Environmental Toxicology

Code:

MA315

Acronym:

TA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences and Ecology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2T (of 13-11-2023 to 12-01-2024)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	28	Official Study Plan	3	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The primary goal of the course is to present students with the basic principles of environmental toxicology, focusing on toxicological assessments, types and mechanisms of toxicological response, and the properties and effects of specific groups of toxicants that have been released into the environment (e.g. PAH, PCB, pesticides, metals, dioxins/dibenzofurans, natural and synthetic estrogens, pharmaceutical products).

It is expected that students will became able to evaluate risk situations, propose solutions for its prevention and have the ability to use analytic tools to evaluate environmental toxicity.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this course the student is expected to acquire the following skills:

- Have knowledge of different concepts of toxicity.

- Being able to predict the mechanisms of biotransformation of different toxic compounds.

- Understand how to plan and execute experimental tests of toxicity.

- Able to evaluate the toxic effect of chemicals and be able to implement appropriate toxicity tests.

- Know how to use the techniques and basic methods for toxicological research (laboratory diagnosis of environmental toxicants).

- Have developed critical reasoning in order to properly evaluate the data obtained from toxicity tests both in measurements and in direct toxic in the environment.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology (ET)
History of toxicology and its integration with ET

2. Types of Toxic Effects and Dose-Response Curves

3. Intoxication Phases. Emphasis on Exposure Phase and Toxicokinetics Phase
Toxicokinetic Phase of Metabolization (Phase I)
Metabolic Toxicokinetic Phase (Phases II and III)
Excretion

4. Toxicodynamic Phase

5. Toxicity Tests

6. Bioindicators and Bioremediation

7. Biomarkers
Biomarkers of exposure
Effect biomarkers
Biomarkers of susceptibility

8. Bioaccumulation and Bioamplification

9. Toxicity mechanisms promoted by air pollutants

10. Mechanisms of toxicity promoted by ionizing radiation

Practical classes

1. Evaluation of the toxicity of potassium dichromate in several contaminated water samples.
2. Toxicity test using Allium cepa onion roots.
3. Evaluation of copper sulfate toxicity using lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) as a study model.
4. Theoretical evaluation of nitrate toxicity using spectrophotometric analysis of polluted water samples.
5. Group presentations.

Mandatory literature

Stephen M. Roberts, Robert C. James, Phillip L. Williams; Principles of Toxicology: Environmental and Industrial Applications, 3rd Edition, Wiley, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-470-90791-7
Wayne G. Landis, Ruth M. Sofield , Ming-Ho Yu ; Introduction to Environmental Toxicology: Molecular Substructures to Ecological Landscapes, Fourth Edition, CRC Press, 2011. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-1439804100

Complementary Bibliography

Ernest Hodgson ; A Textbook of Modern Toxicology, Wiley-Blackwell, Fouth Edition, 2010. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0470462065
Marquita K. Hill ; Understanding Environmental Pollution, Cambridge University Press, Third Edition, 2010. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0521736695

Comments from the literature

The responsible for the classes provide additional bibliographic information, where appropriate.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Exhibition, demonstration, discussion of problems and experimental.

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science
Health sciences > Pharmacological sciences > Toicology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Trabalho laboratorial	21,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence to 3/4 of practice classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation will be conducted during class (40%) and a final exam (60%).

In both components, students must achieve a minimum of 10/20 values e both theoric and practical components.

Continuous assessment rewards assiduity, level of commitment, and the quality of performance of each student throughout the class.

The weighting of each item evaluated is done according to the items presented in the table below.

DESIGNATION	Weighting(%)
EXAME FINAL	60
AVALIAÇÃO CONTÍNUA	40
Avaliação PRÁTICA CONTÍNUA	Average of the classifications of the reports related to the practical work done in the practical classes and oral presentation. 1. Failure to deliver the written work implies the assignment of 0 values. 2. Individual absence to the practical class implies a penalty in the final grade of the work performed in this class of 50% (absence to the 1st part of the class) or 100% (absence to the 2nd part of the class). 3. The work of each student in the elaboration of each practical work will be taken into account (in terms of% effort) in the final evaluation of each work performed.
TOTAL FINAL	100

 

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Student workers (TE), association leaders (DA) and other students with special status will be evaluated similarly to regular students. However, in cases where the law exempts failure by faults in the classes that will be evaluated (the DC component) are those in which the student will attend.

Classification improvement

The grade improvement will only be possible for the component measured in the final exam.