Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health - ENV00106M
Module summary
Over 230,000 different chemicals (and materials such as nanoparticles and plastics) are used globally and it is inevitable that during their production, use and disposal, these will be released to the natural environment. Toxins can also be produced naturally by algae, fungi and plants. Exposure to these chemical pollutants may lead to negative effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms and on human health. This module introduces students, with a broad range of backgrounds, to the fields of ecotoxicology, mammalian toxicology and environmental fate, exposure, effects and and ecological and human health impact assessment of chemicals.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
The module will begin by introducing students to the environmental challenges resulting from exposure to the chemical universe and the threats of chemical pollution to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Sessions will then take a step-by-step approach to describe: how chemicals are emitted to or formed in the environment; their fate, transport in the environment; uptake into organisms and food chains; how humans and other organisms are exposed to chemicals; and the direct and indirect effects on ecosystems and human health; and how the impacts of chemicals are assessed from a regulatory and/or policy perspective. Throughout the module, students will be introduced to experimental, modelling and data review and analysis approaches that are used in the risk assessment process for a chemical.
Specific employability skills
Understanding of the regulatory requirements and approaches for assessing the risks of chemicals in the environment
Laboratory skills for testing the fate and effects of chemicals
Use of exposure models and exposure assessment approaches
Use of online databases for obtaining information on the properties, fate and effects of chemicals
Use of in silico models for estimating the properties, fate and effects of untested chemicals
Use of quality assessment methodologies. such as CRED, for fate and ecotoxicity data
Hands-on experience of ecological and human health risk assessment methods
Generic skills
Undertaken an independent piece of literature review, assessment and synthesis
The ability to use a variety of data sources, i.e. Journals, web pages, databases (data-mining)
Weighing of evidence on complex environmental issues and with imperfect scientific evidence
Quantitative skills (calculations)
Module learning outcomes
Subject content. By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:
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a broad understanding of different types of chemical contaminants and of how these are released to or formed in the natural environment;
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the fate and transport processes for contaminants in the environment;
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how chemicals are accumulated into organisms including humans;
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how to assess ecological and human exposure to chemical pollutants;
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how contaminants can affect both environmental and human health;
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current approaches for environmental risk assessment of a new chemical
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how information on fate and effects can be drawn together to assess the risks of chemicals to the environment to ecosystems and humans
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 80 |
| Essay/coursework | 20 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
Module feedback
Written feedback will be provided on the summative assessment.
Indicative reading
Environmental Toxicology, an open online textbook – available at: https://maken.wikiwijs.nl/147644/Environmental_Toxicology__an_open_online_textbook#!page-5658449
Baird, C. and Cann, M. (2005) Environmental Chemistry, Third Edition. WH Freeman
vanLoon, G. W., and Duffy, S. J (2005) Environmental Chemistry: A global perspective, 2nd Edition. Oxford
Beard, J. M. (2008) Environmental Chemistry in Society. CRC Press