Toxicology through the ages

Timetable

1. Basic concepts: toxin, poison, antidote, venomous organism, poisonous organism.
2. How and with what can you get poisoned?
3. Poisons in ancient times: Did Cleopatra die from a snakebite? How was Socrates executed? Who was Mithridates IV Eupator, and how did he die? What was Emperor Claudius poisoned with?
4. Accidental and intentional poisonings from the Middle Ages to the present day: How people protected themselves from poisons throughout the centuries? Food testers. Does a unicorn's horn protect against the effects of poisons? How much gold can you drink? The queen's deadly cosmetics; Borgia poisons; the gates of death; Gulia Tofana – the maker of widows; Arsenic – the king of poisons; Caravaggio and Goya and lead paints. Was Napoleon poisoned? Minamata; The Tragedy of Poison Oil Syndrome.
5. Poisons in the service of secret services: ricin, novichok, polonium.
6. What poisons our environment? - Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, selected venomous animals, poisonous mushrooms, and plants.
7. Harmful substances in our diet: how much coffee can you drink? Secondary plant metabolites in the service of humans and against them; is it worth eating puffer fish?
8. Toxic chemicals in our homes and immediate surroundings.

 

Module aim (aims)

1. Familiarize students with toxic substances and their specific characteristics.
2. Present historical examples of poisoning and accidental poisoning, and the mechanisms of their toxic effects.
3. Present the hazards associated with substances found in our environment.
4. Present selected venomous or poisonous animals, poisonous mushrooms and plants, and the toxic effects of their toxins.
5. Presentation of the harmful effects of stimulants and substances found in food.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of general biology, human physiology, and chemistry at the high school level.

Syllabus

1. Basic terms in toxicological sciences.
2. Measurement of toxic effects and classification of toxicity.
3. Toxins and toxicants used throughout history and the mechanism of their action on the human body.
4. Toxic substances in our environment: origin, composition, and mechanism of action.

Reading list

Additional reading will be provided in PDF format by the lecturer.

• Steven G. Gilbert (2019). A Small Dose of Toxicology History Or An Introduction to the History of Toxicology and Lessons Learned. Chapter 5 - History of Toxicology and Lessons Learned, Third Edition – Revised.
• Philip Wexler (2014). History of Toxicologyand Environmental Health Toxicology in Antiquity, Volume I. Elsevier Inc.
• Radenkova, J. (2008). Historical development of toxicology. Acta Medica Bulg. 35 (1), 47–52