Learning objectives
To provide knowledge of the available methods to predict and monitor the impact of potentially harmful chemicals on natural ecosystems
Prerequisites
Ecology, Statistics
Course unit content
<br />
Part I: From toxicology to ecotoxicology <br />
Analysis of toxic effects: <br />
- acute, chronic and sublethal effects<br />
- response: binary and continuous variables <br />
- experimental design and analysis of concentration-response data<br />
- limits of laboratory tests <br />
<br />
Part II: Application in environmental toxicology <br />
General criteria for selecting test types and methodology.<br />
Toxicology of aquatic systems:<br />
- tests with freshwater and marine organisms<br />
- sediment toxicity tests.<br />
Toxicology of terrestrial systems.<br />
Biomarkers: principles and applications <br />
<br />
Part III: Prediction of toxicity and environmental quality criteria <br />
Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSARs): principles and applications<br />
Environmental quality criteria: the different approaches to their quantification<br />
Complex mixtures<br />
Toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE)<br />
<br />
Part IV: Biodegradability and environmental fate <br />
Physical-chemical properties of toxicants in predictive ecotoxicology.<br />
Degradation processes<br />
Bioaccumulation, bioconcentration and biomagnification.<br />
Fate models<br />
<br />
Part V: Risk assessment<br />
General principles and applications.<br />
Legislation<br />
<br />
Laboratory practical <br />
Acute toxicity tests with freshwater invertebrates<br />
Full programme
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Bibliography
Vighi M., Bacci E. (1998). Ecotossicologia. UTET, Torino<br />
<br />
Calow P. (1994). Handbook of Ecotoxicology. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Vol. 1 and 2. <br />
Teaching methods
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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