Environmental Advanced Laboratorial Techniques

Objectives

At the end of this UC the student will have acquired knowledge, skills, competences and basic training in advanced laboratory techniques that will allow to critically understand the advanced techniques that are used in the solution of environmental problems, environmental quality studies, monitoring of environmental systems and in environmental research and consultancy projects. Students will also develop skills that will allow them to select the most appropriate techniques for solving environmental problems, critical analysis capabilities of the data obtained and their origin as a basis for a comprehensive understanding of environmental problems and the implementation of solutions. Students will also develop skills for transmission and exposure of acquired knowledge.

General characterization

Code

12677

Credits

3.0

Responsible teacher

Alexandra de Jesus Branco Ribeiro, Marta Susana Silvestre Gouveia Martins

Hours

Weekly - 2

Total - 28

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

There are no precedence requisites.

Bibliography

Amiard-Triquet, et al (2015). Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Advancing Tools for Dealing with Emerging Risks. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 504 p.

Connon R. E., et al. (2012). Effect-Based Tools for Monitoring and Predicting the Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment; Review. Sensors, 12, 12741-12771

Costa, L.G. et al. (2005). Current Protocols in Toxicology. John Wiley & Sons, 2759 p.

Mahmood Barbooti (Ed.) (2015). Environmental Applications of Instrumental Chemical Analysis  Apple Academic Press, DOI: 10.1201/b18376

Martins, M., et al  (2018). Co-exposure to environmental carcinogens in vivo trigger neoplasia-related hallmarks in low-genotoxicity events, even after removal of insult. Scientific Reports. 8: 3649.

Mateus, E.; Guedes P. (2013). Métodos de análise cromatográfica para contaminantes ambientais. In: Mario V. Vásquez, Jorge M. Restrepo (Ed.), Metodos de Analisis de Contaminantes. RIARTAS CYTED & Tecnológico de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, pp. 55-72.

Teaching method

In TP classes, the successive topics of the UC program will be explained and discussed. During each class, whenever possible, a practical problem will be solved, the solution of which requires the application of previously learned knowledge or in the course of it. Group work will be developed, whose objective is to consolidate the concepts that were learned in class, discussing them with the teacher. In PL classes students will be provided with operational contact with the techniques taught.

Evaluation method

Evaluation components

· one test that deals with the theoretical-practical knowledge of the UC.

· Group work, written, and oral presentation to the class and teachers, with respective feedback.

Note: UC monitoring is done through the page created at the Moodle platform, so all students must be enrolled, in order to be able to follow it.

Subject matter

Pollutants in the environment: sources; classification, properties and toxicity. Chemical ecology.

Advanced laboratory methods in the environment:

1) Instrumental methods - Gas, Liquid and Ion chromatography; Mass spectrometry, Atomic absorption (AAS) and inductive plasma emission (ICP) spectrometry. Fundamentals and instrumentation. Interpretation of chromatograms and mass spectra.

2) Biological methods - Biological responses: bioaccessibility, bioaccumulation and bioamplification; Biological models and alternative methods to animal experimentation: in and ex vivo, in silico techniques; Ethical aspects; Bioassays: experimental design, biological and statistical sampling; Biomarkers: exposure, effect and susceptibility; Techniques for analyzing biomarkers: gene expression, Western blot, enzyme activity, immunohistochemistry, DNA changes.

3) Qualitative and quantitative analysis. Applications.

4) In situ sampling techniques; Sample preparation.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: