Course: Ecotoxicology

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Course title Ecotoxicology
Course code URT/XEKTX
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Killi Uday Kumar, Mgr. et Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Lectures (2 lessons): 1. -2. Introduction to ecotoxicology, glossary of terms for toxicology and ecology. 3. Important toxicological parameters. 4. Origin of key chemical substances in the environment. 5. Fate of chemical substances in the environment and inside organisms: a) water systems. 6. Fate of chemical substances in the environment and inside organisms: b) agriculture. 7. Toxicity testing. 8. Ecotoxicological modelling. 9. Experimental approaches in ecotoxicology. 10. Future perspectives of ecotoxicology. 11. Applications of ecotoxicology (regulatory authorities and guidelines). 12. Risk assessment (for humans). 13. Risk assessment (for the environment). 14. Environmental Health Risk Management. Seminars (1 lesson): 1. The origin and scope of ecotoxicology as a key science. 2. Development of ecotoxicology in recent decades. 3. Key aspects of environmental chemistry and ways of expressing environmental concentrations. 4. Factors influencing the fate of chemical substances and their transport in soil, water, air and sediments. 5. Dose response, test types, data analysis. 6. Tests of individual animal species and multispecies testing. 7. Appropriate animal models for testing. 8. Toxicokinetics, genetics, species, gender differences. 9. Physiologically based toxicokinetic modelling (PBTK) in ecotoxicology. 10. QSAR modelling. 11. ATSDR, EPA, CDC, regulatory agencies, electronic databases. 12. Public health risk assessment. 13. Environmental risk assessment. 14. Cost-effectiveness in environmental risk management.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the basic principles of ecotoxicology, with chemical substances affecting the environment (ecosystems), describes the risk assessment and management of the environment, regulatory management, methodological approaches in ecotoxicology, approaches for evaluating the ecotoxicity of chemical compounds and hazardous materials, regulatory guidelines for ecotoxicological testing by legislative bodies such as EPA, ECETOC, ECHA, etc.
After completing this subject, students will gain an overview of the environmental impact of pollutants and their fate in ecosystems depending on the season. Furthermore, they will know the effects of pollutants on individual organisms, populations and communities. They will also be able to correctly assess the relative risks arising from natural and artificial exposure according to legislative guidelines. Students will be able to design an optimal test or battery of tests in emergency situations according to regulatory guidelines.
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Participation in lectures and seminars (>80%), short seminar presentation.
Recommended literature
  • FLORUS, Stanislav. Toxikologické aspekty chemických havárií.. JU ČB ZSF, 2007.
  • KOPP, Radovan, Klára HILSCHEROVÁ a Eva POŠTULKOVÁ. Základy vodní ekotoxikologie.
  • KUBÁTOVÁ, Hana. Průmyslová toxikologie a životní prostředí.
  • LINHART, Igor. Základní pojmy v toxikologii, ekologii a ekotoxikologii.
  • PAVLÍKOVÁ, Daniela. Ekotoxikologie.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester