Courses

Nanomaterials and environment

Course overview

The course focuses on all the aspects of nanomaterial production and application that have an impact on the environment. Their problematic characteristics, life cycle, and different ways of how they enter water, soil and air are introduced and discussed.

Students learn how to monitor engineered nanoparticle in the environment and to assess their toxicity and the  health risks they pose to organisms and human beings. Attention is given to the prevention of the nanomaterial pollution, removal of this pollution and environmental technology applications of the nanomaterials.

Course content

  1. Specifics of nanomaterials regarding the environment: Presence in the environment, naturally-occurring and anthropogenic nanomaterials, mechanical and chemical properties of nanomaterials with impact on the environment.
  2. Nanomaterials in the environment: Hydrosphere, basic definitions, hydrosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of threat to water ecosystems and their protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the water environment and its risks.
  3. Monitoring: Technical monitoring, overview of the basic tools for concentration and size measurement in water and air. Measurement of nanomaterial worker exposure.
  4. Monitoring: Biomonitoring, bioindication, active and passive biomonitoring, temporal and spatial scale of biomonitoring, biomonitoring using plants, animals and other organisms, nanoparticle biomonitoring.
  5. Toxicity assessment: Exposure, dose, oxidative stress, genotoxicity and ecotoxicity testing, LD50, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity. Methods of toxicity assessment.
  6. Nanomaterial risks to autotrophic organisms: Uptake of the nanoparticles – root and shoot, nanomaterial distribution and translocation in the organism, known ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials to plants, physiological stress, effect on photosynthesis.
  7. Nanomaterial risks to heterotrophic organisms: Uptake of the nanoparticles: body surface, digestion, inhalation, nanomaterial distribution and translocation in the organism, known ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials to heterotrophic organisms, effect on behaviour.
  8. Nanomaterial risks to human health: Uptake of the nanoparticles: digestive system, skin, respiration system, acute and chronic toxicity. Systemic and local toxicity of the nanomaterials.
  9. Nanomaterial pollution prevention: Overview of the fundamental legislation, production leakage prevention, best available techniques (BAT), reduction of nanomaterials by-products, filters.
  10. Environmental pollution removal: decontamination, remediation, pollution removal from water, soil and air. Specifics of nano-pollution removal.
  11. Environmental applications of nanomaterials: Benefits and risks of nanomaterial application in the environment, sorption, catalytic nanomaterials, treatment of water, soil and air, possibilities of nanomaterial applications in the environmental protection in the future.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students are able to:

  • define fundamental concepts in the nanomaterial-environment relationship field.
  • describe the ways of nanomaterial leakage to particular ecospheres.
  • distinguish the impact of such a leakage in various ecosystems.
  • choose proper methods of nanoparticle presence and concentration measurements in typical situations.
  • outline the impact of selected nanomaterials on organisms and human health.
  • explain the importance and ways of prevention and removal of nano-pollution and, generally.
  • evaluate the benefits and risks of nanomaterial application in the environmental protection.

Enrollment

Enroll

Course information

Category

Green skills

Format

Online

Target groups

U!REKA students

Academic year

Starting month

Language

English

Duration​

Semester

Organising institution​

VSB – Technical University of Ostrava

Places reserved for U!REKA participants​

No limit

Assessment

Online test

Credit/degree/certificate

2 ECTS

Course fee

None Please, use your university email address for the application in order to avoid additional fees.

Prerequisites

N/A
Back to top