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Nanomaterials and Environment

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code616-3038/01
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated6 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Compulsory
Level of Course Unit *Second Cycle
Year of Study *Second Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
LES05Prof. Mgr. Jana Kukutschová, Ph.D.
Summary
The subject is focused on the complex issue of nanomaterials presence in the environment due to intentional applications or as by-products of various anthropogenic activities. Further, the issue of release, transformation and potential impact of occurence of nanomaterials in single environmental compartments is presented. Key parameters of nanomaterials having decisive impact on potential adverse effects related to occurence of nanomaterials in the environment also with respect to exposure of living organisms to these materials are emphasized. Moreover, nanomaterials as contaminants of single environmental compartments (i.e. air, water and soil) and resulting potential adverse effects are discussed together with the issue of the end phase of nanomaterials life-cycle when there are becoming wastes. Due to the exposure of living systems to nanomaterials present in the environment also the topic of nanomaterials efects on molecular, celullar and organ levels for organisms from single trophic levels is discussed. The topic of ethical aspects and legiclative framework are also included with respect to the nanomaterials assessment and applications.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Student who successfully complete the subject is able to define fey parameters of nanomaterials which contribute to their environmental risks. Further, the student can define various emission sources of nanomaterials, explain potential transport routes of nanomaterials in the environment, their potential (bio)trnasformation and (bio)accumulation within their environmental fate. The student is able to discuss single aspects of air, water and soil contamination issues and evaluate risks of nanomaterials in form of wastes and moreover to describe potential adverse effects of nanomaterials to living organisms on molecular, cellular and organ levels. With respect to applications of nanomaterials and their impact he/she is able to outline potential ethical issues of these applications and pre-application assessment of nanomaterials and also to describe legislative framework of this issue.
Course Contents
1. Introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology.
2. Selected environmental applications of nanomaterials in environmental protection, biomedicine, transport, etc.
3. Nanomaterials as byproducts of anthropogenic activities.
4. Potentially risk parameters of nanomaterials (NM).
5. Fate of nanomaterials in the environment (transport of NM, Biotransformation, bioaccumulation, deposition).
6. Air contamination issues.
7. Water contamination issues.
8. Soil contamination issues.
9. Nanomaterials as wastes.
10. Effect of nanomaterials on living organisms (mechanisms of entry into the organism, transport and transformation, effects at organ, cellular and molecular level).
11. Ethical aspects the use of nanomaterial use.
12. Legislative framework for the use of nanomaterials.
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
FILIPOVÁ, Zuzana, Jana KUKUTSCHOVÁ a Miroslav MAŠLÁŇ. Rizika nanomateriálů. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2012, 87 s. Učebnice. ISBN 978-80-244-3201-4.
HOUDY P. Nanoethics and Nanotoxicology. Springer, 2011. ISBN: 978-3-642-20176-9.
THEODORE L. and KUNZ R. G. Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions. Wiley & Sons, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-471-69976-7.
FILIPOVÁ, Zuzana, Jana KUKUTSCHOVÁ a Miroslav MAŠLÁŇ. Rizika nanomateriálů. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2012, 87 s. Učebnice. ISBN 978-80-244-3201-4.
HOUDY P. Nanoethics and Nanotoxicology. Springer, 2011. ISBN: 978-3-642-20176-9.
THEODORE L. and KUNZ R. G. Nanotechnology: Environmental Implications and Solutions. Wiley & Sons, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-471-69976-7.
Recommended Reading:
VOGEL, Ulla, ed. Handbook of nanosafety: measurement, exposure and toxicology. London: Elsevier Academic Press, c2014. ISBN 978-0-12-416604-2.
DHAWAN, Alok, Diana ANDERSON a Rishi SHANKER, ed. Nanotoxicology: experimental and computational perspectives. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2018. ISBN 978-1-78262-158-4.
VOGEL, Ulla, ed. Handbook of nanosafety: measurement, exposure and toxicology. London: Elsevier Academic Press, c2014. ISBN 978-0-12-416604-2.
DHAWAN, Alok, Diana ANDERSON a Rishi SHANKER, ed. Nanotoxicology: experimental and computational perspectives. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2018. ISBN 978-1-78262-158-4.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials, Experimental work in labs
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Credit and ExaminationCredit and Examination100 (100)51
        CreditCredit20 5
        ExaminationExamination80 30