Syllabus for Ecotoxicology

Content

Environmental chemistry: This part comprises an overview of different chemical groups of anthropogenic origin (pesticides, industrial chemicals, drugs) present in the environment. Focus will be towards their sources, routes, biotransformation and distribution between different parts of the environment.

Effects of anthropogenic chemicals: This part comprises negative effects of chemicals on different biological organisation levels (cell, organs, organism, population, ecosystem) with focus directed towards mechanistic issues. Two or three students per group perform two separate projects. The first deals with consequences of an accidental discharge into a river of a chemical dangerous for the environment. and the second is about monitoring of changes, if any, in an ecosystem due to measures against discharges of toxic chemicals.

Hazard assessment: This part comprises retrieval and critical evaluation of toxicological information form different sources (internet-based databases, hand books, scientific articles etc.) for classification and labelling of chemicals. The students perform as an individual project a classification and labelling of chemicals dangerous for the environment according to EU guidelines and present their findings orally and in written form. According to current legislation the chemical industry is responsible for classification and labelling of chemicals.

Environmental risk assessment: This part comprises environmental risk assessment of plant protection products according to EU guidelines. Two or three students per group perform such a risk assessment of a given plant protection product and present their findings orally and in written form. According to current EU legislation the use plant protection products must approved at national level by the competent - Swedish Chemicals Agency.