Introduction to Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities related to production, use and disposal of goods cause emission of chemicals to the environment. This lecture provides an introduction to the knowledge required for assessing the risk of chemicals to human and environmental health by covering partitioning, reactivity, and toxic effects of chemicals as well as selected aspects of contemporary chemical analyses.

Objective

Students will develop a basic understanding for fate and effects of chemicals in the environment and learn how to use simple quantitative tools for the assessment of chemical behaviour and toxic effects.

Content

Part 1: Partitioning and reactivity * Physico-chemical description of partitioning behaviour of organic compounds * Partitioning in environmental media including soil/sediment, air, water * Chemical and biological transformations Part 2: Effects * Test systems for the assessment of ecotoxicological effects of chemicals * Bioavailability and bioaccumulation * Metabolisms of organic compounds * Molecular mechanisms of toxic action Part 3: Analyses * Analytical methods for quantification of substances in water, soil, and air * Sampling, sample preparation and quantification of organic compounds in environmental media

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