Lectures: Focus on natural and man made sources that contribute to the contamination of trace metals, radionuclides and organic pollutants in air, water, sediments, soil and vegetation and how the contaminants forms and mobility effect organisms up to and including man. Focus on standard (ISO) ecotoxtesting, terminology in toxicology and how early effects can be traced back to biomarker responses. Laboratory course: The students practice water sampling and analysing of waterquality, and taking tissue samples for determination of contaminants in fish organs according to an international ptotocol. A certificate is issued for the sampling (voluntarily). Term Paper: The students are through a Term Paper to document broad knowledge on one central topic related to contaminants and ecotoxicological effects (completed individually). Student will have one short presentation about their termpaper work before delivery (compulsory).

The students will have knowledge of different sources of contamination and be able to evaluate the long-term effects of contamination of different ecosystems. The students will understand the links between concentration levels including the speciation of contaminants, and mobility and ecosystem transfer, biological uptake and bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of environmental contaminants in living organisms, and the ecotoxicological effects on cell, organ, organism and population. Students will be able to assess the short and long-term impact on man and the environment from contamination, and for some pollutants evaluate alternative countermeasures to reduce the impact in different ecosystems. Students will also be introduced to modern analytical techniques applied within the field. The students will understand that nature is fragile and that we need to consider the long term effects of pollutants to prevent negative ecotoxicological effects.

Environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology are experimental disciplines, lectures, colloquia and demonstrations are closely integrated. The lectures give a theoretical background for the colloquia and practical exercises. Lectures: focus on naturally occurring and anthropogenic sources contributing to contamination of different ecosystems, soil, water, vegetation, animals etc. The speciation of contaminants influences the mobility and ecosystem transfer as well as biological uptake, and may change over time. In colloquia selected topics will be discussed and presented by the students. Practical exercises include demonstrations of different sampling and fractionation techniques for contaminants in water, and sampling of fish. The Term Paper should reflect broad knowledge about contaminants and ecotoxicological effects. The lectures, colloquia and practical training will be in January block, while  term paper work will be in the spring parallel.

Guidance during the laboratorywork. Supervision associated with the selected term papers (literature).

Environmental Chemistry, a global perspective. Gary W. vanLoonand Stephen J. Duffy. Oxford University Press, 4th edition 2017. Chapters 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20. Principles of Ecotoxicology, C.H. Walker, R.M. Sibly, S.P. Hopkin, and D.B. Peakall. Taylor and Francis. 4th edition, 2012.350 p. Handouts from lectures. Supporting literature: Selected articles, published in international journals.

KJM100.

MINA200.

Compulsory participation at first lecture and in certain activities. All compulsory activities vil be specified at the beginning of the semester. Presentation of termpaper is compulsory.

Written exam will take place in April. Both exam and term paper must be passed to pass the course. Term paper counts 1/3 and written exam counts 2/3 of total grade.

450 hours.

Special requirements in Science

10 credits reduction with FMI309

Lectures: 58 hours. Colloquia: 8 hours.  Course in water sampling and analysis of waterquality: 4 hours. Dissection course with fish in laboratory for sampling of organs for analyses of pollutants: 6 hours. Term paper 150 hours.

The course is compulsory for Master students in Environmental Contaminants and Ecotoxicology. The course is recommended for Master students in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry, Management of Natural Resources, Food Science and Aquaculture, og for Master in Radioecology.

An external examiner will evaluate the examinations and Term Paper.