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Lecturer(s)
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Zölzer Friedo, prof. Dr.rer.nat. DSc.
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Course content
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Lectures: 1st week Introduction to radioecology, delimitation of terms in ecology and radiobiology. 2nd - 3rd weeks Natural radioactivity sources including extraterrestrial and cosmic sources, irradiation of crews of aircrafts and cosmonauts, cosmogenic radionuclides. 4th - 5th weeks Artificial radioactivity sources including the A-bomb, Chernobyl, uranium mining, consequences, cleaning up, problems in the Czech Republic. 6th - 7th weeks Transport of radionuclides in the soil, water and atmosphere, ways of transfer into living systems. 8th week Behaviour of radionuclides in aquatic ecosystems. 9th week Behaviour of radionuclides in forest ecosystems. 10th week Behaviour of radionuclides in agricultural ecosystems. 11th week Effects of ultraviolet radiation and electromagnetic field on man and human environment, risks. 12th - 14th weeks Radioactive wastes, their production, classification and movement, importance of radioactive waste. Tutorials: 1st - 2nd weeks Identification and measurement of radionuclides in the environment. 3rd - 5th weeks Exposure due to ingestion through the digestive tract (particularly I, Cs, Sr, Pu), consequences, risks. 6th - 10th weeks Exposure of the lung tissue to radioactivity, total potential energy of alpha radiation, equivalent volume activity - particularly of radon, the quantity "working level" and WLM, effects on RNA. 11th - 14th weeks Monitoring of radiation and radionuclides from nuclear power plants in environment. European monitoring networks, quantities monitored, methods of determining contents of certain radionuclides (3H, 85Kr, 90Sr, 134Cs , 137Cs, transuranium elements) in components of the environment.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming)
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Learning outcomes
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The subject acquaints students with problems associated with effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation on the environment, with its sources and consequences of anthropogenic interventions, particularly in the sense of mining and industrial activities, including possibilities of the protection and prevention. The students will be acquainted with natural and artificial sources of radioactivity, transport of radionuclides and behaviour of radionuclides in aquatic, forest and agricultural ecosystems and with artificial sources of radionuclides and their effects on man, with methods of monitoring of radionuclides in the environment.
After completion of the course, the students will possess knowledge concerning the burden to the environment due to radioactivity and further physical factors. They will also be able to appropriately assess relative risks resulting from natural as well as artificial radiation.
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Prerequisites
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Standard knowledge in physics, chemistry and biology at a level of secondary schools focused on general or natural science education.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Analysis of creative work (musical, visual, literary)
Participation in lectures and tutorials (>80%), brief tutorial presentation
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Recommended literature
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Mats Isaksson, Christopher L. Raaf. Environmental Radioactivity and Emergency Preparedness. Boca Raton, 2016. ISBN 9781482244649.
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