Teaching

Environmental Risk Assessment (M. Sc.)

Lecture + exercise, 3 SWS, winter term

Students conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for one selected chemical each according to the European regulation for industrial chemicals. The risk assessment is performed stepwise in the exercises and then compiled into a written technical report. In addition, each student presents a paper in the seminar on a specialized topic in environmental risk assessment.

Contents:

• Regulatory methods for environmental risk assessment of chemicals (industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals), European regulation REACH, human vs. ecological risk assessment
• Exposure analysis: emission patterns, multimedia fate and transport models for quantifying environmental exposure, persistence and long-range transport, predicted and measured exposure concentration
• Effect analysis: estimation of hazard potential, tests for ecotoxicity and human health, dose-effect relationships, extrapolation methods, classification of chemicals according to modes of toxic action, prediction methods (QSARs and integrated testing strategy)
• Risk assessment methods (deterministic vs. probabilistic), risk assessment vs. hazard assessment PBT assessment (persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity), uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, precautionary principle
• Site specific risk assessment and management, water quality assessment
• Specific topics: risk assessment of mixtures, risk assessment of transformation products, dynamic exposure and effect assessment