9360-0183/01 – Nanomaterials and Environment (NZP)
| Gurantor department | CNT - Nanotechnology Centre | Credits | 2 |
| Subject guarantor | Mgr. Oldřich Motyka, Ph.D. | Subject version guarantor | Mgr. Oldřich Motyka, Ph.D. |
| Study level | undergraduate or graduate | Requirement | Compulsory |
| Year | 3 | Semester | summer |
| | Study language | Czech |
| Year of introduction | 2019/2020 | Year of cancellation | 2023/2024 |
| Intended for the faculties | FMT | Intended for study types | Bachelor |
Subject aims expressed by acquired skills and competences
Students can define fundamental concepts in the nanomaterial-environment relationship field, they are able to describe the ways of nanomaterial leakage to particular ecospheres and to distinguish the impact of such a leakage in various ecosystems. Students can choose proper methods of nanoparticle presence and concentration measurements in typical situations, to outline the impact of selected nanomaterials on organisms and human health. Moreover, they can explain the importance and ways of prevention and removal of nano-pollution and, generally, to evaluate the benefits and risks of nanomaterial application in the environmental protection.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Summary
The subject focuses on all the aspects of nanomaterial production and application impacting the environment. Characteristics of the nanomaterials problematic in terms of their presence in the environment are introduced, and the ways of their leaking to water, soil and air, as well as their life cycle and specifics of their presence the main ecospheres, are discussed. Students are introduced to the methods of monitoring of the engineered nanoparticle presence in the environment, possibilities of assessments of their toxicity and risks they pose to the particular groups of organisms as well as human health. Attention is given to the prevention of the nanomaterial pollution, removal of this pollution and environmental technology applications of the nanomaterials.
Compulsory literature:
Recommended literature:
Way of continuous check of knowledge in the course of semester
Written and oral exam.
E-learning
Other requirements
Submitting a report on given topic.
Prerequisities
Subject has no prerequisities.
Co-requisities
Subject has no co-requisities.
Subject syllabus:
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. Nanomaterials in the environment: Pedosphere, basic definitions, pedosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of thethreat to soil ecosystems and their protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the soil environment and its risks.
4. Nanomaterials in the environment: Atmosphere, basic definitions, atmosphere in the context of other ecospheres, specifics of the threat to the atmosphere and its protection. Leakage of the nanomaterials into the air and its risks.
5. Monitoring: Technical monitoring, overview of the basic tools for concentration and size measurement in water and air. Measurement of nanomaterial worker exposure.
6. Monitoring: Biomonitoring, bioindication, active and passive biomonitoring, temporal and spatial scale of biomonitoring, biomonitoring using plants, animals and other organisms, nanoparticle biomonitoring.
7. Toxicity assessment: Exposure, dose, oxidative stress, genotoxicity and ecotoxicity testing, LD50, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity. Methods of toxicity assessment.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Nanomaterial pollution prevention: Overview of the fundamental legislation, production leakage prevention, best available techniques (BAT), reduction of nanomaterials by-products, filters.
12. Environmental pollution removal: decontamination, remediation, pollution removal from water, soil and air. Specifics of nano-pollution removal.
13. 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.
14. Revision.
Conditions for subject completion
Occurrence in study plans
Occurrence in special blocks
Assessment of instruction