Environmental Monitoring and Recovery

"The course aims to provide students with the fundamental skills needed to identify, understand, and evaluate toxicological risks associated with the presence of environmental contaminants and xenobiotics. The course integrates the study of cytotoxic mechanisms induced by these substances with the analysis of biological tools useful for monitoring environmental quality. A particular focus will be dedicated to the selection and application of biological and environmental indicators capable of detecting both acute and chronic toxic effects caused by chemical compounds present in various environmental matrices. Key topics of the course also include the processes leading to the persistence/degradation, bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of contaminants. In addition, the course will examine the toxicological profiles and mechanisms of action, at both cellular and systemic levels, of pollutants of anthropogenic or natural origin, in order to understand their impact on the health of living organisms and on the ecosystem. Alongside fundamental theoretical concepts, the course provides adequate practical and methodological knowledge for the identification, qualitative and quantitative characterization, and monitoring of environmental biomarkers, aimed at assessing the toxic effects induced by xenobiotics and other contaminants. A - Knowledge and understanding OF-1) Knowledge of current regulations governing environmental monitoring; OF-2) Understanding of general concepts in toxicology, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics, and risk characterization; OF-3) Knowledge of the interactions between environmental xenobiotics and both simple cellular systems and complex organisms; OF-4) Knowledge of the main mechanisms of cellular damage and genotoxic effects mediated by environmental xenobiotics; OF-5) Understanding of the main methodological approaches for studying the toxic effects of environmental xenobiotics through in vitro and in vivo models; OF-6) Knowledge of the major environmental pollutants and the identification of potential biological indicators for environmental monitoring. B - Application skills OF-7) Ability to interpret and apply national and international regulations and guidelines related to environmental monitoring and toxicological risk management; OF-8) Skill in conducting toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic analyses to assess the risk associated with exposure to xenobiotics and environmental contaminants, both in acute and chronic scenarios; OF-9) Ability to study and understand the effects of contaminants on biological systems, using both simple cellular models and complex organisms; OF-10) Competence in identifying the main molecular and cellular mechanisms of damage (e.g., oxidative stress, genotoxicity, apoptosis) induced by environmental xenobiotics; OF-11) Practical skills in using experimental methodologies (in vitro and in vivo) to assess environmental toxicity, with competence in analyzing and interpreting results; OF-12) Ability to select and use biological (biomarkers) and environmental indicators for monitoring the health status of ecosystems and organisms exposed to contaminants; OF-13) Ability to write a scientific report for presenting and discussing experimental data. C - Autonomy of judgment OF-14) Ability to propose, with critical thinking and scientific responsibility, environmental monitoring strategies based on the use of biomarkers and the identification of contaminants; OF-15) Ability to make independent judgments on the environmental impact of exposure to pollutants, including through the integration of data from biological models and environmental indicators; OF-16) Ability for critical judgment, through the study of reviews and scientific articles on key aspects of the field, and in-depth discussions; OF-17) Ability to evaluate the accuracy and scientific rigor of topics related to the subjects covered in the course. D - Communication skills OF-18) Ability to present complex concepts in environmental toxicology clearly, coherently, and scientifically correctly, both orally and in writing, using appropriate specialized terminology; OF-19) Competence in presenting and interpreting the results of toxicological studies, including through the use of graphs, tables, and digital tools, with the ability to respond to critical questions and discuss the implications of the obtained data; OF-20) Skills in writing technical reports, toxicological reports, and environmental monitoring documents, in accordance with scientific and regulatory standards; OF-21) Ability to communicate effectively with professionals from different disciplines in research or intervention projects, promoting an integrated approach to environmental risk management. E - Ability to learn OF-22) Ability to critically learn protocols and approaches for the in vitro and in vivo assessment of toxicity, and to apply them independently in research or environmental monitoring contexts; OF-23) Development of skills in the design, planning, and writing of scientific projects, learning how to define hypotheses, objectives, experimental approaches, and methods for analyzing results; OF-24) Ability to understand, rework, and deepen advanced concepts in environmental toxicology, regulations, and experimental methodologies, even beyond the didactic context; OF-25) Ability to search for, select, and critically interpret scientific, regulatory, and technical literature to update one's knowledge and develop an integrated view of environmental issues. "