| Course ID: | POS-SE>ORS |
| Course title: | ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT |
| Semester: | 1 / Spring |
| ECTS: | 5 |
| Lectures/Classes: | 30 / 30 hours |
| Field of study: | Environmental Protection |
| Study cycle: | 2nd cycle |
| Type of course: | optional |
| Prerequisites: | |
| Contact person: | dr hab. Agnieszka Madyńska-Juraszek; agnieszka.medynska-juraszek@upwr.edu.pl |
| Short description: | The course is aimed to introduce students into the principles of environmental risk assessment (ERA) and that involves human health risk assessment (HHRA) and ecological risk assessment (EcoRA). Special attention is given to environmental risk caused by pollution of the environment with hazardous substances. The procedures of risk assessment have been used in USA since the 80. of 20th century and currently are being introduced into legal regulations in various countries. The course involves the basic elements and tools of environmental risk assessment |
| Full description: | Hazardous substances in the environment, their sources, and predicted concentrations in various environmental compartments. The principles of environmental risk assessment (ERA), with considering human health risk and ecological risk. Development of ERA procedures – international experience. Ecotoxicological assays and their suitability for determination of environmental risk indices. Analysis of exposure pathways. Procedures of human health risk assessment to be carried out in case of toxic substances, that indicate a threshold effects, and carcinogenic substances. Models and software used in environmental risk assessment. Legal aspects. |
| Bibliography: | 1. US EPA: Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS), http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/ragsa/index.htm 2. Lerce I.; Glaesser W. 2006: Environmental risk assessment : quantitative measures, anthropogenic influences, human impact. Springer, Berlin 1. Covello V.T., Merkhoher M.W. Risk assessment methods: approaches for assessing health and environmental risks. Springer, 2013 2. Hallenbeck W.H. Quantitative risk assessment for environmental and occupational health. Lewis Publisher, Chelsea, Mich., 1986 3. Rand G.M. ed. Fundamentals of aquatic toxicology: effects, environmental fate and risk assessment. CRC Press, 1995 |
| Learning outcomes: | Knowledge Students know the categories of hazardous substances, their sources and fate in the environment, as well as the factors governing a risk associated with their presence in the environment They know crucial methods applied to assess human health risk and ecological risk; they know the rules for interpreting the results of ecotoxicological tests . They have basic knowledge on legal aspects concerning environmental risk procedures, as well as the most important models and software used for risk assessment Skills Students are able to design ecotoxicological tests and other kinds of investigation necessary to prepare the assessment of human health risk and ecological risk They are able to roughly estimate predicted environmental concentrations of hazardous substances in the environment, to evaluate human and ecological risk, and to interpret it with respect to legal regulations Students can use – in speech and written works – a proper English terminology related to assessment of environmental risk Social competences Students are aware of environmental effects that may be caused by hazardous substances, and can indicate the ways to reduce associated risk They are aware of environmental heterogeneity and related need to consider it in research and interpretation of analytical data with the aim of environmental risk assessment They manifest the need to acquire the newest knowledge in the field of environmental protection, and inspire others to get interested in such knowledge. |
| Assessment methods and assessment criteria: | A grade obtained at classes (with considering projects, presentations and writtentests): 50% A grade obtained at exam: 50% (the grade must be at least satisfactory) |