances conveyed through food.

At the end of the module, the students will have to:

• remember the biochemical and physiological effects of xenobiotics and their molecular mechanisms, the toxicokinetic properties (time-action) of the xenobiotics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion;
• remember the most recurring mechanisms of action of toxic agents, the kinetic parameters, the metabolization reactions, the routes of exposure and elimination of xenobiotics and their metabolites, the factors that influence distribution in the body for the treated xenobiotics during the lessons, the main factors of toxicity and the target molecules of toxic agents;
• remember toxicity tests and their interpretation, organ-specific toxicity, embryotoxicity, and teratogenicity, and the effects on human health for different xenobiotics;
• demonstrate the ability to use data deriving from toxicological tests in order to evaluate the safety and classify the chemical substances;
• demonstrate the ability to use the various descriptors of acute and chronic toxicity;
• analyze dose-response curves; identify threshold dose; graphically describe the hormesis; elaborate a log-probit transform and comparison of curves and xenobiotics as regards potency, efficacy, target compartment.

Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements.

Teaching Methods

The didactic modality foresees frontal lessons with insights related to the program. Specific topics will be introduced through icebreaker activities. Peer education, peer evaluation methods, and the flipped classroom could also be used to allow students to actively learn and acquire the ability to communicate effectively using appropriate terms; these activities could be carried out in pairs, in groups, or alone, and may require the creation of a final presentation to the class.

To improve the ability to use data deriving from toxicological tests for safety evaluation, exercises will be carried out using data present in the literature; similarly, specific activities will be carried out to improve the ability to analyze and describe dose-response relationships, to evaluate the safety and classification of chemical substances, to identify threshold doses, to graphically describe the hormesis. Activities will be proposed to elaborate a log-probit transformation and to compare curves and xenobiotics as regards potency, efficacy, and target, and to use the acute and chronic toxicity descriptors.

To facilitate the achievement of learning outcomes, attendance of lessons is recommended.

Syllabus/Content

• An introduction to the general principles of toxicology. Definition and aims of toxicology; toxicological responses: allergic reaction, idiosyncrasy, tolerance; local / systemic effects; acute / chronic effects.
• Exposure frequency and duration of the exposure; dose-response relationships; threshold dose; hormesis; IT, log-probit transform, and curve comparison; power and effectiveness.
• Toxicological risk and prevention: management of the toxicological data. Toxicological risk assessment for xenobiotics: hazard identification and risk characterization. Toxicity test: acute, subchronic, and chronic tests.
• Quantitative parameters (DL50, NOAEL, LOAEL, ADI, DNEL). Classification of chemicals. Toxicological test. Factors that influence the response to toxicological agents: individual variability, gender, age, intra-specie, and inter-specie variability.
• Toxicokinetics: absorption, biotransformation (phase I and II reactions: enzymes, cofactors), distribution, and elimination of xenobiotics. Quantitative parameters: Vd, half-life, clearance. Induction and inhibition of CYP450.
• Toxicodynamics: release from the exposure site and interaction with functional targets. Main molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxicity. Repair systems.
• Carcinogenesis and chemical carcinogens: genotoxic and epigenetic substances.
• Developmental toxicology: teratogenic substances, mechanisms, and kinetics; endocrine disruptors. Organ toxicity.
• Special toxicology: contaminants in food, pesticides, and environmental pollutants. Food contaminants of natural origin: phytotoxins, mycotoxins, bacterial toxins. Alcoholic beverages. Voluntary and food additives including dyes, flavors.
• The food chain as a vehicle and concentration system for toxic substances.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• Casarett & Doull Elementi di Tossicologia (a cura di Patrizia Hrelia, Giorgio Cantelli Forti). Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. 2013
• Casarett and Doull's Tossicologia: I fondamenti dell'azione delle sostanze tossiche - Ed. EMSI, 2010
• Capuano A. – Dugo G. – Restani P.: Tossicologia degli Alimenti", Torino, UTET, 1998

Teachers and Exam Board

• TIZIANA BONIFACINO

Lessons

• For lessons start and timetable, please refer to the provided link.
• The timetable for this course is available on the Portale EasyAcademy.

Exams

Exam Description

To assess student's achievement of learning, the examination will be an oral exam (30 minutes), always in the presence of the Commission consisting of at least two professors (or sometimes in the presence of a professor and an expert subject designated by the CCS).

Assessment Methods

The Commission will verify the achievement of educational objectives with high accuracy by collecting information about the nature and extent of learning outcomes, capacity, as well as connection and reasoning within the topics of the module.

Exam Schedule

• 20/01/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 09/02/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 15/06/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 06/07/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 20/07/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 01/09/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale
• 15/09/2026 | 09:30 | GENOVA | Orale

Further Information

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework, and exams, should speak with the instructor and the Department's disability liaison.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

• Good health and well-being
• Quality education
• Gender equality

OpenBadge

• SOFT SKILLS - Sociale base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Alfabetica base 1 - A
• SOFT SKILLS - Imparare a imparare base 1 - A