Objectives and competences
The objective of this course is for students to distinguish main groups of chemical pollutants, highlight their key properties, and relate them to bioavailability and bioaccumulation. They understand and summarize the sources and properties of natural toxins and their effects on organisms and ecosystems.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• basic concepts (toxicology, ecotoxicology, poison, toxin, lethal dose, bioaccumulation, bioavailability, biotransformation)
• organometallic compounds (formation, structure, effects on the environment and organisms)
• mercury (sources, forms, organometallic compounds, effects on organisms and ecosystems, bioaccumulation)
• nitrates and nitrites (accumulation in plants, sources of dietary exposure, use of nitrites in meat processing, toxicity)
• organic pollutants (PAHs – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs – polychlorinated biphenyls, PCDDs – dioxins, PCDFs – furans)
• natural toxins (alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, oxalates)
• legislation (maximum limits in food, acceptable daily intakes)
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures
• lab work
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
On completion of this course the student will be able to:
- distinguish the concepts of toxicology and ecotoxicology
- differentiate the main sources of chemical pollutants, highlight their key properties, and relate them to bioavailability and bioaccumulation with an emphasis on mercury and organometallic compounds
- understand the sources, accumulation, and toxicity of nitrates and nitrites in ecosystems and the food chain
- summarize the characteristics of major organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, furans) and their effects on the environment and organisms
- explain the concepts of biotransformation, bioaccumulation, detoxification
- identify the factors influencing the absorption of toxic substances
- summarize the sources and properties of natural toxins
- review contaminants for which maximum limits in food are set by legislation
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Transferable/Key Skills and other attributes:
• use of labware and equipment
• laboratory skills during experimenting in the lab
• communication skills: manner of expression at written examination and lab course
Readings
Kristl, J. (2022). Toksične snovi v ekosistemih: urejeni zapiski predavan (1 izd.). Univerza v Mariboru,Univerzitetna založba https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/694
Kristl, J. (2022). Kemijske analizne metode v kmetijstvu in toksične snovi v ekosistemih: navodila za laboratorijske vaje (1. izd.). Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba.
https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/654
Walker, C. H., Sibly, R. M., Hopkin, S. P., Peakall, D. B. (2012). Principles of Ecotoxicology (4th ed.). , CRC Press.Newman, M. C. (201). Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
Šostar Turk, S., Rozman, U., Blaznik, U., Viher Hrženjak, V., Golja V., Mivšek Mušič, E., Nahtigal, B., Perharič, L., Pajnkihar, M., Vrbnjak, D. (2022). Kemijski dejavniki tveganja v prehran (1. izd.). Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba
Prerequisits
Attendance at the exercises is mandatory to the extent of 80% of the scheduled hours.
Additional information on implementation and assessment laboratory work 20%
written exam 80%
