Ecotoxicology

NAME OF THE COURSE Ecotoxicology

Code

KTC211

Year of study

2.

Course teacher

Assoc Prof Jasna Maršić Lučić

Credits (ECTS)

5.0

Associate teachers

Type of instruction (number of hours)

P S V T

30

0

15

0

Status of the course

Elective

Percentage of application of e-learning

0 %

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course objectives

Gaining of basic theoretical and practical knowledge of direct and indirect effects of xenobiotics on the environment, at all living organisms, and their relationship to inanimate matter.

Course enrolment requirements and entry competences required for the course

 

Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course (4 to 10 learning outcomes)

After finishing this course the student is expected to know:
- basic concepts and relationships in the ecosystem,
- types of pollution and ways which are due to the environment
- the mechanisms of action of different types of xenobiotics,
- molecular-cellular aspects of toxicity,
- the role of bioindicators and biomarkers for determining the condition of environmental pollution in land and water ecosystems .

Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus)

1st week: Introduction to ecotoxicology. Definitions of terms and development of ecotoxicology.
2nd week: Human impact on the environment. The division of pollutants per site pollution .Persistence and detoxication.
3thweek: Physiological classification of pollutants. Factors that determine the movement and distribution of pollutants
4thweek: The pathophysiological effects of poisoning. The mode of action of pollutants. Absorption and distribution of xenobiotics in the body
5th week: Molecular-cellular aspects of toxicity.Transport of toxicants through the cell membrane
6th week: Biotransformation. Biodynamics and excretion of toxic substances.
7th week: Biological degradation of the toxic substances in the environment. Transport mechanisms in the environment.Bioaccumulation, bioconcentration and biomagnification
8th week: Assessment of genotoxicity.UV radiation and marine phytoplankton
9th week: Introduction to analytical methods in ecotoxicology. Qualitative analytical
methods for determination of toxicants
10th week: Quantitative analytical methods for the determination of toxicants
11thweek: The mechanism of toxicity and detection of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia
12th week: Methods for detection of cyanide and cyanide glycoside
13th week: The mechanism of toxicity of heavy metals
14th week: Methods of biomonitoring, analysis of residues (determining MRL).
15th week: Biological determination of toxins from shellfish

Format of instruction:

Student responsibilities

 

Screening student work (name the proportion of ECTS credits for eachactivity so that the total number of ECTS credits is equal to the ECTS value of the course):

Class attendance

1.5

Research

0.0

Practical training

1.5

Experimental work

0.0

Report

0.0

 

 

Essay

0.0

Seminar essay

0.0

 

 

Tests

0.8

Oral exam

0.6

 

 

Written exam

0.6

Project

0.0

 

 

Grading and evaluating student work in class and at the final exam

Students’ work will be evaluated and assessed during the teaching process as well as on the final exam.
Overall examination can be applied over the two exams during the semester. Passing threshold is 60%. Each exams is scored and gets a score that enters the final assessment of the case. In the exam period there is a written and oral exam,
Rating: 60% -70% - sufficient, 71% -80% - good, 81% -90% -very good, 91% -100% - excellent.

Required literature (available in the library and via other media)

Title

Number of copies in the library

Availability via other media

Springer, O., Springer, D.. Otrovani modrozeleni planet, Meridijani, Samobor, 2008.

1

Knjižnica Instituta za oceanografiju i ribarstvo

J. Maršić Lučić, Ekotoksikologija, predavanja, ppt

1

Web, Institut za oceanografiju i ribarstvo

Srebočan V. Veterinarska toksikologija, Medicinska naklada, 1993.

1

Knjižnica Instituta za oceanografiju i ribarstvo

Hoffman, D.J., Rattner,B.A., Burton, G.A.jr. , Cairns, J.,jr. 1995. Handbook of ecotoxicology, CRC Press,

1

Knjižnica Instituta za oceanografiju i ribarstvo

Optional literature (at the time of submission of study programme proposal)

Walker, C.H., Hopkin, S.P., Sibly, R.M.and Peakall, D.B.: Principles of ecotoxicology Taylor & Francis publ. 1997.
Kamrin, M.A.: Toxicology: a primer on toxicology principles and applications. Lewis publishers. 1988

Quality assurance methods that ensure the acquisition of exit competences

Quality assurance will be performed at three levels:
(1) University Level;
(2) Faculty Level by Quality Control Committee;
(3) Lecturer’s Level.

Other (as the proposer wishes to add)