Drugs, Poisions, Pollutants, and the Human Perception of Risk

In this course, students will learn about the basic principles of toxicology, the study of poisons and their effects on the body. Discussions will revolve around the central theme of risk as it relates to potentially toxic chemicals that we are exposed to in our everyday lives. Specifically, students will learn to distinguish between chemicals that are truly dangerous and those that are only perceived to be dangerous by critically evaluating competing predictions of toxicity rom potentially biased rival sources. They will also learn how to assess the actual risk posed to living organisms from contamination, which is often contrary to the information that is presented to the public by various media, industry, and environmental groups. In addition, students will learn how contamination produced on a local scale can ultimately become a risk to the entire global community. This course does not count toward a biology or toxicology major or minor. Meets Core credit for natural sciences.