Universiteit Gent (Ghent University)General information
The students will be introduced to the theoretical foundations of (eco)toxicology of chemicals and to the principles of exposure, effects and risk assessment of chemicals to man and the environment. A strong focus is on understanding how different physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes contribute to chemicals exposure, effects and, ultimately, risk. This course is organized in the framework of the Marine-at-Ugent doctoral programme.
LECTURES
• General principles and concepts of human and ecological risk assessment of chemicals [Human vs. ecological risk assessment; (human) toxicology vs. ecotoxicology; Exposure assessment: from emissions to exposure; Effects assessment: from dose-response data to ‘safe’ concentrations/doses for man and the environment; Prospective vs. retrospective risk assessment; Risk assessment and risk management; The importance of ‘scale’ in (eco)toxicology: temporal, spatial and biological scales; Societal role of risk assessment: introduction to some legislation]
• (Eco)toxicology at (sub)cellular level [Mechanisms of uptake, biotransformation and elimination; Mode of action of chemicals (and cellular biomarkers); (eco)toxicity testing in the 21st century (‘omics’)]
• Ecotoxicology at organism level [The dose-response curve; Design and analysis of (standard) ecotoxicity tests; Bioaccumulation]
• Ecotoxicology at population and community level [Effects of chemicals on short and long-term population dynamics, including micro-evolutionary effects; Effects of chemicals on community diversity and dynamics]
• Exposure assessment [Emission, transport, (bio)degradation, equilibrium partitioning; Local, regional and continental exposure; Monitoring vs. exposure modeling]
• Ecological risk assessment in the light of legislation [GHS, REACH, WFD, PPP directive; General overview of methodologies (PBT, assessment factor, SSD, use of mesocosm and field data); Example case studies in the context of different pieces of legislation
• (Human) Toxicology and human risk assessment of chemicals [In vitro and in vivo toxicity testing; Toxicity testing vs. epidemiology; Human risk assessment and management in practice (in light of REACH)]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: metal bioavailability [Concentration, complexation and competition; The Biotic Ligand Model; Case studies and applications]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: multiple stressors [Chemical and abiotic stress; Mixture toxicity; Ecotoxicology and climate change; Natural toxins and pesticides]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: marine ecotoxicology [Special marine issues in ecotoxicology and risk assessment; Oil pollution, micropollutants, endocrine disruptors and marine debris; Metals and salinity]
PRACTICAL EXERCISES (WETLABS)
• Biodegradation test and acute ecotoxicity test with Daphnia magna
• Bioaccumulation experiment
SEMINAR PC EXERCISES
• Biodegradation and dose-response analysis
• Environmental exposure, effect and risk assessment
• Human exposure and risk assessment
• Bioavailability and effect assessment of metals
• Bioaccumulation and PBT assessment
GROUPWORK
Students need to review and critically interpret a scientific paper on (eco)toxicology or risk assessment and need to present this to the entire group.
Keywords: (eco)toxicology, effects analysis, exposure analysis, dose-response evaluation
- Understand physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes that determine exposure, effects and risks of chemical to man and the environment
- Know how theoretical foundations of risk assessment are brought into practice in legislation
- Apply quantitative techniques for dose-response, exposure, effect and risk evaluation
- Interpret, critically analyze and report on scientific literature on (eco)toxicology or risk assessment
The aim of this course is to introduce the students in the theoretical foundations of (eco)toxicology of chemicals and in the principles of exposure, effects and risk assessment of chemicals to man and the environment. A strong focus is on understanding how different physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes contribute to chemicals exposure, effects and, ultimately, risk. Finally, the various aspects of the theory wil be brought into practice by means of hands-on training into exposure and effects testing in the laboratory ('practicum'), quantitative (real-life) chemicals risk assessment ('PC exercises'), and a critical review of a scientific paper ('group work').
Content
The highlighted icons, represent the fields of education (in compliance with ISCED Classification) engaged during this course/programme.
Venue
Ghent, Belgium
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Application
Cost:
<p>To be determined.</p>
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of biology, ecology and chemistry.
Application Procedure:
Documents that the applicants should provide: CV, motivation letter, followed courses.
Application deadline: 30th June 2015
Qualification
Assessment:
End-of-term evaluation and continuous assessment.
The students will be introduced to the theoretical foundations of (eco)toxicology of chemicals and to the principles of exposure, effects and risk assessment of chemicals to man and the environment. A strong focus is on understanding how different physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes contribute to chemicals exposure, effects and, ultimately, risk. This course is organized in the framework of the Marine-at-Ugent doctoral programme.
LECTURES
• General principles and concepts of human and ecological risk assessment of chemicals [Human vs. ecological risk assessment; (human) toxicology vs. ecotoxicology; Exposure assessment: from emissions to exposure; Effects assessment: from dose-response data to ‘safe’ concentrations/doses for man and the environment; Prospective vs. retrospective risk assessment; Risk assessment and risk management; The importance of ‘scale’ in (eco)toxicology: temporal, spatial and biological scales; Societal role of risk assessment: introduction to some legislation]
• (Eco)toxicology at (sub)cellular level [Mechanisms of uptake, biotransformation and elimination; Mode of action of chemicals (and cellular biomarkers); (eco)toxicity testing in the 21st century (‘omics’)]
• Ecotoxicology at organism level [The dose-response curve; Design and analysis of (standard) ecotoxicity tests; Bioaccumulation]
• Ecotoxicology at population and community level [Effects of chemicals on short and long-term population dynamics, including micro-evolutionary effects; Effects of chemicals on community diversity and dynamics]
• Exposure assessment [Emission, transport, (bio)degradation, equilibrium partitioning; Local, regional and continental exposure; Monitoring vs. exposure modeling]
• Ecological risk assessment in the light of legislation [GHS, REACH, WFD, PPP directive; General overview of methodologies (PBT, assessment factor, SSD, use of mesocosm and field data); Example case studies in the context of different pieces of legislation
• (Human) Toxicology and human risk assessment of chemicals [In vitro and in vivo toxicity testing; Toxicity testing vs. epidemiology; Human risk assessment and management in practice (in light of REACH)]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: metal bioavailability [Concentration, complexation and competition; The Biotic Ligand Model; Case studies and applications]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: multiple stressors [Chemical and abiotic stress; Mixture toxicity; Ecotoxicology and climate change; Natural toxins and pesticides]
• Current research topics in ecotoxicology: marine ecotoxicology [Special marine issues in ecotoxicology and risk assessment; Oil pollution, micropollutants, endocrine disruptors and marine debris; Metals and salinity]
PRACTICAL EXERCISES (WETLABS)
• Biodegradation test and acute ecotoxicity test with Daphnia magna
• Bioaccumulation experiment
SEMINAR PC EXERCISES
• Biodegradation and dose-response analysis
• Environmental exposure, effect and risk assessment
• Human exposure and risk assessment
• Bioavailability and effect assessment of metals
• Bioaccumulation and PBT assessment
GROUPWORK
Students need to review and critically interpret a scientific paper on (eco)toxicology or risk assessment and need to present this to the entire group.
Keywords: (eco)toxicology, effects analysis, exposure analysis, dose-response evaluation
Documents that the applicants should provide: CV, motivation letter, followed courses.
Application deadline: 30th June 2015
End-of-term evaluation and continuous assessment.
- Understand physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes that determine exposure, effects and risks of chemical to man and the environment
- Know how theoretical foundations of risk assessment are brought into practice in legislation
- Apply quantitative techniques for dose-response, exposure, effect and risk evaluation
- Interpret, critically analyze and report on scientific literature on (eco)toxicology or risk assessment
The aim of this course is to introduce the students in the theoretical foundations of (eco)toxicology of chemicals and in the principles of exposure, effects and risk assessment of chemicals to man and the environment. A strong focus is on understanding how different physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes contribute to chemicals exposure, effects and, ultimately, risk. Finally, the various aspects of the theory wil be brought into practice by means of hands-on training into exposure and effects testing in the laboratory ('practicum'), quantitative (real-life) chemicals risk assessment ('PC exercises'), and a critical review of a scientific paper ('group work').
Basic knowledge of biology, ecology and chemistry.
