C9592 - EMERGING POLLUTANTS

Learning outcomes

Students will understand the concepts and principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and learn how to model material recycling and energy recovery in LCA. They will understand the concepts and principles of plastics chemistry, their impact on living organisms and their recycling. The student is expected to be able to: 1. Gain basic LCA modelling skills; 2. Illustrate the enviornmental fate of plastic materiasl and describe their adverse impacts on living organisms.

Course contents

The CU is composed of three modules with the following contents:

Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Chemicals

• Introduction to emerging chemicals and their sources;

• Definition of risk assessment (e.g., exposure assessment vs. hazard identification, risk quotients);

• Chemicals’exposure assessment (including detailed explanation on the environmental fate of chemicals in the environment in terms of their stability and mobility in the environment);

• Selected methods for the chemicals’exposure assessment;

Environmental risk of Plastic Materials

The course will deal with the relationship between plastics and the environment.

1) The main characteristics of polymers/plastics and their history will be presented, together with the main processes for recycling

2) Some representative examples of bio-based and biodegradable polymers will be explained (starch, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates). The differences between bio-based polymers and biodegradable polymers will be examined

3) The environmental fate of plastic materials will be analyzed according to various environmental spheres (water bodies, oceans, soil and sediments, biota)

4) The adverse effects of plastic materials will be presented, analyzing the existing knowledge about the toxicity towards different biological endpoints

Life Cycle Assessment

Readings/Bibliography

Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Chemicals

• Commission Directive 93/67/EEC of 20 July 1993 laying down the principles for assessment of risks to man and the environment of substances notified in accordance with Council Directive 67/548/EEC;

• Fundamentals of Environmental and Toxicological Chemistry: Sustainable Science, Fourth Edition, ISBN-13: 9781466553163 , 2013;

• Emerging Contaminants in the Environment - Challenges and Sustainable Practices, ISBN 978-0-323-85160-2, 2022.

• Specific publications and/or reports will be given to the students.

Environmental risk of Plastic Materials

Scientific literature: reviews and papers. Lecturer notes and slides

Life Cycle Assessment

Scientific literature: reviews and papers. Lecturer notes and slides

Teaching methods

The course unit is divided into three modules taught independently at different times in the academic year, each module is organized in theoretical classes where main concepts are introduced, as well as tutorial classes with discussion of case-study examples.

Assessment methods

Each module learning is evaluated independently, exploiting: i) written tests; ii) oral presentations or interviews; iii) written assignments or combinations of them. The Course Unit grade will be the arithmetic mean of grades from the three modules. ChIRS grades scale goes from 1 to 100, pass grade is 40, and will be translated into ECTS and different University scales. Criteria: knowledge on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical ability that emerges only with the help of the instructor, using generally correct language → 40-45; Knowledge on a limited number of topics covered in the course and independent analytical ability only on purely executive issues, using correct language → 45-60; Knowledge on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent critical analysis choices, mastery of specific terminology → 60-80; Essentially comprehensive knowledge on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent critical analysis and connection choices, full mastery of specific terminology, and ability for argumentation and self-reflection → 80-100.

Environmental Risk Assessment of Emerging Chemicals

Assessment will consist of delivering a scientific report evaluating the environmental risk assessment of the specific contaminants of emerging concern.

Environmental risk of Plastic Materials

The final grade consists of a written exam. The written exam consists of 6 open-ended questions. Familiarity with the graphical representation of organic molecules is also required. Each answer is scored +5 if complete, detailed, and revised, with no inaccuracies or errors; +4 if complete, detailed, and without inaccuracies/errors; +3 if partially complete (>70%), with some inaccuracies; +2 if there are inaccuracies/errors and the answer is incomplete (50-70%); +1 if there are inaccuracies/errors and the answer is incomplete (<50%); 0 if incorrect or missing. The maximum score achievable for all correct and complete answers is therefore 30 cum laude. The exam is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30. Students have 2 hours for the written exam. The use of support materials such as textbooks, notes, and computer media are not permitted during the exam. Calculators are permitted.

Life Cycle Assessment

Teaching tools

Lectures slides and notes will be available on the course moodle https://emmcchir-learning.ualg.pt

Students who need compensatory tools for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can directly contact the Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it) and the Service for Students with learning disabilities (dsa@unibo.it) to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Samorì

See the website of Anna Maria Białk Bielińska

See the website of Luca Ciacci