ECTS
ECTS Course Catalogue
Course details
Course code: BBS20179o12Semester: 2012/2013 summer
Name: Ecotoxicology
Major: Biology
Study Type: second cycle
Course type: compulsory
Study Semester: 2
ECTS points: 5
Hours (Lectures / Tutorials / Other): 15 / 30 / 0
Lecturer: dr inż. Sebastian Opaliński
Language of instruction: Polish / English
Learning outcomes: Knowledge: Student: W1 – identifies and explains the global ecotoxicological problems [KB2_W01, KB2_W04]; W2 – ability to characterize the effects of xenobiotics, due to the mechanisms of xenobiotics toxicity [KB2_W08_BT]; W3 – explains dose – response relationship with the use of statistical methods [ KB2_W02]; W4 – defines basis of spectrophotometric, potentiometric and conductometric methods [KB2_W01_BT]; W5 – defines and explains basic terms of toxicology [KB2_W05, KB2_W08_BT]; W6 – identifies risks of working with biological material in laboratories [KB2_W01_BT]; Skills: Student: U1 - properly and safely uses the equipment of ecotoxicological laboratory, especially uses of chemical reagents [KB2_U02, KB2_U01_BT]; U2 - uses spectrophotometric, potentiometric and conductometric methods to the determination of xenobiotics in environmental and biological samples[KB2_U02_BT]; U3 – is able to prepare a representative environmental sample and deal with it in order to obtain reliable results of the analysis [KB2_U03_BT]; U4 – is able to calculate toxic doses and describes the effects of poisoning for xenobiotics [KB2_U05_BT]; U5 – can interpret the effects of xenobiotics on living organisms through a knowledge of the mechanisms of absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion [KB2_U05_BT].
Competences: Personal and social competences (attitudes and behaviors): Student: K1 – is searching for effective and objective ecotoxicological tests [KB2_K04]; K2 - is aware of the responsibility for the tasks commonly performed in the research team [KB2_K02]; K3 - has a responsibility for the entrusted laboratory equipment [KB2_K07]; K4 – is working in a laboratory according to the safety and health procedures [KB2_K07]; K5 – is aware of researches aimed at protecting animals arising from the knowledge of the principles of environmental risk assessment for xenobiotics [KB2_K04].
Prerequisites: chemistry, biochemistry, environmental protection
Course content: Problems of the influence of the industrial contamination on the livestock and on the health of the animals as well as accumulation of the toxins in the animal materials and products, the effect of the intensive use of the fertilizers and pesticides on the toxicity of the feed, toxicity tests and special ecotoxicological issues.
Recommended literature: 1. Walker C. H., Hopkin S. P., Sibly R. M., Peakall D. B.: Principles of Ecotoxicology, CRC Press, 2005; 2. Wright D. A., Welbourn P.: Environmental toxicology, Cambridge University Press, 2002; 3. Seńczuk W.: Toksykologia, PZWL, Warszawa, 2002; 4. Hoffman D. J. et al.: Handbook of Ecotoxicology, CRC, 2003.
Assessment methods: Laboratory exercises: short written tests (1-2 times in semester, 10 min.), report from each of the exercises, seminar presentation about special issues of ecotoxicology (10 min.), grades are also based on oral statements and activity during exercises. The presence on the exercises is compulsory, the student may have only one unauthorized absence. In the case of excused absences the student is required to pass the relevant part of the material. Final grade is based on the average grades obtained
Comment: specialization: Laboratory Techniques in Biology