Syllabus for Ecotoxicology

Learning outcomes

The main objective of the course is to give the students knowledge and skills that allow an overall assessment of dispersion, distribution, occurrence and effects within different biological organisational levels of foreign chemicals in the environment. To that end, the toxicological tools that were introduced during the course in toxicology will be further developed and used.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• describe sources, pathways, biotransformation and distribution of foreign chemicals in the environment
• present and explain negative effects of foreign chemicals on different biological organisational levels
• estimate the risk for negative effects of a chemical to propagate between different biological organisational levels based on toxicity, degradability, and bioavailability of the chemical
• retrieve and critically evaluate toxicological information from different sources (Internet-based databases, hand books, scientific articles)
• independently carry out, and orally and in written form present, classification and labelling of chemicals dangerous for the environment
• independently carry out, and orally and in written form present, an environmental risk assessment of a plant protection product

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. The second is an experimental study on fish where students examine potential effects of exposure to environmentally relevant chemicals either in field or laboratory. Both projects are completed with oral and written presentations.

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 (1) plant protection products according to EU guidelines and (2) medical products according to the regulations used in Swedish drug industry. The environmental risk assessments are performed as small group projects and completed with oral and written presentations.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, calculation exercises and project work. Active participation in the all parts of the project work is compulsory. In the course, integrated communication training occurs.

Assessment

Modules: Theory 10 credits; Project work 5 credits

The theory is examined through written examination. The module project work is examined through written and oral presentation and critical evaluation of other course participant's project reports.