NIFK15005U Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of Chemicals

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc Programme in Environmental Chemistry and Health/Environmental Science

Content

The purpose of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the current risk assessment procedures for chemicals within the European Union.

The course will give a general introduction to underlying values and potential conflicts concerning risk management, including 1) the ethics of risk, the normative content of risk, measurement and comparison of risks, risk communication and risk perception studies; and 2) general risk management principles, including the separation of risk assessment and risk management, principles for acceptable risk and the Precautionary Principle.

The following risk assessment frameworks will be presented: REACH, pesticides, biocides, veterinary medicines and feed additives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food additives. For each, the practical implications for conducting risk assessment of a chemical are identified, including the type of data needed for exposure and effect assessments and the requirements for these within the different risk assessment frameworks. Also, the legal structure and the risk management principles underlying each framework will be identified and discussed in the light of alternative risk management options.

The course will conclude by introducing the emerging challenges from new contaminants (e.g., endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials) and cocktail effects.

Learning Outcome

Competences:

• Analyze and discuss the principles underlying currently used regulatory frameworks for risk assessment of chemicals within the EU

• Evaluate and discuss limit values for the environment and human health within the various risk assessment frameworks

 

Skills:

• Classify chemicals according to their hazards to humans and the environment

• Identify relevant data for human health and environmental risk assessments of chemicals within the various risk assessment frameworks

• Apply and critically evaluate methods for effect and exposure assessment of chemicals within the various risk assessment frameworks

• Identify the risk management principles underlying specific risk assessment frameworks.

 

Knowledge:

• Overview of the following frameworks for chemical risk assessment in the EU: REACH, pesticides, biocides, veterinary medicines and feed additives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food additives.

• Identify emerging challenges for risk assessment and risk management, including endocrine disruptors nanoparticles and cocktail effects.

• Overview of the ethics of risk and general risk management principles

• Describe basic findings in risk perception studies

The course literature will be collected in a compendium, which will be available before course start.

Competences equivalent to the following mandatory courses in the M.Sc. programme Environmental Chemistry and Health: Toxicology and Ecotoxicology, Environmental Epidemiology, Air Pollution and Health, Aquatic Environmental Chemistry, and Terrestrial Environmental Chemistry.
Lectures, case studies, exercises. Two written assignments (course reports).
The course is mandatory for students following the M.Sc. programme Environmental Chemistry and Health
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Exercises
  • 36
  • Lectures
  • 36
  • Preparation
  • 72
  • Study Groups
  • 60
  • Total
  • 205
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min. preparation + 20 min. exam
Oral examination based on two mandatory course reports and questions given at the day of the exam
Exam registration requirements

Two mandatory course reports

Aid
Only certain aids allowed

Written works of reference are permitted

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

The same as the ordinary exam.
If the student has not handed in the mandatory reports, then they must be handed in two weeks prior to the re-exam. They must be approved before the re-exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome