Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health

Code

10371

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Department

Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente

Credits

6.0

Teacher in charge

Maria Helena Ferrão Ribeiro da Costa, Maria Luísa Faria de Castro de Castro e Lemos

Weekly hours

5

Total hours

80

Teaching language

Português

Objectives

To provide current concepts and innovative tools to:

1. Protect the ecological systems and human populations of adverse effects associated with exposure to contaminants

2. Anticipate the route of chemical distribution in the environment and the environmental effects that it may cause, particularly in terms of populations and communities.  

 3. Intervene i) in epidemiological studies and in the evaluation of health risks, ii) in the development of sanitary monitoring of water and wastes and iii) in the improvement of indoor air quality.

Prerequisites

Any

Subject matter

I. Introduction. Concepts and definitions

II. Ecotoxicology

II.1 Exposure and bioaccumulation
1.1 Distribution, transport and transformation of contaminants in the environment
1.2 Factors affecting bioavailability
1.3 Exposure and "uptake"

II.2 Effects of contaminants
2.1Acute and chronic effects. Biotic and abiotic factors that influence the toxicity.
2.2 Biomarkers. Biochemical responses, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and histopathology, physiological and behavioral responses.
2.3 Responses at the population, community and ecosystem levels
2.4 Effects on human health (extrapolation)

III. Sanitary perspective and ecological health                                       The environment as a determinant factor of health. The physical, chemical, biological and social environment.

IV. Epidemiology
4.1. Epidemiological concepts
4.2. Morbidity and mortality
4.3. Health indicators
4.4. Descriptive epidemiology. Analytical studies (retrospective and prospective)
4.5. Risk assessment. Evaluation of the dose-response based on epidemiological studies

V. Major public health problems associated with environmental factors.
Developing actions to sanitary water supply, wastewater, recreational waters and solid waste

VI. Indoor Air Quality
6.1. Sources of problems. Main indoor air pollutants
6.2. Improvement of indoor air quality
6.3. Indoor air pollution and human health
6.4. Indoor air quality and legislation. Indoor air quality and ISO.
6.5 Health and safety at work.

Bibliography

Teaching method

Teaching is carried out based on two fundamental aspects:

  - in classroom, through lectures and practical classes;

  - tutorial, by discussing with the students their work and search progress, either referring to tests performed in the laboratory, which focus on ecotoxicological tests, either for the development of environmental health issues, which are defined at the beginning of the semester.

  The structure of the academic works, as well as the elements of study are available in the discipline page on moodle platform.

Evaluation method

The assessment consists of two parts, theoretical and practical, with the same weight in the final grade

A theoretical assessment is performed through two tests with equal weight, beeing 9.5 values the minimum arithmetic mean​​. The practical assessment is carried out by two reports, in groups, with identical weight and arithmetic average of at least 9.5 values.

The frequency is given by the attendance in practical classes, with mandatory attendance in at least 2/3 of the classes. The frequency is valid only for this year and next (2014-2015).

Courses

• Environmental Systems Engineering Profile
• Sanitary Engineering Profile