Course detail

Environmental Toxicology

FCH-BC_EKTEAcad. year: 2025/2026

Definition of the basic terminology of environmental toxicology, basic legislation, history of the field. Overview of basic environmental toxicants in the environment, their fate and transport, factors affecting fate and transport in the environment. Toxic effects affecting factors. Environmental transformation of toxic substances. Risk and hazard of toxic substances, risk assessment and management. (Hg, Pb, Cd, etc.), solid particles and nanoparticles, organic compounds (organophosphates, carbamates, etc.) , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin-like compounds, endocrine disruptors, other groups of persistent substances).

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Helena Doležalová Weissmannová, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection (ÚCHTOŽP)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge of general chemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, biology.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The exam will be in the form of an oral exam in the range of lectures and recommended literature.
Attendance at lectures is recommended but not checked. For students of the combined form, consultations are organized in the scope of lectures for students of the day form of study. Consultations are also provided to students of daily study on demand.
An integral part of the lesson is the e-learning course, divided into blocks where students are available to support learning, including electronic textbooks, presentations, lectures and other supplementary materials.

Aims

The aim is to provide and explain the basic concepts of environmental toxicology, explain the occurrence of environmental toxicants, their fate and transport in the environment. Within the course the students will be acquainted with the toxic effects of selected representatives of environmental toxicants, their transformation in the environment. The students will be acquainted with the risks and hazards of toxic substances, risk assessment and management as well as an overview of the basic environmental toxicants and their toxic and dangerous properties.
Student obtains new knowledge, understanding and knowledge in the following areas
1. Student will be able to apply concepts in environmental toxicology and other chemical fields (environmental chemistry, etc.).
2. Students will acquire knowledge of enviromnetal toxic substances, their fate in the environment.
3. Students will understand the environmental transformation of substances in the environment.
4. Students will know the risk and hazard of toxic substances, risk assessment and management
5. Students will acquire knowledge and knowledge of toxic effects of inorganic, organic persistent substances and solid particles together with nanoparticles in the environment.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Ernest Hodgson, 2004, A Textbook of Modern Toxicology, 3rd Edition, Willey Interscience (CS)
Ming-Ho Yu, Humio Tsunoda, Masashi Tsunoda , 2011, Environmental Toxicology: Biological and Health Effects of Pollutants, CRC Press (CS)
Richard B. Philp, 2017, Ecosystems and Human Health: Toxicology and Environmental Hazards, CRC Press. (CS)
Wayne G. , Ruth M. Sofield, Ming-Ho Yu , 2017, Introduction to Environmental Toxicology. CRC Press. (CS)
Wayne G. Landis, 2003, Introduction to Environmental Toxicology, Lewis Publishers, CRC Press Company. (CS)

Recommended reading

David A. Wright, Pamela Welbourn, 1998, Environmental Toxicology, Cambridge University Press (CS)
Lorris G. Cockerham, Barbara S. Shane, 1993, Basic Environmental Toxicology, CRC Press (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BKCP_ECHBM Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BPCP_ECHBM Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Helena Doležalová Weissmannová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Principles, terminology of environmental toxicology, basic legislation
2. Occurrence and types of toxic substances in the environment, types of pollution
3. Environmental Toxicants - Based on biological, physicochemical, structural properties
4. Fate and transport of toxic substances in the environment, factors affecting the fate and transport of toxic substances in the environment
5. Toxic effects, factors affecting the toxic effect
6. Intake, distribution, excretion and metabolism of toxic substances. Bioavailability, Bioaccumulation, Bioconcentration and Bioaccumulation of Toxic Substances
7. Environmental transformation of substances in the environment (chemical and biotic)
8. Risk and hazard of toxic substances, risk assessment and management
9.,10. Inorganic toxic substances - nonmetallic elements, metalloids (As, Se, Sn), heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, etc.), transition elements and other elements
11. Solid particles and nanoparticles
12., 13. Organic compounds - organophosphates, carbamates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin-like compounds, endocrine disruptors, other groups of persistent substances.