Ecotoxicology and Health
Objectives
At the end of this UC, the student will have acquired knowledge, skills and competences that allow him to:
- Apply the concepts of ecotoxicology relating environmental exposure to pollutants (including mixtures of contaminants and the influence of climate change on these factors), with effects on living organisms (including humans).
- Be able to use standard methodologies and current technologies applied to the assessment of toxicity of pollutants.
- Intervene in ecological risk assessment studies and for human health and in the development of water and waste sanitary surveillance actions.
- Know the legislation in force in the area of regulation of chemical products and the control of the quality of ecosystems.
General characterization
Code
12657
Credits
3.0
Responsible teacher
Marta Susana Silvestre Gouveia Martins
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 37
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- Amiard-Triquet, C., Amiard, J.-C., Mouneyrac, C. (2015). Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Advancing Tools for Dealing with Emerging Risks. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 504 p.
- Connon R. E., Geist, J., Werner I. (2012). Effect-Based Tools for Monitoring and Predicting the Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment – Review. Sensors, 12, 12741-12771
- Newman, M.C. (2010). Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology. 3rd ed. CRCPress., NY. 571 p.
- Principles and Methods of Toxicology, A Wallace Hayes eds, Fourth edition, Taylor & Francis, 2001.
- Gonçalves Ferreira, F. 1990. “Moderna Saúde Pública”, 6ª ed. Fund. Calouste Gulbenkian
- Artigos científicos e documentos gerais fornecidos ao longo do curso.
Teaching method
The methodology will include theoretical-practical (TP) and practical (P) classes, in classroom and tutorial. Theoretical-practical classes include the exposition of theoretical contents and presentation and interactive discussion of case studies. The practical component includes laboratory and field classes that allow the practical application of the knowledge acquired.
The methodology also includes: 1) Theoretical -practical presentation using slides and concrete examples about the application of concepts in real context (both analyses of case-studies and excercises); 2) laboratory work for the development of pratical analyses in ecotoxicology; 3) Online forums, with interactive sharing and discussion of available content; 4) “Retrival practice” will be used in the form of “Kahoots” (kahoot.it) in the sessions of theoretical and practical classes; 5) clarification of doubts with the teacher about the contents of the UC.
Evaluation method
Curricular Unit of the 1st cycle of the Integrated Master in Environmental Engineering (3rd year, 2nd semester)
This UC comprises a theoretical component of 1h/week and a practical component of 2h/week.
Attendance is based on attendance at practical classes, with mandatory attendance in at least 80% of practical classes.
Assessment is continuous and each component (theoretical and practical) has 50% of weight in the final assessment.
Theoretical assessment parameters: - 2 theoretical tests (average of the 2 tests)
Practical assessment parameters: - 1 practical test (30%) + 1 practical group work (presentation in poster and abstract
Subject matter
1.Introduction. One Health Approach
1.1. Distribution and transport of contaminants in the environment;
1.2. Biotic and abiotic factors involved in chemical transformation processes and bioavailability of contaminants;
1.3. “One Health” Approach: Environmental Health, Animal Health and Human Health..
2. Ecotoxicology
2.1. Toxicokinetics e toxicodynamics;
2.2. Bioaccessibility, bioaccumulation and bioamplification concepts;
2.3. Bioassays (standardized, in vivo, in vitro, in silico, in situ);
2.4. Biomarkers (including omic technologies), bioindicators, biotic indices, population, community and ecosystem responses;
3. Ecological, health and human health perspective
3.1. Environmental factores influencing the human health.
3.2. Ecological risk assessment and human health; development of actions for the quality of water supply, wastewater, recreational water and solid waste