Environmental risk assessment of chemicals

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Environmental risk assessment of chemicals

Ecology and Environmental Sciences N012

Life Sciences Center

Institute of Biosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

2

Self-studies

9

Seminars

0

Aims of course

The objectives of the course is to deepen the knowledge about: 1) methods for the evaluation of persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity of chemicals; 2) contemporary methods of bioassays and environmental hazard assessment systems based on bioindication data; and 3) systems of chemical risk assessment for environmental and human.

Main topics

Main stages, data requirements, sources of information for environmental risk assessment of chemicals. Contaminants of emerging concern: physic-chemical properties, sources, toxicity and main problems of pollution. The prediction of environmental concentration of chemicals. Fate of chemicals in the environment, physical-chemical properties of pollutants affecting their fate. Standard (ISO, OECD) methods of biodegradation of chemicals: requirements for experiment design, protocol and for quality of procedure. Evaluation of chemical effects. Standard (ISO, OECD) acute and chronic ecotoxicological tests: the species analysed, endpoints, parameters measured, test design, requirements of quality control, influence of environmental conditions. Principles of the calculation of Risk Quotent (PEC/PNEC) for environment. Methods for the evaluation of environmental pollution hazard based on bioindication. Biological monitoring in situ. Biomarkers, classification, usage and value in environmental risk assessment of chemicals. Methods for the assessment of environmental state based on toxicity of surface waters, wastewaters and sediments samples. The tests of medical toxicology: acute oral (fixed and repeated doses), inhalation, eye and skin irritation, sensitization and chronic toxicity test, the species analysed, parameters measured (ED₅₀, LD₅₀). Calculation of RfD -Reference Doses in Human Risk Assessment (HRA). The management of industrial chemicals in the EU (REACH and CLP regulations).

Main literature

1. Četkauskaitė A. ir bendraautoriai. Mokomoji medžiaga: Ekotoksikologija, toksikologija ir cheminių medžiagų rizikos vertinimas, 2005.

2. Van Leeuwen C.J. and VermeireT.G. (Eds.). Risk Assessment of Chemicals. An Introduction.2nd ed. Springer 2007, 718 p.

3. Den Besten P.J., Munawar M (Eds.). Ecotoxicological Testing of Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems: Emerging Techniques, Trends, and Strategies. Taylor and Francis informa, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2005, 271 p.

4. Calow P. (Ed.). Handbook of Environmental Risk Assessment and Management. Blackwell Science Ltd, 1998, 590 p.

5. Network of data bases: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/;

6. Recent scientific publications, reviews in these journals: Integrated environmental assessment and management, Aquatic Toxicology, Chemosphere, Ecological Indicators, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam

The final score of the taught subject consists of the assessment of presentation and answers to the given questions from the whole course material with weighting coefficients of 0.7 and 0.3, respectively.

The maximum score for presentation is 10.

The following aspects of presentation are evaluated:

-Structure and scope of the work: corresponds to the form, contains all the necessary parts (introduction based on scientific knowledge, problem, analysis and interpretation; conclusions), the work is of appropriate scope (2 points);

-Analysis and conclusions: the analysis is very detailed, based on new scientific articles, the conclusions are substantiated, formulated on the basis of the data of the analyzed material (7 points); if the analysis is performed but not complete, the conclusions are not always substantiated, 2 points are awarded, no points are awarded for a superficial analysis.

-Scientific style and culture of communication: appropriate usage of sources and citations; the speech and style meet the requirements of the research paper (1 point).

Criteria for the evaluation of the answers to the questions: 10-9 - Excellent or very good knowledge and skills. Student is able to evaluate and apply knowledge. 8 - good knowledge and skills, there may be minor mistakes. Student is able to summarize. 7 - Average knowledge and skills, there are mistakes. Student is able to analyze. 6 - Knowledge and skills are below average, there are significant mistakes. 5 - Knowledge and skills still meet the minimum requirements, many mistakes. 4-1 - Minimum requirements not met.

Virginija Kalcienė

PhD

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sciences Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman