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Advanced Ecotoxicology
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:40:49
Abstract
This course will take up the principles of environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology from the bachelor courses and deepen the understanding on selected topics. Linkages will be made between i) bioavailability and effects, ii) structures of compounds and modes of toxic action, iii) effects over various biological levels, moderated by environmental factors, iv) chemical and biological assessments
Objective
- Understanding the key processes involved in fate, behavior and the bioaccumulation of (mainly) organic contaminants - Overview on and understanding of mechanisms of toxicity - linking structures and characteristics of compounds with effects - processes in hazard assessment and risk assessment - get insight in integrative approaches in ecotoxicology
Content
Units 1-3: Fate of contaminants, dynamic interactions with the (a)biotic environment, toxikokinetics - physico-chemical properties - partitioning processes in environmental compartments - partitioning to biota - bioavailability and bioaccumulation concepts - partitioning in biota Units 4-6: Toxicodynamics (effect of contaminants on biota) - internal concentrations; dose-response concept - molecular mechanisms of toxic actions - classification - Exercise: databases and estimation of toxicity Unit 7-10: Toxic effects: from molecular to ecosystems - complex mechanisms and feedback loops - mixtures and multiple stressors - stress- and adaptive responses - dynamic exposures - confounding factors, food web interactions - Exercise: linking compounds with modes of toxic action Unit 11: metal ecotoxicology Unit 12-14: integrative approaches and case studies - bioassays, -omics, systems ecotoxicology, phenotypic anchoring - in vivo versus in vitro biotesting - linking chemical with biological analytics - bioassay-directed fractionation and identification - (inter) national case studies and linkage of learned with approaches in practice
Resources
Lecture Notes
Material will be in the form of copies of overheads, selected publications and exercise material.
Literature
R.P. Schwarzenbach, P.M. Gschwend, D.M. Imboden, Environmental Organic Chemistry, third edition, Wiley, 2005 C.J. van Leeuwen, J.L.M. Hermens (Editoren), Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction, Kluwer, 1995 Principles of ecotoxicology, CH Walker, RM Sibly, SP Hopkin, DB Peakall, fourth edition, CRC Press, 2012
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Advanced Ecotoxicology |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Doctoral Department of Environmental Sciences (More Information at: )
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