Breadcrumb

Subject

XSL Content

Back

Biogeochemistry of environmental pollutants

General details of the subject

Mode
Face-to-face degree course
Language
English

Description and contextualization of the subject

In this unit, the basics of biogeochemistry will be provided through the presentation of the water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous biogeochemical cycles and the impact of human activities on these cycles. This will be completed by a general introduction about the sources and fate of pollutants in the environment. A comprehensive overview of the main environmental pollutants classes (i.e. organic micro-pollutants and trace metals) and of associated ecodynamics in aquatic ecosystems will be provided. A description of the atmospheric compartment as well as the main associated issues related to air quality and climate change will be described. Finally, the inputs of in silico methodologies to predict the physico-chemical and ecotoxicological properties of a substance as well as the role of the dissolved organic matter on the fate of pollutants in aquatic ecosystems will be emphasized.



Aims

¿ To provide fundamental knowledge for the most comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the fate of pollutants in aquatic and atmospheric environments.



Objectives

At the end of the unit, you should:

1. Know the basics of water, C, N and P cycles

2. Know the basics of typical organic micro-pollutants and trace metals environmental fate

3. Understand the key parameters controlling the environmental fate of pollutants in atmospheric and aquatic environments

4. Know the principle of QSAR methods to predict the properties of pollutants.

Teaching staff

NameInstitutionCategoryDoctorTeaching profileAreaE-mail
ORTIZ ZARRAGOITIA, MARENUniversity of the Basque CountryProfesorado AgregadoDoctorBilingualCellular Biologymaren.ortiz@ehu.eus

Competencies

NameWeight
Que el estudiante sepa y entienda los conceptos teóricos de los ciclos biogeoquímicos, así como los aspectos prácticos de los mismos y sus aplicaciones.25.0 %
Que el estudiante sepa y entienda los conceptos teóricos en torno a la biodisponibilidad de contaminantes químicos ambientales, así como los aspectos prácticos y sus aplicaciones.25.0 %
Que el estudiante sea capaz de diseñar y elaborar modelos numéricos, estadísticos y computacionales en lo referente a los ciclos biogeoquímicos de los contaminantes químicos ambientales, sus efectos sobre los seres vivos y los procedimientos de evaluación de riesgo e impacto.25.0 %
Que el estudiante sea capaz de recolectar, registrar y analizar (tratamiento y computerización) datos sobre contaminación y toxicidad (de campo y de laboratorio) mediante técnicas y equipamiento de última generación.25.0 %

Study types

TypeFace-to-face hoursNon face-to-face hoursTotal hours
Lecture-based284270
Seminar235
Workshop304575

Training activities

NameHoursPercentage of classroom teaching
Classroom/Seminar/Workshop80.040 %
Lectures70.040 %

Assessment systems

NameMinimum weightingMaximum weighting
Written examination (theory)0.0 % 100.0 %

Learning outcomes of the subject

At the end of the unit, you should understand:

1. Impacts of human activities on the water, C, N and P biogeochemical cycles

2. The key parameters controlling the environmental fate of pollutants in atmospheric and aquatic environments

Temary

Topics covered include:

Water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous biogeochemical cycles

Environmental fate of organic micropollutants in aquatic systems

Biogeochemistry of trace metals

Role of dissolved organic matter

QSAR methods for molecular properties prediction

Basics on atmospheric chemistry and fate of pollutants in the atmosphere

Introduction to climate change

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change, 3rd Edition by W.H. Schlesinger and E. S. Bernhardt, 2013

Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere: Theory, Experiments, and Applications by B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and J. N. Pitts Jr., 1999