AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Department of
Crop Science

Agroecotoxicology

Content

1. Basic Principles of Environmental Toxicology - Ecotoxicology. The concept of toxicity. 2. Modes of action of toxic substances, with emphasis on Agricultural Ecosystems. 3. Routes of entry of pollutants/toxic substances into organisms and (agro)ecosystems. Mechanisms of pollutant transport. Runoff - Drainage - Spray drift. 4. Movement of pollutants through food chains. Bioaccumulation - Biomagnification. 5. Ecotoxicological consequences of agricultural chemicals and other substances - Characteristic Examples - DDT and other chlorinated pesticides - Polychlorinated biphenyls - Polycyclic hydrocarbons - Nitrate and phosphate fertilizers - Dioxins and dibenzofurans - Toxicity of Hg Pb, Cd, and other metals and metalloids. Toxicological consequences of radioactive materials. Toxicity from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) - Stockholm Convention - Ecotoxicology of nanomaterials. 6. Atmospheric pollution - O3, NOx, SO2, Acid rain, Particulate pollution, Heavy metals, etc. Monitoring and biomonitoring of atmospheric pollutants - health impact thresholds. 7. Qualitative characteristics of terrestrial waters - Aquatic toxicity - Reuse of treated liquid waste for irrigation - conditions and procedures. 8. Exposure of bees to pesticides - Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) phenomenon. 9. Biochemical action of pollutants and toxic substances. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity - examples. Action of pollutants on physiology, at organ and whole organism level. Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Xenobiotics. 10. Interaction of toxic factors: Synergistic and Competitive interaction between toxic factors - Iso-bolographic analysis. 11. Tolerance and response of organisms to toxic agents. The phenomenon of hormesis in Toxicology. 12. Tests, Standards, and Methodology of Ecotoxicological Research. Calculation of toxicity. "Dose-Response" curve. Categories of toxicity. 13. Bioassays - Bioindicators - Biomarkers and their significance in environmental pollution assessment. Toxicity tests with soil organisms and plants. Tests with freshwater organisms. Daphnia Magna - algae - fish - duckweed, etc. Field toxicological tests. 14. Assessment of Environmental and Ecological Risk from Toxic and Hazardous Substances. Analysis of pollution mechanisms. QSAR method. 15. Toxicological Data of Chemical Substances and Classification of Toxicity and Hazard. Greek and European Legislation for Environmental Protection. International Conventions.

Learning results

Among the objectives of the course is for students who successfully complete it to understand the importance of environmental protection in productive activities, with emphasis on primary production. Additionally, the practical application of basic principles from the sciences of Ecology, Environment, and Toxicology significantly contributes to the understanding of the problems society faces today regarding environmental quality and its impacts on the functioning of natural, semi-natural, and human-made ecosystems.

Another objective is the thorough comprehension of fundamental concepts in the science of Ecotoxicology and the mechanisms of transfer of toxic substances in the environment and the food chain.

Bibliography

• Valavanidis Ath. 2008. "Ecotoxicology and Environmental Toxicology". Contemporary Issues Publications. Non-profit publishing company. Available free of charge from the author, in electronic form, through the EYDOXOS platform, at the link: https://service.eudoxus.gr/search/file/93/full-13243693.pdf • Valavanidis Ath., Vlachogianni Thom. 2008. "Environmental Chemistry & Ecotoxicology". Contemporary Issues Publications. Non-profit publishing company. Available free of charge from the author, in electronic form, through the EYDOXOS platform, at the link: https://service.eudoxus.gr/search/file/06/full-13317906.pdf • Landis, W.G., Yu Ming-Ho. 1995. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology. Lewis Publishers. ISBN 0-87371-515-2. • Walker, C. et al. 1996. Principles of Ecotoxicology. Taylor & Francis Publishers. ISBN 0-7484-0221-7. Relevant Scientific Journals: Environmental Toxicology (Wiley - Edited By: PAUL B. TCHOUNWOU, Impact Factor: 2.708).

NEWSLETTER

The Faculty of Crop Science of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), was founded in June 1989 (Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic Νο. 166Α΄/16-6-1989) it is the first University Faculty of Crop Science founded in Greece
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