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| SCER0012-1 | Ecotoxicology and quantification of the environmental risk of micropollutants
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| Duration : | 48h Th, 32h Ex. |
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| Lecturer : | Célia Joaquim-Justo, Le Huy Ba |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| English language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| All year long |
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Course contents :
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| The parameters for determining the fate of pollutants in the biosphere (transport, partition, degradation) and at the organization level (accumulation, redistribution in organs, metabolism, detoxification and elimination) will be presented.
The study of the effects of pollutants on organisms will be detailed (ecotoxicological tests that define the toxicity of substances, dose-response relationships, mechanisms of action at the molecular, cellular, tissue, physiological, organismal and population levels). Interactions of various pollutants and their impact on their effects on organisms will also be discussed.
Current tools for assessing pollution-related disturbances will be presented (monitoring and biomarkers). To illustrate these concepts, ecotoxicological tests will be conducted by the students so that they take the measure of the power and limitations of methods for assessing the toxicity of substances. We also propose to introduce students to the principles that govern the quantitative assessment of risk from chemicals, as realized in the EU (European Union), and provide the basics that allow this evaluation.
After an introduction to the principles on which the quantification of risk is based, techniques for estimating emissions and pollutant concentrations expected in the environment will be exposed. These such models, some of which will be detailed (McKay, EUSES, ...). The evaluation of the toxicity threshold of substances with respect to organisms in different compartments of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems will also be detailed. Finally, the decision procedures based on risk assessment will be reviewed. To illustrate these concepts, we will take the environmental risk analysis (Ecological Risk) of chemicals or proposed for the industrial production based on actual cases. Based on these exercises, students will be assigned case studies in order to put them in the position of the expert toxicologist, in order to make them aware of the key elements in decision-making by experts ( precautionary principle versus realistic assessment of risk) as well as areas where improvements are still to be developed. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The course will include lectures, practical sessions in the laboratory and real case studies prepared and exposed to all other students by groups of students. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Face-to-face |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Principles of Ecotoxicology (Walker et al., Taylor & Francis)
Mechanistic toxicology (Boelsterli, Taylor & Francis)
Ramade 2007. Introduction à l'écotoxicologie: fondements et applications |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Evaluation of the general behaviour during the practical sessions in the laboratory and of the test report required.
Evaluation of the presentation of the real case study concerning the quantitative risk assessment (group work).
Written evaluation (final exam) |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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Contacts :
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| Dr. Joaquim-Justo
Laboratory of Animal Ecology & Ecotoxicology
Bât. B6c
Allée du 6 Août, n°11
4000 Liège
Tel: +32 4 366 51 40
e-mail: Celia.Joaquim-Justo@ulg.ac.be |
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