Introduction to Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

Abstract

Production and use of chemicals also introduces them into the environment. This course introduces chemistry students to environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology and trace analysis.Partitioning behavior and reactions of organic pollutants in the environment. Biodegradation, bioavailabiliy and bioaccumulation. Ecotoxicological effects at the molecular level. Aspects of chemical trace analysis.

Objective

Goals: * The students develop an understanding of the processes that govern the fate and effects of chemicals in the environment. * The students know a number of methods for estimating the fate and effect of environmental pollutants. They recognize the relevant processes affecting a given compound and know how to use appropriate estimation methods for their quantification.

Content

Part I: Fate of Chemicals in the Environment: Relevant environmental compartments and how chemicals reach the environment. Overview on partitioning and transformation processes of chemicals in the environment. Partitioning in the environment: o Meaning of vapor pressure, water solubility and air-water partition coefficient for environmental behavior o Octanol-water partition coefficient as surrogate for partitioning into biological systems o Influence of temperature and pH on partitioning o Global distribution of semi-volatile chemicals o Molecular interactions that govern partitioning o Sorption to natural surfaces, partitioning into natural organic matter Chemical and photochemical transformation reactions Microbial transformation processes in the environment Part II: Effects of chemicals in the environment Biological test systems for assessing ecotoxicological effects Endpoints of toxicity assessment: o Acute and chronic toxicity, effects on reproduction o Dose-response modeling Bioavailability and bioaccumulation: o Bioconcentration, biomagnification, food chain accumulation o Active and passive uptake mechanisms Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics: o Metabolism and transformation reactions of pollutants in organisms, phase I and II transformations o Detoxification, active excretion Molecular mechanisms of toxicity in cells: o Baseline toxicity o Specific toxicity (Examples: Inhibition of photosynthesis, neurotoxicity, including AchEsterase, ion channels etc.) o Oxidative stress o Genotoxicity Part III: Specific aspects of trace analysis in the environment (soil, water, air) Planning of analytical strategy and sampling Enrichment procedures Separation and detection Quantification, screening for unknowns

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