ECOTOXICOLOGY AND DATA PROCESSING
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Erminia CONTIExpected Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, participants should: - have insight in the main factors of importance for the fate and distribution of chemicals in the environment; - have insight in the methods used in ecotoxicology to assess the bioaccumulation potential of chemicals in organisms and food chains; - develop the understanding of the ecotoxicological studies through critical analysis of case studies.
Course Structure
The entire course is given in Italian. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.
Detailed Course Content
Introduction to Ecotoxicology. Definitions of toxicology, toxicants and toxicity. Factors influencing toxicity and effects: effects on individuals and entire population. Effects of ecotoxicity on a community. Concentration-response relationships. Field-specific terms. Importance of ecological concepts - trophic level, energy flow, levels of biological organisation. Ecotoxicity testing. Acute, early life-stage and chronic toxicity tests.. Factors modifying toxicity. Toxicity of chemical mixtures. Chemical distribution. Bioaccumulation, biomagnification, bioconcentration; Partitioning of chemicals in environment. Biochemical mechanisms of toxicity; Biotransformation: phase I and phase II, specific enzymes, examples. Biological monitoring. Enzymes as biomarkers of pollution (MFOs, blood enzymes, liver function assessment), bioindicators. Ecological risk Assessmen
Textbook Information
1) Vighi M. & Bacci E. - 1998. - Ecotossicologia. Collana di Farmacologia e Terapia, Vol. Ecotossicologia (Vighi M. e Bacci E. eds.) UTET, Torino.
2) Baudo R. & Perin G. - 2012. - Ecotossicologia quantitativa applicata. Aracne Editrice
3) Walker C.H., Sibly R.M., Hopkin S.P. & Peakall D.B. - 2012 - Principles of Ecotoxicology. CRC Press
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Definizione di ecotossicologia e relazione con altre discipline. | 1, 3 |
| 2 | L’ecotossicologia su larga scala: problemi globali d’inquinamento ed intossicazione ambientale. Principali categorie di inquinanti inorganici ed organici. | 3 |
| 3 | Diffusione e distribuzione degli inquinanti nell’ambiente: coefficienti di ripartizione; i modelli di fugacità. | 1, 2 |
| 4 | Le sostanze xenobiotiche e la loro circolazione negli ecosistemi acquatici e terrestri. | 2, 3 |
| 5 | . I processi biotici e abiotici di trasporto e di biodegradazione degli xeno biotici. | 2, 3 |
| 6 | Biodegradabilità, bioaccumulo, bioconcentrazione e biomagnificazione | 1, 2 |
| 7 | Biomarkers. | 1, 3 |
| 8 | Effetti delle sostanze tossiche sugli organismi, popolazioni e comunità. | 1, 2, 3 |