Course: Risk Assessment Analysis

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Course title Risk Assessment Analysis
Course code VURH/RAA
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study 2
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Žlábek Vladimír, doc. Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
Course outline: General part 1. General Introduction - basic concepts, hazards, risk assessment and control (management). 2. Emissions of chemicals into the environment. 3. Fate of substances in the environment (transport, storage, transformation processes). 4. Process of risk identification, estimation and modeling of the properties of chemical substances The principles of risk assessment of chemicals to humans 5. Exposure assessment for the analysis of health risks 6. Evaluation of the effects and toxicity tests to estimate the risk to humans, the estimation of safe doses 7. Analysis of human risks - calculations of hazard indices, risk of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances Principles of environmental risk assessment (risk for various components of ecosystems) 8. Methods of analysis of exposure in ERA 9. Evaluation of the effect, risk identification, utilization of ecotoxicology. Risk assessment and management in practice 10. Data collection: demands and validity, availability, resources and evaluation. 11. Management of chemical substances - examples (industrial chemicals in the EU, other legislation in the EU and the Czech Republic). 12. Biomonitoring and its use in risk analysis and management.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Work with text (with textbook, with book), Work with multi-media resources (texts, internet, IT technologies)
  • Preparation for classes - 40 hours per semester
  • Preparation for credit - 5 hours per semester
  • Preparation for exam - 5 hours per semester
  • Semestral paper - 60 hours per semester
  • Class attendance - 40 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, students will be able to define the procedures and methods for risk analysis of chemicals regarding the functioning of the ecosystem and human health. Lectures will introduce the basic methods for the evaluation of human and ecological risk, clarify the difference of exposure parameters and their influence on the final prediction of risks and definition of the main routes of exposure (oral, dermal, inhalation, dietary exposure). Students will be able to characterize and quantify the significance of the potential exposure risks, identify factors the most significant to influence the overall risk and interpret the acceptable risk thresholds. The course will include practical exercise on risk quantification of defined exposure scenario (case studies).
Successful completion of the course requires advanced knowledge in the field of biology, chemistry and toxicology. The student must be able to work independently with literary sources, including search in online databases (CZ, ENG), mathematical processing of information and data, correct and clear interpretation of results, critical review of classmates' presentations. Essential prerequisite is the use of basic software (MS word, Excel and PowerPoint).
Prerequisites
Passed courses: Chemistry. Biology. Toxicology. Environmental chemistry.

Assessment methods and criteria
Test, Seminar work

Students are requested to elaborate a case study on risk assessment based on a specific exposure scenario (individual case study, 6-8 pages, TNR 12). At the end of the semester, a final oral evaluation will be based on PPT presentation of individual student with a direct response and questions from other students and mentor.
Recommended literature
  • Edited by C. J. van Leeuwen - T. G. Vermeire. Risk assessment of chemicals :an introduction. 2nd ed. Dordrecht: Springer, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4020-6101-1.
  • Edited by Glenn W. Suter. Ecological risk assessment. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, 2007. ISBN 978-1-56670-634-6.
  • Edited by Robert A. Fjeld - Norman A. Eisenberg - Keith L. Compton. Hoboken, N.J. Quantitative environmental risk analysis for human health. Wiley-Interscience, 2007. ISBN 978-0-471-72243-4.
  • Edited by Walter Mertz. [1st ed.]. Risk assessment of essential elements. , 1994. 30p.. Washington: ILSI Press, 1994. ISBN 0-944398-21-9.
  • Edited by William J. Warren-Hicks - Dwayne R. J. Moore. Uncertainty analysis in ecological risk assessment. Pensacola, Fla.: SETAC Press, 1998. ISBN 1-880611-24-4.
  • Kaiser, J. Bioindicators and biomarkers of environmental pollution and risk assessment. Enfield, N.H.: Science Publishers, 2001. ISBN 1-57808-162-9.
  • Rand M.R. (ed.). Fundamental of Aquatic Toxicology. CRC Press, 1995. ISBN 1-56032-091-5.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters Study plan (Version): Fishery and Protection of Waters (2022) Category: Agriculture and forestry 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Summer