Description and contextualization of the subject

Regulatory policies for the protection of the aquatic environment. Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA). Ecotoxicological bioassays in ERA. Marine pollution biomonitoring. Biological effects assessment through biomarkers and biomarker indices. Environmental Specimen Banks.



Aims

¿ To develop the abilities that enable suitable study design of ecotoxicology in environmental risk assessment

¿ To provide the criteria useful for analysing and interpretation of toxicity and bioaccumulation data

¿ To develop the abilities that enable suitable study design of pollution biominotirng programmes

¿ To provide the criteria useful for analysing and interpretation of ecologically relevant environmental levels of pollutants and their biological effects



Objectives



At the end of the Unit, you should:

1. identify the main questions that can be addressed by the use of bioassays and biomarkers

2. know the advanced methods for the determination of ecotoxicity of contaminated water and sediments

3. understand the role of toxicity testing into an integrative risk assessment of the aquatic ecosystems

4. know the advanced methods for biomonitoring pollution and its biological effects

5. understand the role of biological endpoints into an integrative assessment of aquatic pollution, its biological effects and their ecological consequences.



Key Skills Acquired

At the end of the Unit, you should be able to:

1. face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to risk assessment

2. face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to pollution biomonitoring

3. achieve clear expression (oral or written) of conclusions from results derived from bioassays

Learning outcomes of the subject

At the end of the Unit, you should be able to:

1. face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to risk assessment

2. face problem analysis in an aquatic environment related to pollution biomonitoring

3. achieve clear expression (oral or written) of conclusions from results derived from bioassays

Ordinary call: orientations and renunciation

Condiciones de evaluación a discutir con el profesorado.



Las condiciones de renuncia a la convocatoria ordinaria se rigen por la Normativa de permanencia del alumnado de los másteres universitarios aprobada por el acuerdo de consejo social de la UPV/EHU el 22 de Julio de 2015. En todo caso habrá que comunicar por escrito al profesor(a) responsable de la asignatura la renuncia a la convocatoria, antes de la primera prueba de evaluación de la asignatura.



El método de evaluación incluido en esta guía puede sufrir cambios si las directrices de las autoridades sanitarias así lo estableciesen. Las modificaciones a adoptar se anunciarían oportunamente, contando con las estrategias y herramientas necesarias para garantizar el derecho del alumnado a ser evaluado con equidad y justicia.

Extraordinary call: orientations and renunciation

Condiciones de evaluación a discutir con el profesorado.



Las condiciones de renuncia a la convocatoria ordinaria se rigen por la Normativa de permanencia del alumnado de los másteres universitarios aprobada por el acuerdo de consejo social de la UPV/EHU el 22 de Julio de 2015. En todo caso habrá que comunicar por escrito al profesor(a) responsable de la asignatura la renuncia a la convocatoria, antes de la primera prueba de evaluación de la asignatura.



El método de evaluación incluido en esta guía puede sufrir cambios si las directrices de las autoridades sanitarias así lo estableciesen. Las modificaciones a adoptar se anunciarían oportunamente, contando con las estrategias y herramientas necesarias para garantizar el derecho del alumnado a ser evaluado con equidad y justicia.

Temary

1. Introduction: The European Water Framework Directive. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Other related directives and regulatory policies. Decision making for management and conservation of aquatic systems. Aquatic ecotoxicology and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA).

2. Experimental design for ecotoxicity assessment in aquatic systems. Factors controlling ecotoxicity in the organisms. Ecotoxicity endopoints for acute and chronic responses. Sampling methods. Case studies.

3. Bioassays: Concepts and advanced methods for the evaluation of ecotoxicity of chemical substances. Realism vs standardization. Quality control/Quality assurance. Case studies: Assessment and management of (a) Industrial effluents; (b) Polluted sediments; and (c) Labelling of new substances. Weight-of-evidence and statistical approaches.

4. Marine pollution biomonitoring. Marine ecosystem health. Baselines, long-term trends and spill response. Bioaccumulation. Biological effects assessment. Biomonitoring programmes. Biological effects assessment through biomarkers and health-disturbance indices. Environmental specimen banks. Quality control/Quality assurance.



Practical sesion 1: Acute toxicity testing.

Practical session 2: Analysis of a data base for evaluation of ecotoxicological risk assessment

Practical session 3: Pollution Indices vs Ecosystem Health Indices

Practical session 4: Data mining in Environmental specimen banks

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Delivered during the course