Course contents
This course provides an advanced exploration of the behavior, fate, and effects of chemical substances within the biosphere. The programme integrates regulatory frameworks with scientific modeling and decision-making tools to address the complex challenges of chemical safety in both environmental and industrial contexts.
The curriculum begins with an introduction to current environmental regulations and classification methodologies, including the REACH and CLP frameworks for managing toxic chemicals. Students will investigate the physical and chemical properties of substances, focusing on partition coefficients, degradation parameters, and ecotoxicological indicators essential for ecological risk assessment. Advanced modules cover chemical property estimation through the QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) approach and provide an introduction to fugacity models for environmental distribution. These topics are explored through a practical lens, emphasizing the use of organisms for monitoring contamination and evaluating the potential risks posed by toxicants to both ecosystems and human health.
Learning goals
By the end of the course, students will be able to organize complex knowledge regarding chemical behavior based on fundamental explanatory principles. Participants will develop the skills to apply decision-making tools—such as ecotoxicological models, Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), and risk analysis—to predict chemical fate and assess biological impacts. Furthermore, the course fosters a critical approach to environmental decision-making, enabling students to use biomonitoring techniques and ecotoxicological expertise in diverse fields, including workplace safety and health management in confined spaces.
Suggested readings
L. Palmeri, A. Barausse and S.E. Jorgensen, Ecological Processes Handbook, CRC Press, 2013
S.E. Jorgensen and G. Bendoricchio, Fundamentals of Ecological Modelling, third edition, Elsevier, 2001.
Newman MC, MA Unger. 2002. Fundamentals of ecotoxicology, 2nd Edition. CRC/Lewis Press, Boca Raton, FL.
