Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology deals with the study of the adverse effects of the chemical compounds on life organisms, from the level of the individual to the ecosystem and even to the biosphere (planetary Ecotoxicology). The studied effects do not need to have a strictly toxicological root; other types of perturbations of chemical, physical and biological origin can be considered within this sub-discipline of Ecology (i.e. eutrophication, radioactivity, etc.
The ecological point of view, of integral context, is the top of the aspirations of this science. For this, they are included in this discipline all the processes: transport, distribution, transformation and effects of the chemical compounds on the environment and the organisms. Furthermore, it is considered that the effects can be direct or indirect, through the alterations of the environment or the intraspecific interactions, and they are studied the space-time and global punctual effects.
The objectives pursued with ecotoxicological studies can be grouped in three types:
• Development of the empiric or theoretical principles about the answer and effects of chemical compounds about the life systems.
• To generate data that can be used in decisions about Risk Assessment, Sustainable Development, etc.
• To take part in the design of legal requirements that regulates the manufacture and liberation of substances.

The programme starts with the basic concepts of environmental toxicology, but encouraging the integrated aspects, this means, more ecological or of supra-organisms (population, community, ecosystem). Taking into account the objective of this master, we pay special attention to the applied approach linked to the necessity of having realistic biological tools of vigilance and assessment of environmental quality in relation to human health and ecosystems.

The programme of the subject is divided into 6 wide chapters: i) Introduction; ii) The ecotoxicological process; iii) Assessment of ecotoxicity; iv) Biodegradability of toxins and ecological side effects; v) Prediction and Assessment of ecological risks; and vi) Biomonitoring of environmental quality.
The theoretical programme is completed with seminar practices in which they are treated themes such as: Modelling of bioaccumulation; classification of toxic responses; obtaining and characterization of bioindicators; Techniques of environmental quality biomonitoring; Data bases and techniques of risk assessment, etc.

I. INTRODUCTION. After dealing with the concept and objectives of Ecotoxicology, we go through the main sources and types of pollution, as well as, the characteristics of the main pollutants. We specially mention sources and pollutants that we can find in Galicia. We end the chapter dealing with basic toxicological concepts as well as those molecular factors that influence in the potential toxicity of a substance.
II. ECOTOXIC PROCESS. In this chapter we examine the pollutants in the environment, their bioaccumulation and their effects. It is divided in three phases that define a toxic process:
The Presentation Phase deals with the distribution and transformation of chemical products in the environment. This includes circulation models and pollutants destiny and the phases for the action of a toxic substance.
The Ecotoxic-kinetic Phase starts in the body distribution of the toxin and follows with the processes of Biotransformation, Fixation and Excretion of the toxin. From an applied point of view it is very important everything related to ecotoxic-kinetic modelling as: Bioconcentration and biomagnification processes; levels of reference and factors of pollution; the models of one or several compartments; and other related aspects.
The Ecotoxic-dynamic Phase deals with all kind of biological answers and their assessment in front of the toxins, from the sub-organism level (molecular and physiological answers), passing through populations (demographic and ethologic answers, specific interactions, etc.) to the communities’ and ecosystems’ answers (alteration of biological components, of the communities’ structure and of functional macroscopic parameters).
III. ASSESSMENT OF ECOTOXICITY. This chapter of prospective Ecotoxicology begins with the study of the basic toxicological parameters and their determination. For this it is necessary to know how the experiments of toxicity are designed and their characteristics (length, normalization, data transformation, toxic unit, equivalent toxicity). By means of the construction of concentration-response curves we can characterize the toxins by their potency, selectivity, sensitivity, security, reversibility, etc. Next we analyse the factors that influence in toxicity (comparative toxicity, exposition time, environmental conditions, fluctuant concentrations, ecological security, combination of toxins, persistence, mobility, etc.).
The chapter ends reviewing the design and the need of doing properly ecotoxicological experiments (micro and middle cosmos; induced tolerance) and how to deal with ecotoxicological studies in natural conditions (BACI designs).
IV. BIODEGRADABILITY OF TOXINS AND ECOLOGICAL SIDE EFFECTS. This chapter deals with biodegradation and biomagnification of xenobiotic compounds such as oil hydrocarbons, insecticides, etc. Because of their importance they are studied microbial interactions with some inorganic pollutants, such as: nitrate transformations, methylations or microbial accumulation of heavy metals. Due to their practical usefulness they are examined the tests of toxin biodegradability.
V. PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL RISKS. This chapter of prospective Ecotoxicology is structured in two sections: Prediction and Assessment of environmental risk. From the chemical characteristics of the pollutants we try to predict their potential toxic activity (QSARs). The study is centred on the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) and its applications for the best known predictor. To assess the risk of a compound it is necessary first to obtain the available ecotoxicological information and then to follow an adequate process for its analysis and interpretation. We deal with different processes to assess the ecological risk (methods to estimate the bioaccumulation; usefulness of abiotic and biotic samples; prediction of the non-effect concentration).
VI. BIOMONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. This chapter of prospective Ecotoxicology begins dealing with the importance and the status quo of biomonitoring and the main characteristics that a system of biomonitoring must have. They are studied hierarchically the biomonitoring techniques from the molecular level to the integrated systems. In the first step they are placed the biochemical and cellular bioindicators: proteins and enzymes, nucleic acids, immunological biomarkers and histological biomarkers. They are included in this section the morphological malformations and the fluctuant asymmetry. Next we deal with classical bioindication of the optical type and biomonitoring by chemical accumulation, discussing their usefulness and limitations as well as the methods to detect bioindicators. With these tools we review the most used systems in biomonitoring the different types of ecosystems. Biomonitoring of land ecosystems (Air quality: chemical, acoustic and electromagnetic pollution. Soil quality: experiments of ecotoxicity). Biomonitoring of water ecosystems (Continental waters: pollution and eutrophication. Marine waters: black tides and green tides). The chapter ends with the most advanced methods in assessment and vigilance of ecological quality: integrated systems, vigilance plans and environmental specimen banks.

Basic
• Clements, W. & Newman M.C. 2002. Community Ecotoxicology. Ed. J.Wiley & Sons Ltd. UK. ISBN: 0-471-49519-0 (Open access: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/0470855150)
• Newman M.C. 2014. Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology: The Science of Pollution, 4ªed. Ed. CRC Press. ISBN: 978-1466582293
• Walker, C.H., Sibly, R.M., Hopkin, S.P. & Peakall, D.B. 2012. Principles of Ecotoxicology. 4ªEd CRC Press. ISBN: 9781439862667

Complementary (*: recommended)
• Carballeira, A. & Aboal, J. 2000. Bancos de Especimenes Ambientales. Una propuesta para Galicia. Ed USC- Conselleria do M. Ambente (XUGA). ISBN: 84-8121-838-3
• *Carballeira et al. 2003. Biomonitorización de la calidad del aire. En Clima y calidad ambiental. Ed. A. Martí. Pbl. USC. ISBN 84-9750-142-X
• Carballeira, A., Carral, E., Puente, X. & Villares, R. 1997. Estado de conservación de la Costa de Galicia. Nutrientes y metales pesados en sedimentos y organismos. Ed. USC-Conselleria de Pesca (XUGA). ISBN 84-8121-620-8
• Connell, D., Lam, P., Richardson, B.Y. & Wu, R. 1999. Introduction to Ecotoxicology. Ed. Balckwell Sc. Londres. ISBN 0-632-03852-7.
• *Moreno, M.D. 2003. Toxicología ambiental. Evaluación del riesgo para la salud humana. Ed. Mc Graw Hill. ISBN: 9788448137816
• *Newman, M.C. 2001. Population Ecotoxicology. Colección: Hierarchical Ecotoxicology. Ed. Wiley & Sons. UK. ISBN-10: 0471988189
• *Ramade, F. 1995. Precis d´ecotoxicologie. Collection d´Ecologie. Ed. Masson. Paris. ISBN-10: 2225825785
• Tannenbaum, L.V. 2017. Ecological Risk Assessment: Innovative Field and Laboratory Studies. CRC Press 1ªed. ISBN: 1498786170

Basic and general
CB6 - Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
CB7 - That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
CB8 - Students should be able to integrate knowledge and handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
CB9 - That students can communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and rationale underpinning to specialists and non-specialists in a clear and unambiguous.
CB10 - Students must possess the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
CG01 - Identify and articulate environmental problems.

Specific
CE8 - Approach a real Environmental Engineering problem from a scientific-technical perspective, recognizing the importance of the search and management of existing information and applicable legislation.
CE9 - Possess the skills of autonomous learning to maintain and improve the competencies of Environmental Engineering that allow the continuous development of the profession.

It will be done a combination of magisterial lessons to explain the theory, inserting seminar classes along the academic year to illustrate the theoretical contents and the practical applications.
Work in groups can be of the bibliographic type or simple prospective pieces of work.
Besides, it is planned the fulfilment of laboratory-field practices consisting of following the procedure used in biomonitoring of air quality of an industrial environment. The laboratory practice is completed with the visit to an industrial environment subjected to biocontrol.

In the students’ final mark it will be taken into account the exam and the efficiency in class (participation, cooperative work, leadership).
The exam will consist of solving theoretical questions, short questions and development of a theme and of solving practical cases.
In the final grade will take into account the final exam. The exam will consist of solving theoretical questions, in the form of short questions and resolution of practical cases.

In order to pass the course, students must participate in at least 80% of the scheduled interactive activities (seminars and field practice).

Competences assessment
This will be done through:
- Final exam: CB6, CB7, CB8, CB10, CG1, CT4, CE9
- Tutorials: CB8, CB9, CE8
- Classroom activity: CG1, CB6, CB9, CE8

No parts of the exam are kept between evaluations or calls. The evaluation system remains the same for repeaters.
The subject can be validated according to the student's academic record.

Students are demanded a non-contact additional dedication to solve the problems arisen in seminars and tutorials.
In compulsory tutorials they are suggested the possibility of doing, in groups bibliographic and prospective pieces of work.
It can be required the oral or written presentation of the seminars developed for its assessment

Distribution of activities

Activity Hours
Theory 14
Practices 4
Seminars 18
Exam 2
Individual work 74,5
Total 112,5

It is assumed that students who enrol in the matter must have a basic knowledge in Biology and Chemical Ecology general and that are important in order to overcome it. In addition to optimal performance in the art it is advisable that students have a number of additional knowledge: as English reading level and knowledge of basic computer applications (Word, Excel, using email, see Web pages) at user.

Classes will be taugh in Spanish.