Duration
32h Th, 16h Ex.
Number of credits
| Executive Master in Sciences and Management of the Environment (certificate organised abroad) | 10 crédits |
Lecturer
Célia Joaquim-Justo, Nguyen Khanh Hoang, Tran Thi Lien
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
All year long
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
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.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
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.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings
Principles of Ecotoxicology (Walker et al., Taylor & Francis)
Mechanistic toxicology (Boelsterli, Taylor & Francis)
Ramade 2007. Introduction à l'écotoxicologie: fondements et applications
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)
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Prof.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@uliege.be