BB820: Risk assesment of chemicals (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04010801

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.
2nd quarter

Teacher responsible
Email: poul@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
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Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Bachelor's degree

Course introduction
The course will supply the basic theory and terminology necessary for risk assessment of chemicals. The course will give practical experience in performing risk assessment of chemicals.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course the participants are expected to:

be acquainted with toxicological and ecotoxicological concepts used in hazard and risk assessment of chemicals
be acquainted with the standard procedures used in hazard and risk assessment of chemicals
know the demands for data necessary for carrying out a risk assessment
know the test systems used to demonstrate toxicity
know the methods used in extrapolation from test systems to human and environmental adverse effects
know the uncertainties associated with risk assessment of chemicals
be able to find and use relevant information about the toxicological and ecotoxicological adverse effects of chemicals
be able to perform risk assessment of specific, selected chemicals based on that knowledge.

Subject overview
Lectures: Principles of hazard and risk assessment of chemicals; basic principles in toxicology and ecotoxicology; data demands in human and environmental risk assessment; test systems; uncertainties in risk assessment; principles for regulation of use of chemicals; risk perception; principles for evaluation of pesticides; ecotoxicological effects in the aquatic and terrestrial environment and in sediments; calculation of PNEC values; models; uncertainty factors; QSAR; estimation of PEC values; how to find relevant data needed in risk assessment; chemicals policy in the EU. Group work: the participants perform an environmental risk assessment on the basis of real data; a report is worked out. The participants work with two risk assessments for chemicals finalized in the EU; these risk assessments are presented to the other participants in a seminar. The participants search literature about the toxicological properties of a specific chemical; a report on this is worked out.

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
(a) Mandatory assignments and active participation during group work; at least 80% attendance; approval of reports concerning examination of the pesticide and literature search; approval of presentation of two selected EU risk assessmentsgraded pass/fail. Internal censorship by the teacher. (0 ECTS).

(b) A 4 hour written exam with external censorship and grades according to the Danish 7-point scale (5 ECTS).

Re-examination after 4th quarter.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger: 14 timer
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English, if international students participate. Otherwise the course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.