Graduate Calendar Archives: 2003 / 2004

Ottawa-Carleton Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology

Room 2240 Herzberg Building
Telephone: (613) 520-3515
Fax: (613) 520-5613

The Program

Coordinator B.R. Hollebone
Department of Chemistry, Carleton University

Associate CoordinatorJules Blais
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa

Toxicology is the study of effects of toxic substances on living systems. These toxic substances can either be organic or inorganic, synthetic or natural materials. As a field of research, it crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries such as chemistry, biology, and the environmental sciences. Environmental toxicology further extends to aspects of chemical transport, fate, persistence and biological accumulation of toxic substances and their effects at the population and community levels. While individual researchers usually specialize in a particular area, toxicologists today must be able to appreciate significant research in other fields and therefore require an understanding of the basic principles of other disciplines. To meet this challenge the University of Ottawa and Carleton University offer a Collaborative Program in the supporting Institutes leading to a Master of Science degree with Specialization in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.

Supporting Institutes

The Collaborative Program is intended to augment the research and training that the student receives through one of the Institutes participating in the program. The primary degree granting units are:

1. The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, the joint graduate program of the departments of Biology at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
2. The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Chemistry, the joint graduate program of the departments of Chemistry at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
3. The Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, the joint graduate program of the departments of Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

The Collaborative Program is managed by a committee of representatives from the supporting Institutes. The committee is responsible for admitting students into the Collaborative Program and managing the Program. A coordinator and an associate coordinator administer the Program.

Members of the Collaborative Program

• Arnason, J.T., Ph.D., Plant secondary chemicals, plant-insect Interactions, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Bawagan, A.D.O., Ph.D., Physical chemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University
• Blais, J., Ph.D., Environmental toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology
• Burk, R., Ph.D., Environmental analytical chemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University
• Chakrabarti, C.L., Ph.D.,D.Sc., Environmental toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University (Distinguished Research Professor)
• Charest, C., Ph.D., Plant eco-physiology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Findlay, C.S., Ph.D., Modeling of toxicant transport, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Hollebone, B.R., Ph.D., Chemical toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University
• Kennedy, S.W., Ph.D., Environmental toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa (Adjunct)
• Lai, E.P.C., Ph.D., Analytical chemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University
• Lambert, I.B., Ph.D., Genetic toxicology, biochemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, Carleton University
• Lean, D.R.S., Ph.D., NSERC Industrial Chair in Ecotoxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Miller, J.D., Ph.D., Environmental toxicology of natural toxins, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University
• Mineau, P., Ph.D., Wildlife and Pesticide Toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, Carleton University (Adjunct)
• Mitchel, R.E.J., Ph.D., Radiation toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa (Adjunct)
• Moon, T.W., Ph.D., Comparative physiology, biochemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Philogene, B.J.R., Ph.D., Insect physiology, chemical ecology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Pick, F.R., Ph.D., Aquatic sciences, microbial ecology, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Scaiano, J.C., Ph.D., Physical organic chemistry, photochemistry, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, University of Ottawa
• Scott, S.L., Ph.D., Surface chemistry, kinetics, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, University of Ottawa
• Trudeau, V.L., Ph.D., Physiology and toxicology of reproduction, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Wigfield, D.C., Ph.D., Chemical toxicology, Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Carleton University

Master's Program

Application to the Program

Applications should be directed to the primary participating unit that is the most appropriate to the student's research interests. Once sponsored and accepted into one of the Institutes, students must be sponsored into the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology by a faculty member involved in the program. This will normally be the student's supervisor.

Application forms and further information can be obtained by writing directly to any of the participating institutes or departments or to the program coordinator.

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the Master's in the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology are as follows:

1. Prior admission to the master's program in one of the supporting Institutes participating in the program.
2. Completion of a relevant introductory course in toxicology, either:

   (i) prior to admission to the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology;
   or
   (ii) by taking one of the two introductory courses, 'Principles of Toxicology' (BIOL 6402/BIO 9101 - CHEM 5708/CHM 8156) or 'Ecotoxicology' (BIOL 6403/BIO 9104 - CHEM 5705/CHM 9109), while registered in the Collaborative Program.
   The suitability of any introductory toxicology courses as a prerequisite for the Collaborative Program will be decided by the executive committee. It may be the student's responsibility to provide justification for an exemption.

3. A letter of recommendation from the participating faculty member of the collaborative program, which both recommends admission and indicates the willingness of the faculty member to supervise the candidate's research program in Chemical and/or Environmental Toxicology.

Degree Requirements

The student is responsible for fulfilling both the Institute and departmental requirements for the Master's degree, and the requirements of the Collaborative Program.

The minimum requirements of the Collaborative Program include completing at least three courses, which include:

(i) the introductory course (if required);

(ii) additional courses required by the Master's Program and approved by the Collaborative Program;

(iii) the "Seminar in Toxicology" (BIOL 6405/BIO 9105 - CHEM 5805/CHM 8167)

In addition, the student's Institute Committee or Advisory Committee may direct the student to take or audit further courses to complement the student's background and research program.

Other courses offered in the programs of the primary academic units of biology or chemistry may be taken as options, with the permission of the student's supervisory committee, in addition to the basic requirements of Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.

Thesis Requirement

A research thesis on a topic in toxicology supervised by a faculty member of the Collaborative Program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 2003-2004 and to determine the term of offering, consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet, published in the summer and also available online at www.carleton.ca/cu/programs/sched_dates/

Course numbers refer to University of Ottawa and Carleton University listings of the primary academic units. All courses are offered over one session and carry 3 credits at the University of Ottawa and the equivalent 0.5 credits at Carleton University.

University of Ottawa course numbers (in parentheses) follow the Carleton course number and credit information.

Other courses listed in the calendar under the primary academic units of psychology, biology, or chemistry may be taken, with the approval of the student's supervisory committee, as options in addition to the basic requirements of the degree in chemical and environmental toxicology.

BIOL 6402 [0.5 credit] (formerly 61.642) (BIO 9101)

CHEM 5708 [0.5 credit] (formerly 65.578) (CHM 8156)

Principles of Toxicology

The basic theorems of toxicology with examples of current research problems. Concepts of exposure, hazard and risk assessment will be defined and illustrated with experimental material from some of the more dynamic areas of research.

BIOL 6403 [0.5 credit] (formerly 61.643) (BIO 9104)

CHEM 5705 [0.5 credit) (formerly 65.575)(CHM 9109)

Ecotoxicology

Topics and advances in ecotoxicology emphasizing the biological effects of contaminants. The potential for biotic perturbation resulting from chronic and acute exposure of ecosystems to selected toxicants; methods for pesticide, herbicide and pollutant residue analysis and the concept of bound residues.

Prerequisite: BIOL 6402/CHEM 5708 (BIO 9101/CHM 8156).

BIOL 6405 [0.5 credit] (formerly 61.645) (BIO 9105)

CHEM 5805 [0.5 credit] (formerly 65.585) (CHM 8167)

Seminar in Toxicology

A one-session course highlighting current topics on toxicology. The student will present a seminar and submit a report on the seminar topic. Student, faculty and invited seminar speakers.

BIOL 5709 [0.5 credit] (formerly 61.579) (BIO 8113)

CHEM 5709 [0.5 credit](formerly 65.579) (CHM 8157)

Chemical Toxicology

An advanced course defining chemical risk in terms of hazards and exposures. An overview of empirical data is followed by mechanistic studies of enzyme intoxication, induction and mutagenesis. Derivation of predictive structure-activity relationships for hazards and exposures. Interpretation of drug, WHMIS and FDA health regulations.

Prerequisite: BIOL 6402/CHEM 5708 (BIO 9101/CHM 8156).

CHEM 5403 [0.5 credit](formerly 65.543)(CHM 8112)

Methods of Analytical Chemistry

Criteria used in choosing the best analytical technique for specific problems including, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, linearity, detection limits, interferences and the commercial availability of suitable instrumentation for analysis by atomic spectroscopy, electro-chemistry, chroma-tography, molecular spectrometry and mass spectrometry.