Course contents:
Lectures:
Focus on natural and man made sources that contribute to the contamination of trace metals, radionuclides and organic pollutants in air, water, sediments, soil and vegetation and how the contaminants forms and mobility effect organisms up to and including man. Focus on standard (ISO) ecotoxtesting, terminology in toxicology and how early effects can be traced back to biomarker responses.
Laboratory course:
The students practice water sampling and analysing of water quality, and taking tissue samples for determination of contaminants in fish organs according to an international protocol. A certificate is issued for the sampling (voluntarily).
Prerequisites
KJM100
Recommended prerequisites:
MINA200
Learning outcomes
The students will have knowledge of different sources of contamination and be able to evaluate the long-term effects of contamination of different ecosystems. The students will understand the links between concentration levels including the speciation of contaminants, and mobility and ecosystem transfer, biological uptake and bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of environmental contaminants in living organisms, and the ecotoxicological effects on cell, organ, organism and population. Students will be able to assess the short and long-term impact on man and the environment from contamination, and for some pollutants evaluate alternative countermeasures to reduce the impact in different ecosystems. Students will also be introduced to modern analytical techniques applied within the field. The students will understand that nature is fragile and that we need to consider the long term effects of pollutants to prevent negative ecotoxicological effects.
Files/Documents
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