Duration
Ecotoxicology : 20h Th, 18h Pr
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making : 16h Th, 8h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in oceanography (120 ECTS) (Erasmus Mundus ECT+ : Environmental Contamination and Toxicology) | 6 crédits |
Lecturer
Ecotoxicology : Célia Joaquim-Justo
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making : Célia Joaquim-Justo
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Ecotoxicology
Course description
This course is a detailed introduction to ecotoxicology mainly focused on toxic pollutants Theoretical courses cover the following chapters
- Main classes of pollutants (nature, sources, remarkable properties, context of use, ...)
- The case of emerging pollutants
- The case of endocrine disruptors
- Fate of pollutants in the environment, including the biosphere
- Effects of pollutants (at the biomolecular, individual, population and community levels)
- Biomonitoring, ecotoxicological tests and biomarkers
- Management / regulation of toxic pollutants in the European Union.
Acute toxicity tests, which are essential for assessing toxicity and the management toxic pollutants, will be conducted by students in the laboratory.
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
Course description
The course presents the basic principles of quantifying the risk that chemicals pose to the environment. The detailed methodology applied to the European Union is also seen.
Table of contents
1. Legal context
2. Principles of the environemental risk quantification
3. Detailed methodology of environmental risk assessment in the EU
4. Cases studies
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Ecotoxicology
The objective of this course is to offer students a comprehensive and detailed view of the problems related to the presence of toxic pollutants in the environment.
Specific objectives are acquiring detailled knowledge on:
- properties, sources and the fate of the major classes of toxic pollutants in the environment
- the effects and mechanisms of action of these toxic pollutants on organisms / biocenoses
- the tools for the ecotoxicological management of these toxic pollutants, in general and in the specific context of the EU and RW.
- Initiation to the practical realization of ecotoxicological tests
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
The objective of this course is to give students a basic training in risk quantification as practiced in EU states. The student is then placed in the situation of the expert ecotoxicologist who must analyze a file and issue a conclusion regarding the decision-making and / or the appropriate recommendations.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Ecotoxicology
In addition to the knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the ecology and the functioning of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (seen in blocks 2 and 3 of the bachelor's degree in biology), the students must have solid notions of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology which are all essential to the understanding of the mechanisms of action of pollutants and ecotoxicological tests.
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
Students should be familiar with basic concepts of ecology (provided in the 2nd and 3rd bachelier in biology). Students must also have good knowledge in molecular and cellular biology, physiology, biochemistry and analytical chemistry so that they can understand the action mechanisms of micropollutants and the meaning of contamination levels in the biotic and abiotic environnement. The sudy of the impact of anthropic activities on ecosystems also implies a good knowledge of the principles underlying energy fluxes in ecosystems and matter cycling (biogeochemical cycles).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Ecotoxicology
The concepts discussed in the theoretical course will be further elaborated by practical laboratory work or tutorials on the measurement of the toxicity of toxic pollutants on model species of freshwater invertebrates and following standardized test protocols (AFNOR, OECD, EU).
A seminar on the use of monitoring and evaluation tools for the ecotoxicological quality of water in the Walloon Region will be given by an ISSeP expert in ecotoxicology.
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
After a hands-on exposé of the quantification of risks to ecosystems associated to the presence of chemicals in the environment and real case studies persentations, the studenst will have to analyze dossiers based on real case studies and present their analysis and conclusions.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Ecotoxicology
The majority of theoretical courses are lectures with power point support. The concepts discussed in the theoretical course will be deepened by practical laboratory work or tutorials.
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
The detailed methodology of risk assessment is presented in lectures with slide-shows as support. Exercise sessions (tutorials and individual work) and real case analysis presentations by the students will also be organized.
Recommended or required readings
Ecotoxicology
The slideshows will be available in pdf format (online access and e-campus platform).In addition, the basis of the course content can be found in the following books (available in libraries and / or labs):
- Principles of Ecotoxicology, Walker et al.
- Mechanistic toxicology, Boelsterli,
- Précis d'Ecotoxicologie, Ramade.
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
The course is largely based on the Technical Guidance Document on Risk Assessment in support of the Commission Directive 93/67 / EEC on Risk Assessment for new notified substances, Commission Regulation (EC) N ° 1488/94 on Risk Assessment for existing substances , Directive 98/8 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market available via the following link: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/16960216/tgdpart2_2ed_en.pdf
Ecotoxicology
The course will be evaluated on the basis of a written (closed book) exam; according to the sanitary situation, the exam will be organized on site or via the e-campus platform.
Online written exam via eCampus (update 10/12/2020)
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
Students will be assessed on the basis of the quality of the analysis and of the presentation (risk analysis of a case) up to 20% of the final score. They will be evaluated (up to 80% of the final mark) by an open book oral examination (either face-to-face or via visio-conferencing depending on the sanitary situation) which will consist of the analysis of a case of risk assessment.
Online oral examination via Lifesize (update 10/12/2020)
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Ecotoxicology
Laboratoire d'écologie animale et d'écotoxicologie, Institut de Chimie, Bât. B6c,
Dr Célia Joaquim-Justo : Tél. 04/366.51.40 ; E-mail : celia.Joaquim-Justo@uliege.ac.be
Dr Eric Gismondi; Tél. 04/366.50.61 ; E-mail: Eric.Gismondi@uliege.ac.be
Dr Stéphane Roberty; Tél. 04/366.38.43; E-mail: sroberty@uliege.ac.be
Quantification of the environmental risk associated with polluants and decision-making
see French Part